Parks Operations

Hello! My name is Nancy Heltman and I am Virginia State Park's Operations Director. I know, that title is a little vague and probably does little to tell you what I do.

I work in our Central Office in Richmond and manage several key administrative areas for Virginia State Parks. The Operations Section includes our Reservation Center, Volunteerism, Budget, Logistics, some Marketing, and I serve as liaison between our field units and our Agency's support divisions (IT, human resources, procurement, finance). I spend a lot of my time streamlining the bureaucracy of state government so our staff in the field can spend their time making our customers happy!

I have been with Virginia State Parks since 1996 and came to state government after sixteen years in the private sector. I have my MBA from the College of William and Mary and have lived in Virginia for all but one year of my life.

I love our Virginia State Parks and have been to every one of them. My husband, David, and I spend nearly all of our vacations in one of our beautiful Virginia State Parks and now bring our dog Yoda on these excursions.

My goal for the blogs I write is to pass along my enthusiasm for the parks and let our potential customers know what neat things we have going on. From my days as Reservation Center Manager (my first job with Virginia State Parks) and my visits to parks (I have been to all of them). I know most of what there is to know about our parks and will find out anything I don't know. Feel free to contact me any time:

nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov  Or, follow me on Twitter @VaStateParks

At Sky Meadows State Park on September 4, 2010 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. discover the unique qualities of owls with a close look at some live owls found in the area. Then, at 5:00 p.m. witness one of the most amazing things you’ll ever get to see - the release of two young Barn Owls.

In early June two Barn Owl owlets were found at Sky Meadows State Park. They were transported to the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia’s rehabilitation facility. Under the watchful eyes of Kent Knowles and all the wonderful care from the volunteers at the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia they are now ready to come home.


Following the release you can investigate the diet of owls by dissecting their pellets. Afterward, take a hike in search of our nocturnal friends.  Finally, wrap up the evening by trying to find an elusive “owl” in a unique nocturnal game of hide and seek.

Visitors should come to the Mount Bleak parking lot for directions to the release site. Call the park for details, or visit our website.

By Gwen Kirby, Office of Interpretation, Hungry Mother State Park

Do you say "Appa-laa-chian" or "Appa-lay-chian"? No matter which way you say it, come find out more about the people who moved to Southwest Virginia and laid the foundation for the unique and colorful culture of the Appalachian Mountains. Dylan House, curator of the Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia, will be at Hungry Mother State Park on Saturday, September 4, to present "The Migration Story of Southwest Virginia", a program about the Scotch-Irish and German immigrants who came to these mountains. The program starts at 8:00 p.m. at the Park Amphitheater.

The Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia is located in Atkins, Va., just a few miles from Interstate 81. The museum boasts a one-room schoolhouse, a farmhouse, and multiple outbuildings, all restored to represent a working farm from the late 1800s. With authentic farm tools and programs about school days, the museum educates the public about 19th century farm life in Southwest Virginia.

Hungry Mother State Park, located three miles outside of Marion, Va., offers opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education throughout the year. Contact the Discovery Center for more information about this program and others, at 276-781-7400.

By Gwen Kirby, Office of Interpretation, Hungry Mother State Park

Didn't get to the beach this summer? You have one more chance to get in some beach fun on Labor Day weekend at Hungry Mother State Park, September 3 - 6. The beach will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. all weekend. Don't miss it - once it closes on Monday, September 6, it won't open again till 2011!


We'll kick off the Labor Day weekend activities with the Welcome Ya'll Campfire on Friday, September 3, at 8:00 p.m. at the Amphitheater. Come to hear stories, sing songs, and roast marshmallows, all for free!  

On Saturday and Sunday, make sure you're at the beach at 2:00 p.m., for Beachcombing! A free program, the interpreter will roam the beach with interesting items from the natural world.

On Saturday, September 4, take a break from the sun and sand and come to the Discovery Center at 4:00 p.m. for Trick Your Stick! Customize your very own hiking stick with paint, beads, and other goodies. Your registration fee of $3.00 provides sticks and materials.  This event is sponsored by the Friends of Hungry Mother State Park and preregistration is required. .

At 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, come to the Amphitheater for "The Migration Story of Southwest Virginia", presented by Dylan House from the Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia. We'll talk about the European settlers who cam to the mountains and their contributions to our culture.

There's more fun to be had on Sunday, September 5. At 4:00 p.m., we'll be in the creek for the Critter Crawl. We will search for creek-dwellers and explain their role in the environment. Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get wet. Meet at parking lot 2. Cost is $3 per person.

Later that evening, come to our Astronomy program at 8:00 p.m. in parking lot 4 for a look at the night sky. We'll show you some favorite constellations and talk about the stories behind them. This program is free and not to be missed! If we have overcast skies, we'll meet at Shelter 2.

Hungry Mother State Park, located three miles outside of Marion, Va., offers opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education throughout the year. Contact the Discovery Center for more information about these program and others, at 276-781-7400.

It's hurricane season so it seems prudent to take the time to explain one of the less pleasant decisions we have to make - when and how to decide to close a park for severe weather.


From the first hint that a Hurricane or significant weather event is heading our way, Virginia's Department of Emergency Management scheduled conference calls for Federal, State and Local officials and major utility providers to discuss preparedness for the storm.


From our perspective, the safety of our visitors is of paramount concern and Virginia State Parks has an official policy that helps us decide when it is prudent to close our facilities. In other words, when we decide we need to make our overnight and day guests leave the park. We do not make the decision lightly, but you can see with the policy, below, that we have well defined parameters for making that call.

