COLUMBUS, OH -- A record number of 5,915 volunteers donated an all-time high of 319,984 hours of service in Ohio State Parks during 2001, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Volunteers assisted staff in building and maintaining hiking and horsemen's trails; greeting campers; working with naturalists on programs and special events; assisting at golf courses; and planting flowers and shrubs.
The year 2002 marks the twentieth anniversary of our state park volunteer program, said Dan West, Ohio State Parks chief. It began in 1982 with a handful of volunteers and has grown steadily ever since.
People of all ages and interests, from teens to senior citizens, serve as Ohio State Parks volunteers.
Becoming an Ohio State Parks volunteer is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and help others to do the same, West said.
There are 74 Ohio State Parks encompassing more than 204,000 acres and featuring 57 family campgrounds, 36 visitor and nature centers, eight resort lodges and six golf courses.
For more information on volunteer opportunities in Ohio State Parks, contact your local state park or visit the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com
For Further Information Contact:
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
-or-
Jim Henahan, Ohio State Parks
(614) 265-6561