Volunteers

Nature Through a Child’s Eye

Somerset County Park Commission — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:47:59 GMT

This annual children’s environmental art exhibit features Somerset County kindergartners through sixth graders who have expressed their love of our natural world, our environment, and our Earth through their artwork. FREE January 3 –January 27, 2012 9:00am-4:30pm except Martin Luther King Day

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:30:56 GMT

ADAPTED HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM Equestrian Experience Not Required NORTH BRANCH, NJ - The Somerset County Park Commission Therapeutic Recreation Department and Lord Stirling Stable are seeking volunteers to assist with the T.R.A.I.L.S (Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Instruction at Lord Stirling) program on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings beginning September 13 or September 14, 2011. Two class options are available each evening from 6:15 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. and from 7:15 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. The T.R.A.I.L.S. program consists of ten weekly riding lessons. Volunteers may choose either or both sessions. T.R.A.I.L.S. provides an opportunity for children and adults with developmental disabilities to learn the basics of horseback riding at a level adapted to their individual needs. Activities take place at Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ. Volunteers need not have equestrian experience but must be age 18 or older. (17 year olds will be considered if they have previous experience with horses.) Volunteers should have a desire to help individuals enjoy a recreational activity that they otherwise would have no opportunity to experience. Volunteers will be required to attend a short training session prior to the start of classes. "The role of the volunteer can either be a 'side walker' providing support, balance, and reinforcement of instruction or a 'lead walker,'" commented Dina Trunzo, CTRS, Manager, Therapeutic Recreation. "The volunteer is an active contributor to the learning and enjoyment of the student. The success of the program is due in large part to the volunteers, working with trained staff, to support each of the students." Anyone interested in participating may call the Therapeutic Recreation Department at 908-526-5650 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. Volunteer information is also available be visiting our website at www.somersetcountyparks.org. PRESS CONTACT: Dina Trunzo 908-722-1200, ext. 234

1770’s Festival

Somerset County Park Commission — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:13:44 GMT

October 2 Colonial life experienced on the site of Lord Stirling’s manor. Free with suggested donation 10:30am – 4:30pm Environmental Education Center, Basking Ridge 908 766-2489

National Trails Day

Mon, 23 May 2011 15:24:19 GMT

June 4 Come celebrate National Trails Day and help us maintain the beautiful trails of Washington Valley Park. Rain date is June 5th. Free Washington Valley Park, Bridgewater 908 231-0802 ext.22

PARK COMMISSION THANKS VOLUNTEERS FOR 7,000+ HOURS OF SUPPORT IN 2010

Somerset County Park Commission — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:17:28 GMT

Many will be shocked to find, When the day of judgment nears, That there’s a special place in Heaven Set aside for volunteers. Anonymous The Somerset County Park Commission is all about people helping people, with hundreds of volunteers supporting staff to enable the Park Commission to 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 2010, individual, group and corporate volunteers contributed just over 7,000 hours of service, saving the Park Commission the equivalent of more than $176,000 in salaries. Trail maintenance volunteers assisting the Park Rangers included Jersey Off-Road Bicycle Association, Eastern Mountain Sports, Rockville Climbing Center, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, L’Oreal, Access Fund, REI, Somerset County United Way, Bridgewater High School’s Hockey Team, several scout groups, and the Volunteer Park Patrol. These volunteer groups helped groom and maintain existing trails at the various county parks, re-routed several sections of trail, cleaned moss off boulders used by climbers, and helped with several park beautification projects. At the Environmental Education Center, several groups helped with clean-up and improvement projects and aided in the labor-intensive task of removing invasive, non-native plants. Volunteers from SaaS, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, and Philips removed invasive plants and planted native species in their place; volunteers from Bayer completed the clearing and laying of the new “River Trail”; and volunteers from Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson Company, constructed an outdoor education area adjacent to the Special Use Trail. In addition, several Eagle Scouts made improvements to the county park system for their service project requirements, and one Girl Scout earned her Gold Award by clearing and restoring one of the gardens at the EEC. At Lord Stirling Stable, volunteers contributed hundreds of hours helping with barn chores, assisting instructors with beginner lessons, and helping at special events such as horse shows, Family Fun Day, and Rebel the Pony’s Birthday Party. In addition, The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable contributed hundreds more hours running clinics, special trail rides, carriage events, weekly dog walks, two Private Horse Hunter Paces co-sponsored with the SCPC, and the annual Holiday Festival, among other projects. The Friends’ School Horse Retirement Program found new, loving homes for six horses who had retired from the lesson program and re-adopted a seventh who had retired several years ago. In the Therapeutic Recreation department, volunteers play an important role in the many activities that take place at both the TR Activity Center and at Lord Stirling Stable. The department provides year round recreation programs for children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities. In T.R.A.I.L.S. (Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Instruction at Lord Stirling), volunteers serve as lead and side walkers, assisting the riders with every aspect of the program including mounting and dismounting, as well as learning how to start and stop the horse. In the general recreation programs at the TR Activity Center, volunteers assist either working individually with a participant or with a group of participants, by rolling up their sleeves and helping everyone to learn a new sport, game, arts and craft project and fine arts, or develop their cooking and gardening skills. The dedicated volunteers are a vital part of the TR program. A family of volunteers that deserves recognition for the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for the Therapeutic Recreation program is the Hughes family of Hughes-Plumer. For the past seventeen years, the Hughes family has served as corporate partners of the Pro/Celebrity Golf Tournament, which directly benefits the participants and enhances the programs and services offered. The 2011 event raised $90,000. For information on volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, or companies, please call Jean Stamey, Volunteer Coordinator, at 908-766.2489, ext. 322 or 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.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

