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DCNR Secretary Touts Volunteer Efforts As National Public Lands Day Approaches
Applauding a beneficial and long-standing “alliance among private citizens, land managers and community leaders witnessed so frequently at our state parks, forests and historical sites,” DCNR Acting Secretary John Quigley invited widespread public participation September 26 at National Public Lands Day events planned at state parks across Pennsylvania.

“Long the cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forestlands, volunteers and their demonstrated dedication have proven invaluable,” Acting Secretary Quigley said. “That’s why National Public Lands Day is such a very special event, last year bringing more than 120,000 volunteers together across the nation to refurbish and restore public places.”

Marking it 16th year, and billed as the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands Americans enjoy, National Public Lands Day was marked in a Sept. 16th proclamation issued by Gov. Rendell.

“Whether its tree seedling planting at Elk County’s Bendigo State Park, or maintaining trails at Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County, National Public Lands Day gives all of us a chance to contribute to the betterment of our public lands for this and future generations of Americans,” said Acting Secretary Quigley. “This Saturday, local volunteers will have a unique chance to give something back to their country, their community, and the state parks that serve them. I encourage everyone to consider lending a helping hand.”

Twelve state parks, three environmental education centers, and one conservation area are hosting volunteer groups in the national effort to improve and preserve habitat on public lands.

Details can be found online at the National Public Lands Day website.

All overseen by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the following have scheduled a volunteer workday in conjunction with National Public Lands Day: Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County; Bendigo State Park, Elk County; Black Moshannon State Park, Centre County; Chapman State Park, Warren County; Colonel Denning State Park, Cumberland County; Cowans Gap State Park, Fulton County; Frances Slocum State Park, Luzerne County; Jennings Environmental Education Center, Butler County; Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Cumberland County; Lackawanna State Park, Lackawanna County; Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County; Little Buffalo State Park, Perry County; Nescopeck State Park, Luzerne County; Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Berks County; Raccoon Creek State Park, Beaver County; and Varden Conservation Area, Wayne County.

Bureau of State Parks officials request that interested participants call participating park offices before September 26, to pre-register and inquire about possible inclement weather, starting times, meetings places and other details. Pennsylvania volunteers will join a workforce across the country that is committed to carrying on the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that exemplified land stewardship from 1933-1942 by preserving and protecting America's natural heritage.

The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation, which has managed and coordinated the annual all-day effort from its start in 1994, estimates that the volunteers’ work, along with community contributions of food, tools, and equipment, will result in more than $8 million of improvements and provide the day’s “Helping Hands for America’s Lands.”

National Public Lands Day is a public-private partnership involving DCNR and many other state, federal, and local land and conservation agencies. The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation manages, coordinates, and generates financial support for the program.

For general information about volunteering in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forestlands throughout the year, visit the Conservation Volunteer Program webpage.

9/28/2009

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