Over the spring, summer, and fall of 2021, Volunteer Land Stewards gave over 1,700 hours engaging and educating visitors to our preserves and assisting with stewardship projects. While what they gave was an essential service to this organization, they will tell you that what they received was just as powerful.
Connell O’Brien with his outreach table at Kellys Run.
“Being a part of the Land Steward and Outreach volunteer programs has given me an opportunity to share with others the appreciation in the natural diversity and beauty of our local area. Helping to educate visitors to the preserves on how they can impact trail health, deepen their awareness of natural habitats, and participating in trail maintenance events and other activities provides a positive outlet for me to feel like I am doing my part to help protect our wild spaces for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
– Sarah Gotwols
“Being outdoors immersed in nature helps me feel connected to our planet. I enjoy sharing what I see and hear with others and especially young people. I volunteer so that these important locations will be available for all of us to explore now and for many years in the future.”
– Beth Katz
Kenzie Gibbs pulls garlic mustard at Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve.
“As a Conservancy Outreach volunteer, I’ve spent a day or two each weekend at the trailhead of some of Lancaster County’s busy and beautiful nature preserves. I was able to great so many families, groups, couples and individuals looking to get outside and immersed in the peace, calm and beauty of the nature preserves. A friendly welcome, maps, trail guidance and a few words about preserving and protecting the trails were light duty with wonderful neighbors and new friends. Knowing that I was part of the opportunity to offer respite from a toxic year, add to the mental health of so many and enjoy the company of our visitors confirmed that old saying ‘you always seem to get more than you give.'”
– Connell O’Brien
“After a tree planting event with another organization, the director said he didn’t feel optimistic about much these days with the pandemic, politics, and global warming. But he sure felt good seeing trees in the ground. I get to work a little with the Conservancy clearing invasive vegetation at Kellys Run and I feel exactly the same way. No matter what else, at the end of each time there it’s still exciting to see a new small patch where natives can return.”
– Tom Reidenbaugh
Daniel Butzer plants a tree at Fishing Creek Nature Preserve.
“Where I come from, there are a lot of forests, so I was thrilled to find an organization here in Lancaster with the mission of protecting our natural lands and forests. I hike, bike, and walk a lot as well, so I also appreciate that the lands are kept open for everyone to enjoy. As an outreach volunteer, I really enjoyed all of the positive interactions I had with everyone we spoke with on the preserves. As we would talk to them about the principles of leave no trace, they would listen with such an open mind, and then would report back after their hike how they followed the principles. Their willingness to be a part of the solution and their delight in their experiences in the natural world were so inspiring.”
– Diane Kalata
