A look back at our accomplishments in 2016

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January 2017

> IN THIS ISSUE: Accomplishments from 2016 and what's to come for 2017

2016 Was an amazing year!

Park Activities

We have events going on every week and weekend throughout the state. Find out what is happening near you! Park Activities Calendar

Upcoming Volunteer Events & Projects

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Shrubbery Pruning  Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 1 PM to 5 PM Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site - Cartersville, GA We need up to 10 volunteers to help with pruning shrubs and trees to help keep our landscaping neat and tidy. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the park ahead of time. 770-387-3747.

Stewardship Saturday - Rivercane Restoration  Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM Panola Mountain State Park - Stockbridge, GA Join us as we partner with the South River Watershed Alliance to help clean-up and restore native vegetation to the bank of the South River. Wear work shoes that you don't mind getting muddy and long pants. Don't forget gloves, a water bottle, and snacks too. Meet at Alexander Lake Area Parking Lot. Visit the SRWA webpage for more details. 404-285-3756.

Monday, January 16, 2017      Join us for MLK Day of Service!

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service  Monday, Jan 16, 2017 10 AM to 12 PM Cloudland Canyon State Park - Rising Fawn, GA Join us in "mulching the mountain" during this special volunteer day. Help beautify the park, increase visitor accessibility, and decrease stormwater runoff and erosion by transporting and spreading mulch around the day use area. Free park entry for volunteers. Meet at the Interp Center. Groups welcome but please pre-register with the park manager. 706-657-4050.

MLK Day of Service  Monday, Jan 16, 2017 10 AM Panola Mountain State Park - Stockbridge, GA Join us as we give the park some extra TLC. Help us keep Panola beautiful on this national day of volunteer service dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Come prepared to work and make new friends while you’re at it. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and work gloves. Must register in advance by calling the Nature Center. $5 parking. 770-389-7801.

  MLK Day of Service  Monday, Jan 16, 2017 10 AM to 2 PM Red Top Mountain State Park - Acworth, GA "A day on, not a day off!" Honor Dr. King's legacy by spending your day serving your community. Red Top is calling on volunteers to improve the beach day use area. We will be painting picnic shelters, picking up trash, and more. Meet at beach parking lot. Wear clothes that can get dirty, bring gloves and water. $5 parking. 770-975-0055.

AmeriCorps Volunteer Wilderness Cleanup  Monday, Jan 16, 2017 9 AM to 12 PM Sweetwater Creek State Park - Lithia Springs, GA Call for volunteers of all ages for a Martin Luther King Day cleanup. Join AmeriCorps volunteers to clean wilderness areas within the park. Families with young children will participate in a trail cleanup while adults and children over 8 will be cleaning off-trail areas of the park. Call the Visitor Center to RSVP. Click event for more details. $5 parking. 770-732-5871.

  AmeriCorps Volunteer Wilderness Cleanup  Monday, Jan 16, 2017 1 PM to 4 PM Sweetwater Creek State Park - Lithia Springs, GA Call for volunteers of all ages for a Martin Luther King Day cleanup. Join AmeriCorps volunteers to clean wilderness areas within the park. Families with young children will participate in a trail cleanup while adults and children over 8 will be cleaning off-trail areas of the park. Call the Visitor Center to RSVP. Click event for more details. $5 parking. 770-732-5871. 

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Prepare the Trail  Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 9 AM to 12 PM Laura S. Walker State Park - Waycross, GA Help us get Big Creek Nature Trail ready for a new year of fun. Our swamp boardwalk will be cleaned and repaired, erosion areas will be remedied, and flora that interrupts the trail's flow will be cleared. Join a ranger on the hunt for gopher tortoise dens and invasive plants to flag. Brave souls are welcome to clear blockages on Big Creek. $5 parking. 912-287-4900.

Stewardship Saturday - Rivercane Restoration  Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM Panola Mountain State Park - Stockbridge, GA Join us as we partner with the South River Watershed Alliance to help clean-up and restore native vegetation to the bank of the South River. Wear work shoes that you don't mind getting muddy and long pants. Don't forget gloves, a water bottle, and snacks too. Meet at Alexander Lake Area Parking Lot. Visit the SRWA webpage for more details. 404-285-3756. 

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Stewardship Saturday - Rivercane Restoration  Saturday, Jan 28, 2017 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM Panola Mountain State Park - Stockbridge, GA Join us as we partner with the South River Watershed Alliance to help clean-up and restore native vegetation to the bank of the South River. Wear work shoes that you don't mind getting muddy and long pants. Don't forget gloves, a water bottle, and snacks too. Meet at Alexander Lake Area Parking Lot. Visit the SRWA webpage for more details. 404-285-3756.

  CCC Museum Workday  Saturday, Jan 28, 2017 1 PM to 4 PM Vogel State Park - Blairsville, GA Meet at the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum for a CCC Museum work day from 1-4pm. Volunteers will be conducting general cleaning of the inside and outside on the grounds. $5 parking. 706-745-2628.

Log Hours, Earn Incentives

Start earning your incentives! Use is the website for more information on Volunteer Hours and how incentives are earned.

 You can see how many hours you have recorded or were transferred over from 2014 by logging into your time sheet.http://www.trackitforward.com/site/georgia-state-park-and-historic-sites-volunteers-and-hosts/timesheet

 Using this neat Stats feature, you can see where you are in the overall documentation of hours for volunteers all over the state: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/georgia-state-park-and-historic-sites-volunteers-and-hosts/stats

 Thank you for your patience as we transitioned to this tracking software in 2014. Your information is now accessible by you, park managers as well as myself. However, it is completely private and not accessible by anyone outside of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.

 Volunteers Defined: We love and need them all!

     Community Volunteers-Help on a day-to-day basis at a Park as they are available. Our community volunteers help with leading hikes, helping with maintenance, assisting with the visitor or retail center, guide new visitors to park activities and locations. Those volunteering more than once per month or planning to volunteer more than 20 hours per year need to update registration.

     Hosts (Campground, Yurt, Maintenance, Golf, Train)-Stay in their personal RV at designated free Host Site for 2-6 months in exchange for a minimum of 24 hours of volunteer work.  Host duties include: visitor assistance and maintenance.  All hosts are required to update registration to still be considered for hosting.

     Group Volunteers-This is for Churches, Corporations, Scouts and Universities who want a tailor-made project that will strengthen the group as individuals as well as a team morale while assisting Georgia State Parks. Only the group leader will need to be registered in our system.

 How are we doing?

 In order for Georgia State Parks to continue to thrive and grow, even in these lean budget times, we need to get feedback from those that utilize our services and Parks. As Volunteers and Hosts, you have the same rights and anonymity in park observations and feedback as our Park Staff.  Please use this quick survey form to share your experiences with us.

 Thanks for reading!  Please feel free to share with others.

 If you need to contact us: Volunteer Program Manager: nyleta.wallace@dnr.ga.gov  or Carly Nielsen the Assistant Volunteer Coordinator at carly.nielsen@dnr.ga.gov

 As always, thank you for being a steward for Georgia State Parks! Have a great day!

 Helpful Links:

     eNews Archived - http://gastateparks.org/volunteer/news

     Log your Hours - http://gastateparks.org/volunteer/hours

     See your recorded hours - http://www.trackitforward.com/site/georgia-state-park-and-historic-sites-volunteers-and-hosts/timesheet

     Volunteer Hour Stats - https://www.trackitforward.com/site/georgia-state-park-and-historic-sites-volunteers-and-hosts/stats