Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Friends of Geode lend a hand at Geode State Park
Each year, the Iowa DNR asks Iowans to volunteer their time to keep our natural resources in a pristine condition. One of the annual projects is the Fall Statewide Volunteer Day.
Saturday, Sept. 23 was selected. Nearly 20 state parks are receiving assistance this year. Each park decides what projects it needs to address. Volunteers contact each park to receive final instructions.
Members of Friends of Geode and other interested people met at the Geode State Park office. Two groups were formed.
Tree trimming and trail maintenance at Shelter 4 on the west side of the park involved the largest group. Branches at eye level were trimmed, dead trees felled and removed, and loose debris collected.
A small group was sent to Shelter 1 to clear the trail of large loose rocks. The rocks were placed to the side of the trail. This trail is scheduled to receive gypsum rock and further improvements later in the season.
Trail maintenance is always a necessity. Most volunteers simply dress properly for outdoor work. Others provided chain saws and brush cutters. Safety is a prime component of all work provided.
The Geode Challenge Races are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21. This year there will be 5K, 12K and 25K. With the help of the park rangers and the Danville Lions Club, Friends of Geode are looking forward to holding this popular fundraising event.
It is a difficult to find information about the total volunteer programs throughout the state. However, one year’s statistic found is for 2018.
Volunteers spent over 209,500 hours volunteering throughout the state cleaning trash along Iowa’s waterways. Volunteers also give hours to project AWARE, instructing Hunter Education courses, serving as campground hosts, helping DNR fisheries staff.
It has been noted that the work of the volunteers makes a noticeable difference in our parks and rivers. Iowa is beginning its second century of a remarkable state park system. All citizens are needed to keep these recreational and historic sites active and welcoming.