Somerset county Park Commission — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:27:42 GMT

NORTH BRANCH, NJ - The Somerset County Park Commission Therapeutic Recreation Department and Lord Stirling Stable are seeking volunteers to assist with the T.R.A.I.L.S (Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Instruction at Lord Stirling) program on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings beginning April 5 or April 6, 2011. Two class options are available each evening from 6:15 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. and from 7:15 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. The T.R.A.I.L.S. program consists of ten weekly riding lessons. Volunteers may choose either or both sessions. T.R.A.I.L.S. provides an opportunity for children and adults with developmental disabilities to learn the basics of horseback riding at a level adapted to their individual needs. Activities take place at Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ. Volunteers need not have equestrian experience but must be age 18 or older. (17 year olds will be considered if they have previous experience with horses.) Volunteers should have a desire to help individuals enjoy a recreational activity that they otherwise would have no opportunity to experience. Volunteers will be required to attend a short training session prior to the start of classes. “The role of the volunteer can either be a ‘side walker’ providing support, balance, and reinforcement of instruction or a ‘lead walker,’” commented Dina Trunzo, CTRS, Manager, Therapeutic Recreation. “The volunteer is an active contributor to the learning and enjoyment of the student. The success of the program is due in large part to the volunteers, working with trained staff, to support each of the students.” Anyone interested in participating may call the Therapeutic Recreation Department at 908-526-5650 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. Volunteer information is also available be visiting our website at www.somersetcountyparks.org. PRESS CONTACT: Dina Trunzo 908-722-1200, ext. 234

PARK COMMISSION INDIVIDUAL & GROUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Somerset County Park Commission — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:26:54 GMT

The Somerset County Park Commission is all about the people of Somerset County our park visitors and the volunteers and employees who assure that every visit to our parks exceeds expectations. While our active and passive parks and our programs and activities rely on both of these groups, it is our volunteers who are a most cherished resource.

Volunteer opportunities are available in almost every facet of the Park Commission’s operation. Individuals interested in wildlife and resource conservation may participate in park cleanup projects and trail construction/maintenance. Our Volunteer Park Patrol plays an important role in maintaining trails at Washington Valley Park and the Sourland Mountain Preserve by patrolling for safety hazards and trail erosion. There are also opportunities for individuals in garden docent programs, planting, general maintenance, horse grooming, and stable cleaning.

In instructional areas, the Park Commission welcomes volunteers with skills and interest in athletics, crafts, dance, cooking, and theater and vocal arts. Volunteers help with the Junior Golf summer program, serve as Naturalists assistants, help out with the Therapeutic Recreation programs, and to assist with equestrian classes. Volunteer assistance is also needed for special events to help with facilities setup and breakdown, and parking.

Scout, school and corporate groups contribute thousands of hours annually to Park Commission activities and 2010 has been no exception.

At the Environmental Education Center volunteers from SAAS, Chubb, and Phillips assisted with the final phase of the bank and habitat restoration project around Esox Pond. A corporate group from Bayer helped create a new section of trail along the Passaic River.

One Girl Scout Gold Award Service Project and 6 Eagle Scout Service Projects were completed at the EEC in 2010. The Gold Award was for creating and planting a butterfly-attracting garden. Three Eagle Scout Service Projects completed the placement of coconut fiber logs and plantings around Esox Pond to stabilize the bank and to restore native wetland habitat. Two Eagle Scout Projects provided trail improvements and habitat restoration and one project established a new section of trail that is now being used for outdoor class activities.

Eastern Mountain Sports employees assisted with trail work in the Sourland Mountain Preserve and Washington Valley Park. Various Scout groups worked with the Park Rangers to help maintain the trails. Eagle Scout candidates provided many improvements throughout the park system including maintaining trails, building bird boxes and a kiosk and cleaning up a cemetery.

For information on volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, or companies, please call Jean Stamey, Volunteer Coordinator, at 908-766-2489, ext 322 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. Information on Somerset County Park Commission programs and activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org