| Press Releases | DNR Press Room | Search DNR | DNR Home |
DNR Volunteers Provide Invaluable Service, Gain Priceless Experience
National Volunteer Week is April 17-23
ANNAPOLIS — It has been said that one person can make a difference. In 2004, 27,698 Marylanders made a difference by volunteering nearly 387,000 hours of their time to help protect, preserve and enhance Maryland’s natural resources. In celebration of National Volunteer Week April 17-23, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is taking this opportunity to thank and recognize these amazing volunteers.
According to the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, the value of a volunteer hour is $16.54. Therefore, the economic impact of DNR’s volunteers to the state is $6.4 million. The Office estimates that the total value added of volunteers to the State of Maryland is $2.3 billion annually.
“The value these volunteers bring to the state is immeasurable,” said DNR Secretary C. Ronald Franks. “Our state’s natural resources are a legacy we leave to our children and the best way Marylanders can show their appreciation for these resources is to volunteer their time to protect them.”
Volunteers can donate a few hours or several weeks to the Department's many volunteer projects. Opportunities are available on weekdays, weekends or a combination of both. Each volunteer project has a coordinator, contact phone number, and in most cases, an e-mail address. Questions about specific projects should be directed to the project coordinator. For larger community organizations, such as schools, scouts, church groups, and service organizations, tree plantings are the most appropriate selection. Below are some examples of the various activities volunteers can participate in.Information about the many volunteer opportunities available at DNR can be found at visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/volunteer/.
- Maryland Park Service – Become a Volunteer Ranger, Camp Host, Bicycle Patrol, Mounted Patrol or gather your group and get involved with a number of group projects going on in Maryland's 49 state parks.
- Wildlife and Heritage Program – Pelican banding, rare plant surveys, invasive weed control, construction, placement and monitoring of Pine Snake traps, quail surveys and birdhouse construction and placement.
- Tributary Strategies – Engaging and educating local governments in the development and implementation of Bay restoration and protection policies, build consensus among stakeholders on the common goal of improving water quality and participate in education and outreach events such as Wade-Ins.
- TREE-MENDOUS Maryland Program – Planting and maintaining trees and shrubs, removing non-native species of trees and shrubs, participating in award and grant programs and serving on Forestry Boards.
- Fisheries Service –Trout stocking, electro-shocking survey work on various fisheries and fish tagging.
- Natural Resources Police Reserves Hunter Education Program – Adult and youth hunter education.
April 15, 2005The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov