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Healthy Lands Week promotes stewardship, volunteerism

Volunteers turn out to care for habitat at Shawnee State Park

By Colette Costlow 5 min read

BEDFORD -- Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week encouraged volunteers to roll up their sleeves Monday after planting native trees around Shawnee State Park's campsite and dropping fish habitats full of invasive tree branches into the lake.

From now through Oct. 4, state parks and forests in Bedford County are taking center stage during Pennsylvania's annual Healthy Lands Week as the region continues to invest in outdoor recreation.

Projects ranging from habitat restoration to footbridge repairs are happening at Shawnee State Park, Warrior's Path State Park and Buchanan State Forest.

Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week coordinator Amy Hill said the organization's mission is to promote stewardship and volunteerism, starting with Bedford County.

"We never want to take for granted these natural spaces that we enjoy," she said. "Somebody has to take care of those types of things."

Wildlife habitats

Volunteer and Penn State master gardener Tim Clingerman demonstrated how to plant a flowering Crabapple tree by tearing off the seedling bag and filling the hole surrounding the seedling with water.

Maple, Common Serviceberry and Hornbeam are some of the many native trees Clingerman selected to plant around Shawnee's campsite. He said planting different types of native trees also increases diversity in the park.

"We're trying to beautify the campground and to deflect the lighting from vehicles while they're driving in the park," he said.

In the past, he said the park removed hazardous trees and ground up the stumps, "so we're replacing trees in those areas."

George Barner, DCNR environmental education specialist, said they had a good turnout, with seven volunteers who got their hands dirty.

He said trees not only beautify the area but also provide habitat for area wildlife.

"A year from now -- cross our fingers -- they're all going to be standing there, and maybe they'll come back with their family and say, 'I remember when this tree was first planted,'" he said.

Volunteer Eric Stiffler from UGI Utilities in Bedford is looking forward to showing off the tree he planted next summer when he brings his family to their campsite.

Stiffler worked on planting a Hornbeam tree into the ground with help from Barner, Clingerman and UGI co-worker Rachael Romig, who said their company encourages volunteer work in the community.

"UGI really believes in giving back to the communities where we have natural gas service," Romig said.

She was excited to learn that they were planting trees today, as this project was in their backyard. Stiffler added that this project was right up his alley, as he enjoys fishing, hiking and camping in his free time.

"Taking care of the environment is important, just as is taking care of other people and animals," Romig said. "Trees are always coming down, so new ones need to come up."

Fish habitats

On the other side of the park, Penn State students and REI employees dropped fish habitats into the lake using branches from invasive species and a few cinder blocks.

According to park manager Jim McCorkle, last weekend's volunteers cut and removed invasive trees around the park, such as European alder and alder buckthorn, which filled the fish habitats made from Hemlock wood. Cinder blocks weighed down the bottom of the habitats.

"Once they get sunk into the lake, algae will start to grow on the brush inside," he said. "That'll attract insects; the insects will bring in smaller fish to feed on the insects. The smaller fish will bring in the big fish."

Shawnee State Park has worked with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for five years to improve fish habitats, conducting an annual project, McCorkle said. With projects like this, he hopes that volunteers make connections with Shawnee and the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

"Stewardship is important," he said. "We want to create new stewards and continue stewardship for those who might already be stewards of our public lands."

Some volunteers hopped on a boat run by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist Mike Swartz, who transported two fish habitats at a time while volunteers dumped them into different sections of the lake.

Penn State University professor Andrew Mowen and Ph.D. student Alex Caraynoff watched three undergraduate students on the boat Monday from the shore with REI employees Mike Teeter and Cody Wertz.

Mowen, who teaches a Recreation, Park and Tourism Management class, wanted his students to witness volunteer work firsthand and connect with agencies that provide fishing habitats.

"I think both courses and field experience are really helpful," Caraynoff said. "They get our students out into the field they will be in when they graduate."

Teeter said REI also encourages their employees to beautify their counties, saying, "We believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived."

"Doing a project like this, you can see first-hand your impact on the environment, (which), I think, is really important," Wertz said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

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