NPS Volunteers-In-Parks Program Turns 50!
By Paula Swingley, Volunteer Program Manager, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Andrew Marotz, Volunteer Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection
College groups can find fun and meaningful activities to engage with their community through our volunteer programs.
The 50th anniversary of the National Park Service Volunteers-In-Parks program has been a year that reaffirmed just how much park programs rely on volunteer support.
Volunteers are restoring habitat at Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis. Learn more about the Mill Ruins Crew and join!
The physical absence of volunteers at the beginning of the pandemic reminded park staff of the valuable conversations and emotional support that come through friendships with our volunteers. We are so grateful for the kindness and smiles (even the virtual ones!) of our volunteers through this difficult summer. It has brought us so much joy to know that we are in this together.
Corporate volunteer groups, like folks from Xcel Energy Minnesota, make up the bulk of our restoration efforts. Learn how your company or organization can participate at parkconnection.org/volunteer-group
Despite this year’s challenges, volunteers continued to support the park by welcoming about 800 people to Winter Trails Day last January, planting 1,200 trees in research plots at Crosby Farm Regional Park during one of the heaviest weeks of our cities’ civil unrest, and contributing stories to the Women of the Mississippi River project. We have held multiple public volunteer programs every week since the beginning of June, continuing important environmental restoration efforts throughout the national park.
National Public Lands Day is a nation-wide celebration of public lands, and one of our largest volunteer events of the year!
Since October of last year, volunteers have contributed more than 6,700 hours to the park, which is valued at nearly $199,000 worth of service and counting! We cannot thank our volunteers enough for showing their courage and dedication during this historic year. We will continue working to provide volunteer opportunities that are safe yet effective, and that enrich both the park land and our spirits this season and beyond.
Read more seasonal articles in our Fall-Winter 2020-21 newsletter!
Recently, several MPC and NPS staff have collaborated with staff from St. Paul Parks and Rec to coordinate BIPOC-led volunteer events for BIPOC folks.