Group VolunteerOpportunities

Somerset County Park Commission

The Somerset County Park Commission

is committed to excellence

in promoting stewardship of land

and resources, providing outstanding

recreation opportunities and leisure services,

and fostering an environment which is

service-oriented and responsive to public needs.

S T R I V E

Somerset County ParkCommission was establishedin 1956 as a resource manage-ment agency designated to

provide specialized park areas andfacilities that supplement municipalefforts. Fifty years later, the missionof the park system has a more definedfocus, accompanied by key componentswhich outline the role to which thepark system has been entrusted—toimprove the quality of life for SomersetCounty residents and the businesscommunity.

The Somerset County ParkCommission is committed toexcellence, in promoting stewardshipof land and resources, providingoutstanding recreation opportunitiesand leisure services, and fostering anenvironment which is service-orientedand responsive to public needs.

The park system is home to 10,000acres of open space, and halfway toachieving its goal of creating a 20,500acre network of park and open spacefacilities. As identified in the Parks,Recreation, and Open Space MasterPlan, the park system has embarkedupon an aggressive program of landacquisition to provide more parks, awider variety of recreation activities,and an increased responsibility to

S E R V E

protect the county’s critical environ-mental resources and wildlife.

To help meet these challenges thePark Commission offers a variety ofvolunteer opportunities. Many citizensand local business leaders loyallyserve in this capacity, as individualscommitted to offering their time andexpertise to enhance the quality of lifeof Somerset County.

Some of the volunteer opportunities,however, are projects which cannot beachieved without the concerted effortsa group can provide. These includeconservation efforts, land managementprojects, park beautification, andassistance at special events. Groupvolunteer efforts benefit the ParkCommission, and just as importantly,benefit the corporate group. There is acomradery experienced when viewingthe efforts of a successful day’s work,and a heightened sense of teamwork,knowing that the project was fulfilleddue to the achievements of you andyour co-workers.

Listed inside are eleven projects whichcan only be achieved by the continuedtime and talent offered by the localbusiness and corporate communities.We invite you to examine them.

1

S O M E R S E T C O U N T Y P A R K C O M M I S S I O N

The Turkey TrotLace up your sneakers to make thingsrun (pardon the pun) more smoothlyon the day of this annual 5K and1-mile fun run, held in Colonial Parkin Franklin Township. Volunteers canassist with runner registration, waterstops, and with race-route marshalling.Join us for some fun and fitness inthe park.

• 10-20 sure-footed adults needed• A Saturday morning in November

Staff ContactRecreation Department908.722.1200 ext. 226

L E A D

The Horsey SetThe benefits are great for both thevolunteer and participant in theT.R.A.I.L.S. therapeutic horsebackriding program. Help guide childrenand adults with developmentaldisabilities through the paces inboth beginner and advanced classes.Volunteers will function as lead andsidewalkers, as well as assistants toriders when mounting and dismountinga horse. Equestrian experience is notnecessary.

• 15-20 pace setting adults neededper evening

• Two hours on Tuesday andWednesday evenings for ten weeks

• Fall and spring seasons

Staff ContactTherapeutic Recreation 908.722.1200 ext. 233

2

R E C R E A T I O N E Q U E S T R I A N

Come Horse around with UsPut on your faded blue jeans, roll upyour sleeves, and help us give a face liftto the many buildings, fences, and railsat Lord Stirling Stable. Volunteers canchoose from a wide variety of paintingjobs. With lessons, clinics, horse shows,and other special events occurring yearround, improvements will always benoticed and appreciated!

• 10-20 adult painters needed• Spring, summer or fall

Staff ContactLord Stirling Stable908.766.5955 ext. 23

I M P R O V E

Out in Green PasturesOur equestrian trails have a lot ofhooves traverse them during the courseof a year. Therefore, they may need alittle more TLC than our maintenancestaff can provide. Trimming bushesand branches, removing rocks andstones from the pastures and trails,repainting the identification numberson remounting blocks, and cleaningbranches and logs out of the streams aresome of the tasks that may be needed tokeep them “the Cadillac of horse trails.”Bring your clippers and enjoy the greatoutdoors!

• 10-20 adult or teenage children• Spring, summer or fall

Staff ContactLord Stirling Stable908.766.5955 ext. 23

3

E Q U E S T R I A N E Q U E S T R I A N

Bluebirds of HappinessThe eastern bluebird, a threatenedspecies in New Jersey, can be seen inany of our parks year round. The parksprovide the proper habitat, giving parkvisitors a chance to view the bluebirdin its natural setting. Volunteers canwork together to keep the bluebirdsin the parks by building boxes at bothWashington Valley Park and SourlandMountain Preserve. Help the easternbluebird’s chances of being taken offthe state’s threatened list!

