RE: Volunteers

[forestwalker]

 
Hi - My wife,and I,are volunteers at our local state parks.We are both docents,and she serves as president of an association that raises money to help fund activities at the parks.We lead hikes,staff the Nature Center,assist with special events.... This volunteer experience has been a great experience for us.How about you ? Anyone else out there volunteer in national,state,or local parks,as docents,trail crew,horse patrol,habitat restoration workers,or campground hosts ?

[Tim5055]

 forestwalker
While we would love to participate in this type of volunteer activity, our work schedules prohibit it at this time.  We are looking at fulltiming during part of our retirement and as we get nearer to that camp host duties may be in our future.
 
 Rightn now the only volunteer work I can get in is some work with a local German Shepherd Dog rescue.
 
 As our favorite camping is [link=http://www.title-3.com/DryCamping.htm]dry camping in the National Forest[/link], we do try to leave the forest area we camp in cleaner than we found it. I usually spend an hour or two on a weekend picking up trash, cans and bottles along the roads and in the dispersed camping areas.

[forestwalker]

 tim5055
Hey,Tim-the litter clean up is really good.Just think how much better the environment would be if more people would get into that sort of thing.We have organized clean up days at the beaches,on the roads,& along the river around here.Tons of garbage are collected every year by hundreds of volunteers.The local communities appreciate it,and are really supportive.Sure would be nice if jerks would stop littering in the first place.Thanks to all of the folks like you,the problem is not worse.

[Tim5055]

 forestwalker
I m surprised more people have not posted to this one.  I m sure other people are doing some sort of voluteer work.

[garym053]

 forestwalker
We do volunteer clean up work for our favorite state park the two weekends before they open. We rake sites, pull nails, gather theewood that s been cut over the winter, etc.
 That s about all we have time for right now, wish we could do more! It s a lot of fun!

[tlhdoc]

 forestwalker
The scuba shop in our area does a river clean up each year.  We help with that.  One year Britta was giving out certificates for a free water filtering pitcher.

[luvourjayco]

 forestwalker
I  do a lot of volunteer work but alas it is about child hunger and nutrition and early literacy. I take the summers off to avoid burn out. I work about 20 hours a week doing that volunteer stuff, another 2 hours at the books for another group I belong to, and another 15 at my part time job then of course I have the kids and hubby at home and all these  message boards I am quickly running out of time. I use the summers and camping to relax and recharge so I can run my fool a** off for the rest of the year.
 Not to sound like I don t care about the environment I do make a point to make sure any campsite is left cleaner then we found it before we leave. I do recycle and take care to dump  my gray water in the proper spot. []

[Camper Dan]

 forestwalker
Hi all[],
 
 DW & I are V.I.P s (Volunteers In Parks) for the Hamilton County Park system, here in SW, Ohio.  We assist the park Naturalists with crafts, plant and wildlife programs.   We just finished up the Winter Hikes Series.  We lead small groups (10 to 19 people) on Winter hikes of 4 to 5 miles in length.  We ve been doing warmer weather hikes, too!
 
 We just joined the program last Spring and are gradually learning and volunteering more as time goes along.[]

[forestwalker]

 Camper Dan
The V.I.P program sounds like our docent program.Lots of fun.The volunteers get to meet people from all over the world,and share their knowledge about the local parks with visitors.The hikes are a great way to get exercise in the outdoors.Our entire experience with the program has been filled with opportunities to learn more about natural and cultural history.This has led to an increased appreciation of nature,and our place in it.Our volunteer experience has also provided a way to meet people who share similiar interests and values with us-this has produced some friendships that have lasted years. All that for free+the opportunity to make a difference.Our parks really do need the help now.A big " THANK YOU"  to those of you who give some of your time.It is appreciated!