The Somerset County Park Commission enjoyed another
successful year in 2017, attributable in large part to the hundreds of
volunteers who support Park staff who provide the extraordinary array of
programs, events, and services that our community expects and deserves.
Volunteer contributions enable the Commission to achieve new
goals and reach higher standards of quality programming. During 2017, individual,
volunteers contributed 6,241 hours of service, saving the Park Commission the
equivalent of more than $150,658 in salaries. In addition, group and corporate
volunteers donated 708 hours assisting the Park Rangers and the Environmental
Education Center (EEC) staff which equates to more than $17,092 additional
savings.
The EEC was fortunate to have
nine different corporate groups working on a variety of projects. Portfolio
Evaluations, Dental Care of Bridgewater, and Ingredion all worked to complete a
large renovation and restoration project. Applegate and BASF removed invasive
plants and re-planted the area. Enbridge, Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, and REI all
assisted with removal of old wood and rebuilding the Boondocks Boardwalk Trail.
Oak Knoll School students completed a fall cleanup of the native plant and rain
gardens
Five Eagle Scout candidates
completed their Service Projects at the EEC. James McCarron, Troop 28, built
and mapped bluebird boxes and wood duck boxes. Julien Wadha, Troop 555, created
a life-size wing span model of birds. John Korvaus, Troop 83, built a kiosk at
the Maple Sugar Shack and bluebird boxes for the Chestnut Grove. William
Brigham, Troop 28, created a path and live willow hut for children to explore in
the Discovery Gardens. Jason Quinn, Troop 351, blazed a new one-mile Orange
Trail, lined the trail with logs and built a wooden platform over a small
swale. A group of scouts from Troop 154 replaced the trail maps on all of the
EEC trails. Two other Eagle Scout projects were completed at the Ross Farm; bat
boxes built by Zachary Wyman, Troop 351, and compost bins and garden paths
built by Brandon Pierson, Troop 555. Girl Scouts baked and donated baked goods for the Festival
of Trees Snowflake Café on weekends throughout the month of December.
Individual volunteers from
local high schools including Ridge High School, Oak Knoll, and Watchung Hills Regional High School
contributed year round at the EEC assisting customers, providing support to
Naturalists, and helping shuttle vehicles for paddling trips.
With the help of many volunteers, including Jersey
Off-Road Bicycle Association, Access Fund, REI, various scout groups, and the
Volunteer Park Patrol, 226 hours were donated for trail maintenance and park
beautification projects. On Adopt-A-Boulder Day, volunteers from
Access Fund added a connecting trail to a bouldering area in the Sourland
Mountain Preserve.
Volunteers at Buck Garden assisted with the Woodland
Walks, returning docents participated in training sessions, and three new
garden volunteers joined the existing volunteer crew. Colonial Park
Gardens volunteer LaVonne Heydel has been very generous with her volunteer
time. Her enthusiasm for the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden is
undoubtedly the reason the rose garden has been so glorious these pat few
years.
Volunteers at Lord Stirling Stable served in roles including
clerical help, teaching assistants, grooming horses, and mucking stalls.
Almost 100 volunteers contributed 2,940 hours to help ensure a continued
tradition of excellent programming at the stable. The generosity of
volunteer help enabled the Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Instruction at Lord
Stirling (T.R.A.I.L.S.) program to have side-walkers for 36 youth and adults
with disabilities. Volunteers also helped to plan and implement other
special functions such as the Dressage Show, Family Fun Day, the Holiday
Festival, and Fall Festival.
The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable promote
and support the educational and recreation programs of the Stable. Annually, the Friends of Lord
Stirling Stable donate the proceeds of their special events to the Park
Commission to help maintain the horses and facility. In 2017, a gift of
$16,925 was presented to the Commission. An additional $2,700 was donated
for the purchase equipment and equine supplies.
The Hughes family of Hughes-Plumer continues to
provide a unique level of volunteer service resulting in thousands of dollars
raised annually for the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program. For the past 28
years, they have served as corporate partners of the Pro/Celebrity Golf
Tournament, which directly benefits the TR participants and enhances the
programs and services offered. The 2017 event
raised more than $125,000.
For information on volunteer opportunities for
individuals, groups, or companies, please call Nancy Meola, Volunteer Committee
Chair at nmeola@scparks.org or 908-722-1200,
ext. 5528 (NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing impairment). Information on Somerset County Park Commission
programs and activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.
