PENFIELD – Pennsylvania has natural beauty second to none. Much of that beauty is protected in public lands set aside for every citizen to enjoy.
In 120 state parks and 2.1 million acres of forest land, visitors can experience the best of what Pennsylvania has to offer: biking along pristine streams; picnicking near tree-lined lakes; hiking through forest cathedrals; searching for birds in protected natural areas; and countless other recreational and educational adventures. Imagine being able to say that you played a role in helping enhance our bountiful natural lands.
Well, here is your chance.
The Parker Dam State Park Complex, which includes S.B. Elliott State Park, and all of Pennsylvania’s public lands, need your help. After all these are your lands. With your help Pennsylvania’s state parks and state forests will continue to provide benefits for generations to come.
Through the Conservation Volunteer program at the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), you can don your work clothes and help build a trail, plant a flower garden, teach a group of students about wildlife or welcome visitors to “your” campground. People of all ages can participate in the program, which tries to match interests and abilities with appropriate projects.
Some of the opportunities that await Conservation Volunteers in state parks and state forests are trails/wildlife habitat, environmental education, forest fire prevention, maintenance, research and campground hosting. The work can be challenging, exhilarating and, above all, rewarding. From a few hours, to a lifetime commitment, the choice is yours. Any amount of time will benefit you and the outdoors.
At this time, the Parker Dam State Park Complex is in specific need of dedicated individuals or families to become regular Conservation Volunteers to do things like: open the Lou and Helen Adams Civilian Conservation Corps Museum on Saturday and Sunday afternoons through the summer season, adopt the few un-adopted flower and butterfly gardens at the park, participate in the revitalized Adopt-A-Trail program, perform light maintenance work such as painting, sign repair, maintaining deer fences around tree plantings, etc. and various other projects, including some non-physical, indoor projects.
If you would like to become a Conservation Volunteer at the Parker Dam State Park Complex, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator by phone at 814 765-0630 or by email at cahuber@pa.gov. After completing the DCNR Conservation Volunteer application, volunteers will then coordinate with park staff to schedule their time at the park and projects to be worked on. Some types of volunteer activities will require background checks.