• 5-10 nestbuilders; adults andchildren ages ten and older

• Fall or winter

Staff ContactPark Rangers908.385.7798

P R E S E R V E

The 3 B’sBoardwalk, bridges, and benches areneeded in natural areas in variousSomerset County Parks. We willprovide the tools and supervision,while you provide the labor andmaterials. These projects may be assmall or as large as you would like.Schedule a meeting with us to discussthe possibilities!

• 10-25 adult nature lovers needed• Spring and summer; daily 9am-3pm

Staff ContactEnvironmental Education Center908.766.2489 ext. 324

4

M A I N T E N A N C E & C O N S E R V A T I O N M A I N T E N A N C E & C O N S E R V A T I O N

Happy TrailsThousands of people enjoy the manytrails located within the parks system’s10,000+ acres. Since our trails are“multi-use,” hikers, mountain bikers,and horseback riders explore themtogether, especially in the SourlandMountain Preserve (Hillsborough andMontgomery) and Washington ValleyPark (Bridgewater). Increased usagehas caused the soil on trails to becompacted, exposing tree roots andincreasing trail erosion. To help reducethese concerns, trails may need to beclosed, rerouted, or erosion controlled.Bridges and boardwalks may also needto be built. Volunteers are needed toensure the beauty of one of New Jersey’sgreat trail systems.

• 10-30 building conservationistsneeded; adults and teenage children

• Spring, summer, and fall

Staff ContactPark Rangers908.385.7798

P R O T E C T

Be Kind to YourWeb-Footed Friends

How do you save a river? Deposit yourtime and energy on its banks! Erosioncontrol and cleanup projects along themile-and-a-half of the upper PassaicRiver bordering Lord Stirling Parkare good springtime projects. Workgroups will be divided into canoe-basedclearing teams and land-based supportsquadrons. Pull up your shirt sleevesfor this wet and muddy task and joinus where only webbed feet have gonebefore. We provide the canoes, tools,equipment, and safety instruction.

• 10-25 adult nature lovers needed• Spring and summer, daily 9am-3pm

Staff ContactEnvironmental Education Center908.766.2489 ext. 324

5

M A I N T E N A N C E & C O N S E R V A T I O N T R A I L D E V E L O P M E N T

The Road Less TraveledFrom the radiant colors in the falland the snow capped branches in thewinter, to spring’s first lady slipper andsummer’s chorus of night sounds, thechange in the seasons at Lord StirlingPark brings people from around thestate and beyond to witness the magicof nature’s transformations. Whilemany come to hike the 450 acrepreserve, so do enthusiasts of anothersort. Volunteers work side by sidewith Park Commission Naturaliststo manicure overgrown trails, repairdamaged boardwalks, and help to keepthe trail system safe and pleasant foreach park visitor.

• 10-25 adult nature lovers needed• Spring and summer; daily 9am-3pm

Staff ContactEnvironmental Education Center908.766.2489 ext. 324

B E A U T I F Y

Wildlife & Native Gardensfor the New Millennium

The Environmental Education Centerspecial use gardens and buildinggrounds are being overhauled. We aregradually converting high maintenanceannual and non-native plant areas tolow maintenance, wildlife attractive,native species gardens. Join us to chop,weed, plant, build, and mulch thegrounds. Bring gloves, hand tools,and energy!

• 5-20 adult greenthumbs needed• Fall and spring; daily 9am-3pm

Staff ContactEnvironmental Education Center908.766.2489 ext. 324

6

T R A I L D E V E L O P M E N T T R A I L D E V E L O P M E N T

Garden GladiatorsJoin the Leonard J. Buck Garden stafffor a rewarding hands-on gardenproject. Volunteers assist ParkCommission Gardeners amendingsoil, weeding, planting, watering, andmulching. Wear work clothes, sturdyshoes, and work gloves. We will providethe materials, tools, and instruction.Help us to nurture plantings withinthis enchanting rock garden gem.

• 8-12 adult garden assistants needed• Late spring or summer, 10am-3pm

Staff ContactLeonard J. Buck Garden908.234.2677 ext. 22

N U R T U R E

7

G A R D E N I N G

Daniel J. LivakDeputy Director/Business Administrator

Joanne Jaeger

Steven Fuerst

Paul ConsiglioWilliam CrosbyDale FlorioWalter Hansen

Christopher PaladinoDorothy PaluckGary WalshGary Walsh