SWANEC (South Wake Area Native Ecosystem Conservation) is a youth-led environmental nonprofit based in Cary, North Carolina. Every weekend, our volunteers work to remove invasive plant species and restore native habitats at parks and greenways across South Wake County, including Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and Garner.
Since our founding in 2024, SWANEC volunteers have removed over 7,280 pounds of invasive plants across more than 457,973 square feet of public land, contributing 1,613 volunteer service hours to our community. Invasive species like Japanese stiltgrass and English ivy form dense mats that smother native plants, disrupt local food webs, and degrade habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Our work restores these ecosystems so that native plants and the wildlife that depend on them can thrive.
Beyond hands-on restoration, SWANEC focuses on community education. We partner with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to teach visitors how to identify and manage invasive plants, and we work with organizations like Haven House Services to bring young people into environmental stewardship. SWANEC was named the Town of Apex's Volunteer Group of the Year and was featured in Cary Magazine in 2026.
Donations directly fund the tools, native plants, and supplies that make our weekly volunteer events possible.
