Last Volunteer Opportunities of the Summer
Posted: August 12, 2008

DES MOINES - As summer winds down and fall appears on the horizon, Keepers of the Land, the volunteer program with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), offers many statewide volunteer events and opportunities to help Iowans enjoy the last of the summer outdoors.

• Water Quality Monitoring Volunteer Training: Officials with the IOWATER water quality monitoring program are offering training opportunities for interested volunteers. Training sessions will be offered August 15 in Howard County (Cresco) and September 5 in Jefferson County (Fairfield). Upon completion of the workshop, volunteers will be certified Level 1 IOWATER Citizen Monitors. For more information, contact Brian Soenen at 515-205-8587.
  
  
• Butterfly Garden Opportunity: Officials with Bellevue State Park are seeking volunteers to plant and care for individual plot in the park's butterfly garden. This is a great opportunity for families and individuals of all ages. Twenty-five plots are available for adoption. Plants, seeds, and tools are provided. This opportunity is available immediately. For more information, contact Ron Jones or Shannon Petersen at 563-872-4019.
  
  
• Park Enhancement Opportunity: Officials at Green Valley State Park are seeking volunteers to assist with various park enhancement projects including removing brush, repairing and painting picnic tables, cleaning fire rings, raking sand around playground equipment, removing litter, and staining piers. This opportunity is available immediately. For more information, contact Greg Haley at 641-782-5131.
  
  
• Tree Care Opportunity: Officials at Wildcat Den State Park are seeking volunteers to assist with general tree care activities including trimming and cutting trees in public use areas and road sides. This opportunity is available immediately. For more information, contact Jim Ohl, at 563-263-4337.
  
  
• Sign Construction Opportunity: Officials at Big Creek State Park are seeking volunteers to assist with constructing wood signs and sign posts for reservation boxes and bike trail mileage signs. Lumber will be provided. This opportunity is available immediately. For more information, contact Kim Olofson at 515-984-6473.

A full listing of volunteer opportunities and events is available at www.keepersoftheland.org

For more information, contact Merry Rankin at (515) 281-0878 or Merry.Rankin@dnr.iowa.gov.