Volunteers will have the opportunity to improve state parks by taking part in National Public Lands Day events across Pennsylvania on September 28, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti announced Wednesday.

“Each year National Public Lands Day brings together more than 150,000 volunteers across the nation to refurbish and restore public places,” Ferretti said. “More than 20 of our state parks will be participating as volunteers, donning work gloves and boots and tackling an array of important projects.”

Marking its 18th year and billed as the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands in America, National Public Lands Day is offered by the National Environmental Education Foundation to encourage and salute public contributions in parks, forests and open lands.

“Whether it’s trail maintenance at Centre County’s Black Moshannon State Park, or tree plantings at Tobyhanna State Park in Monroe County, National Public Lands Day gives each of us a chance to contribute to the betterment of our public lands for this and future generations of Americans,” Ferretti said. “This Saturday, local volunteers will have a unique chance to give something back to their communities. I encourage everyone to consider lending a helping hand.”

This year, 21 state parks and one environmental education center will host volunteer groups as part of National Public Lands Day.

Project details, registration, participating parks, and other information can be found online.

DCNR will oversee volunteer workdays at the following participating sites in Pennsylvania:

-- Black Moshannon State Park, Centre County;

-- Chapman State Park, Warren County;

-- Cook Forest State Park, Clarion County;

-- Cowans Gap State Park, Fulton County;

-- Greenwood Furnace State Park, Huntingdon County;

-- Jennings Environmental Education Center, Butler County;

-- Keystone State Park, Westmoreland County;

-- Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County;

-- Little Buffalo State Park, Perry County;

-- Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Mercer County;

-- Nescopeck State Park, Luzerne County;

-- Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County;

-- Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County;

-- Oil Creek State Park, Venango County;

-- Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County;

-- Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Cumberland County;

-- Presque Isle State Park, Erie County;

-- Prince Gallitzin State Park, Cambria County;

-- Promised Land State Park, Pike County;

-- Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County;

-- Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron County; and

-- Tobyhanna State Park, Monroe County.

The National Environmental Education 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 improvements valued at more than $8 million.

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

For details on Pennsylvania’s 120 state parks, call 1-888-PA-PARKS between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; or visit DCNR’s State Parks webpage.

9/30/2013