Volunteering doesn't necessarily mean you need to join a group or attend a scheduled event. You can "volunteer" everyday with no special skills or training!
Help as you go - Next time you go to a state park or historic site, bring along an empty grocery bag. As you move around the site hiking or taking a tour, pick up any litter you find and place it in the nearest trash can. If just three people a day did this, imagine how clean your state parks would be!
Volunteer time can be family time - Planning a trip with the family to your favorite state park or historic site? Call ahead and ask a staff person if there is anything your family can do together for 30 minutes or so to help out. There is always something to be done!
Love to garden? - On your next visit, bring along your gloves and spade. Almost all of the state parks and historic sites have flowerbeds and planting areas that need weeding. The staff at the site can always point to an area that needs a little TLC.
Make your own opportunity - When you visit, what do you notice that looks like it could use some help? As parks suffer more and more under the current budget constraints, it is sometimes the littlest things that get overlooked or put off. Do you see a sign that needs to be repainted, an empty brochure box, a path that needs to be swept? All of these are simple to fix. Talk to a staff member about what you saw and ask if you can help fix it.
These are some simple ways you can help your parks. Remember, these places belong to all of us and we have a responsibility to be good stewards and take care of them.
