Jr. Ranger Intern Program Session 3
Our 3rd Session of our Junior Ranger Intern Program at Radnor Lake concluded on Saturday, July 29, 2017.
14 interns (13-17 years old) worked with the park staff on numerous projects around the natural area. Now in our 15th year of this program, the Jr. Ranger Intern Program creates an internship opportunity for these youth to work with state park rangers on trail projects at Radnor Lake, increase their exposure to environmental education programs and gain an insight into natural resource protection.
This is a labor intensive collaborative effort between the Friends of Radnor Lake, the Radnor Lake Staff, park volunteers and the Jr. Ranger Interns. Most days consisted of hiking a minimum of 3 miles, hauling mulch via wheelbarrow, removing deteriorated timbers off the Lake Trail, environmental education programs by the ranger staff and/or working daily at the Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center. All of this work was overseen by the park staff and done during some very hot days on the trails.
On Friday, July 28th the interns and staff traveled to the Duck River State Natural Area-Yanahli WMA to clean up 5.5 miles of this designated state scenic river. Our 14 interns, park staff and volunteers (Jim, Monica, Matthew and Stu) removed tires, bottles, can and other trash from the river. Special thanks to Higher Pursuits (Dawn, Jan and crew) for their assistance on two river clean ups on this portion of the State Scenic River and State Natural Area!
Over three sessions the past two months, Friends of Radnor Lake funded three 6-day sessions for 37 youth at Radnor Lake.
Thank you to Friends of Radnor Lake for funding this program again this year and to the state park staff for all of the additional work to make this program possible as we close out our 15 year of this great program for our local youth!