This week Gov. Rendell proclaimed September 24 as National Public Lands Day to help celebrate the beauty and contributions public lands make to recreation and environmental protection.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2004, nearly 90,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants.

Twelve state parks and two environmental education centers are hosting volunteer groups. They are: Benjamin Rush, Philadelphia; Black Moshannon, Centre County; Colonel Denning, Cumberland County; Cook Forest, Clarion County; Frances Slocum, Luzerne County; Gifford Pinchot, York County; Jennings Environmental Education Center, Butler County; Keystone, Westmoreland County; Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Cumberland County; Laurel Hill, Somerset County; Lackawanna, Lackawanna County; McConnells Mill, Lawrence County; Nescopeck, Luzerne County; and Pymatuning, Crawford County.

Interested participants should call participating park offices before Saturday 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.

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 information about volunteering in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forestlands, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.

9/23/2005