Category Archives: Battles with Invasive Species

Commander Ben Leads Young Invasive Hunters during National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Learn how future invasive hunters trained at Commander Ben’s Invasive Hunter Academy at Kid’s Day during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. With this video, watch their journey from novice naturalists to elite defenders of native species.

This is my first of a series of articles talking about my adventures in Washington D.C. during National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Check out my preview video for the Invasive Hunter Academy before the Washington D.C. event.


Thank you Ms. Lori Williams, National Invasive Species Council (NIISC) Executive Director, and Ms. Kelsey Branch, USDA Biologist and Kid’s Day coordinator, for inviting me to be part of this fun and exciting Kid’s Day! And thank you Dr. Damon Waitt, Senior Director and Botanist with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, for all your kind words and encouragement!

Your friend,
Ben

Update: USDA Celebrates Commander Ben and His Invasive Hunter Academy

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Filed under Battles with Invasive Species, Damon Waitt, Invasive Hunter Academy, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, U.S. Botanic Garden

Invasive Hunter Academy launches during National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Learn how to become an invasive species hunter at Commander Ben’s Invasive Hunter Academy at Kid’s Day during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) in Washington D.C.  With this video, get a preview of some of the techniques that I’ll teach you.

Join me as an elite defender of native species, and learn more about NISAW and Kid’s Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden on February 26, 2012.

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Filed under Battles with Invasive Species, Giant Reed, Invasive Hunter Academy, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, U.S. Botanic Garden

Commander Ben Selected by Austin Family Magazine

Earlier this month, I was in the library looking for some new audiobooks. I really liked Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, and I’m sorry that it’s his last book in the series.

In any event, while at the library, I picked up the January 2012 Austin Family magazine and was surprised to find that they picked me as one of the winners of their cover contest. (Wow! That was a cool surprise. Thanks for entering me, Mom, and thanks Austin Family for picking me!) I learned that I’ll be on one of their covers later this year.

If you’re looking for a camp this summer, don’t miss Austin Family’s Summer Camp Fair 2012 at the Palmer Events Center on Saturday, January 28. There will be a lot of booths and a lot of fun activities for kids.

I’ve been there before, and there’s a lot to do and a lot of goodies to get. I’m looking forward to science, acting, and sports summer camps. (And of course, I’ll be learning more Tae Kwon Do for my future Battles with Invasive Species videos!)

Hope to see you there!

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under Austin Family Magazine, Battles with Invasive Species, Christopher Paolini, Tae Kwon Do

Commander Ben’s “An Invasive Carol” Video Featured in the iWire Invasive Species Newsletter

Wow! What a nice surprise on New Year’s Eve to receive the December 2011 issue of iWire, the monthly e-newsletter about invasive plants and pests in Texas, and to see that they featured my latest Battles with Invasive Species video, “An Invasive Carol”, as part of their newsletter.

The newsletter picture shows my Ghost of Christmas Present costume and my Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Council (TIPPC) water bottle cozy that I got at the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

Watch my “An Invasive Carol” video and let me know which Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future costume you like the best.

Thanks TexasInvasives.org! 🙂

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference, A Christmas Carol, Battles with Invasive Species, Christmas, Giant Reed, iWire Texas Invasives Newsletter, Redtip Photinia, Texas Live Oak

An Invasive Carol (Battles with Invasive Species Video Series – Christmas Special)

This Christmas Carol tale begins on Christmas Eve with Ebenezer Scrooge, a man with a stingy heart, a disdain of native plants, and a phobia of dirty feet. His former business partner, Jacob Marley warns Scrooge of visits by three spirits. Overnight, the ghosts lead Scrooge through his innocent past, misguided present, and possible dire future overrun by invasive species. They help to transform him into a man of joy and compassion, both with the family of his impoverished clerk, Bob Cratchit, and his diverse ecosystem.

This video is part of my “Battles with Invasive Species” series to give kids of all ages a fun and humorous way to learn about invasive species. Here are other videos that you may enjoy too! 🙂

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under A Christmas Carol, Ashe juniper, Battles with Invasive Species, Chinese Privet, Giant Reed, Redtip Photinia, Texas Live Oak, Video