A prospective Eagle Scout is helping the Crosby Arboretum keep invasive water plants at bay.

Troop 5 Boy Scout Aaron Hirstius and his fellow troop members were at the arboretum this past weekend removing water lettuce, water lilies and alligator weed from the attraction’s waterways as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Hirstius said he got the idea to help the arboretum after several attempts to contact other places he thought might need help. Those places said they didn’t need any help.

When Hirstius called the arboretum and spoke to grounds and maintenance director Terry Johnson he was provided with a number of projects that needed completing. Hirstius picked the water plants project.

Most of the work was conducted Friday and Saturday along the banks of the largest water body inside the arboretum, using rakes, machetes and good old elbow grease. Hirstius and his fellow troop members pulled the vegetation from the water ways and hauled it away.

The home-schooled student plans to attend Full Sail University to work towards an animation or computer game programmer degree. He currently spends his free time making video games and doing animation at home.

“If you have something you really like to do and you can get a job in it, it’s the best thing ever,” Hirstius said.