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March 26, 2007
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT OHIO STATE PARKS
Needs include trail clearing, campground hosting, flower planting
Volunteer Online
 COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio State Parks are seeking volunteers to work in a variety of capacities from assisting naturalists with educational programs to planting flowers and greeting campers.
“Volunteering at a state park is an opportunity for family and friends to work together to make tangible improvements at their favorite parks, and to feel a genuine sense of pride in that contribution,” said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. “Volunteers of all ages, skills and experience levels are welcome and appreciated.”
Volunteers have been making an important contribution to Ohio State Parks since the program was founded in 1982. Every year, more than 7,000 volunteers of all ages log hundreds of thousands of service hours to help keep Ohio’s 74 state parks beautiful. In some instances, families work together on a single project such as maintaining a hiking or riding trail.
The Ohio State Parks volunteer program offers these opportunities:
Individual Volunteer - These volunteers take on a wide variety of tasks by assisting park staff with nature center programs, trail maintenance, litter control, beautification and special events. Children age 5 to 12 who work alongside their parent or guardian can help as Junior Volunteers. Teens age 13 to 17 can participate as Green Teens and may work individually or with friends.
Campground Host - Individuals who enjoy camping and meeting people are invited to be campground hosts. In exchange for 20 hours of work per week, volunteers receive a complimentary campsite. Duties include greeting campers, campground beautification, special events, and being a model camper for others.
Group Volunteers - An increasing number of civic, school and church groups have found satisfaction by completing service projects at state parks. These groups work on a one-time basis or they may prefer to be involved on a long-term basis with the park. The variety of duties is limited only by the imagination and a park’s needs. Projects include shoreline cleanups, trail work (hiking, horse and mountain biking) and beautification projects
Volunteering is easy! Contact any Ohio State Park office or visit ohiostateparks.org on the Internet.
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