Our official call to close a park or facilities is the trigger for when we waive cancellation fees. Prior to that determination, guests are free to cancel using our standard cancellation policy. You can always check the current conditions on the NOAA weather site.

Sometimes our guests have been upset that we have closed the park and sent them away from a place to stay with nowhere for them to go. However, our decision is always based on our determination that it is UNSAFE to be in the park under the forecasted conditions. Our goal is to provide the most accurate and advance notification within reason and to notify customers in advance of their arrival whenever possible. It is important that guests provide us with email addresses or multiple contact phone numbers so we can reach them in advance of their departure.

To help get the information about park closings to customers without the need for everyone to call our Reservation line, we have instituted a new emergency bulletin system. If there is urgent information like whole park closures or specific facility closures, there will be a brown box close to the top of a park's webpage (see arrow in the picture below) with "Click here to read an urgent message about this park." If you click that link you will be directed to a page with the current information.



We hope this new alert system will enable our visitors to know about any possible closings or issues that may impact their overnight stay or day visit before they leave their house.

The last thing we ever want to do is ruin someone's vacation or park visit, especially since some of these trips are planned eleven months in advance. But there is nothing like a tree falling through your tent or cabin to do just that not to mention potential life threatening events. And, yes the forecasts can be wrong but our intent is always to err on the side of caution when it comes to your safety!

I had one of those dream childhood experiences - I had my own horse. In my memories my horse, named King (yes, after the horse in the National Velvet TV series) looked like the TV King or Black Beauty or Flicka of some other beautiful stallon. In truth he was a little sway back and deathly afraid of tractors (I have the scars to prove that).

Back then, there was still lots of farmland in Williamsburg and even Hampton and we could find a farm (not a boarding stable) to keep my horse. My dad had lots of friends.

Today, people who own horses either have some land of their own or board their horses somewhere. And regardless, it is not easy to find places to go riding. The places in Williamsburg and Hampton where I used to ride on farms have long ago been turned into housing developments.

What many people may not know is that many Virginia State Parks offer multi-use trails that are suitable for horses. We also have several parks where you can bring your horse and camp overnight. We have one park where we operate a horse livery where you can take a horseback ride even if you don't own a horse.


If you use our cool amenity search tool on our website and click "Equestrian" under trails, you will get a list of all the parks by region in the state that offer horse trails or access to horse trails directly from the park. The Virginia Outdoors website lists the parks with equestrian trails and also lists other public lands that feature equestrian or multi-use trails through their partnership with the Virginia Horse Council. Before traveling a distance to visit a park for equestrian use, I recommend you call the park and verify that the trails are open. After significant rain, the trails may be too dangerous for equestrian use.

We have campsites that allow visitors to camp with their horses at Grayson Highlands, New River Trail (Cliffview), Occoneechee and James River state parks. New equestrian campgrounds are in the construction phase at Douthat, Fairy Stone, Staunton River, and James River state parks.


New River Trail State Park offers a horse livery so you can take a trail ride on one of the park's horses. The livery is open from the first weekend in April through the end of October. Call (276) 699-2460 for details.

So, if you have horse and will travel, be sure and check out riding and camping opportunities at Virginia's state parks. For camping reservations, call 800-933-7275.

By Jennifer Saik, Park Interpreter, Shenandoah River State Park

The Junior Ranger Program at Shenandoah River State Park was a real success this year!  Fifteen children showed up for each of the week long sessions, held July 26-30th and August 2-6th.   Several members of our wonderful Friends of Shenandoah River State Park volunteered large amounts their time, talent and energy to put on a fantastic  program, along with the Park Interpreter, Jennifer Saik.  Some of the topics covered included edible plants, wildlife photography, scats and tracks and dissecting owl pellets.


 
We also observed and learned about the Little Brown Bats that roost in our kiosk and used seine nets to catch and study macro invertebrates in the river, including crayfish.  Each child received a baseball cap and received nature journals to record notes about each day’s program.


At the end of the week, an awards ceremony was held, where each Junior Ranger was awarded a certificate and patch by Tony Widmer, Park Manager and Brett Clawson, Chief Ranger.  The children also enjoyed treats by park staff and volunteers.   

Thanks to a grant from Chesapeake Gateways, our Youth Conservation Corps was able to offer ten additional programs this year. In addition to working on projects in the park, the crews learn about the natural world as well as the cultural history of the area around the park. The parks located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which are part of the Gateways Network, received specialized training on the Chesapeake Bay.


The crew at Belle Isle State Park was able to learn about the impact of the Bay's health on the people that live on Tangier Island when they visited on July 28th. Tangier Island is home to commercial watermen who make their living harvesting mostly crab from the Bay.


They also found out what it's like to depend on boat transportation to travel to the mainland and get most of your supplies. While the day was beautiful, the trip over was choppy and the trip back was very rough. Thanks to Dramamine my stomach was fine, but not so much my nerves. Gaston Rouse who is responsible for all of the logistics (and the overall design) of the project and I were in agreement - we thought we were going to die. Had we not had expert Captain Billy Pipkin at the wheel, I'm not sure what would have happened!

Okay, so maybe Gaston and I are landlubbers. This is the third trip to Tangier Island that Captain Billy has taken various Youth Corps crews on. He has also taken our crews out on a cruise down the Great Wicomico River. Captain Billy runs a charter fishing and cruise business our of his Ingram Bay Marina on the Liquid Assets II.


We had a wonderful lunch on the pristine beach and the kids had a great time swimming. We took a golf cart tour of the island and visited the Museum. We finished our stay with a great dinner at Hilda Crockett's Chesapeake House.

The Belle Isle State Park crew worked hard at the park in addition to learning about the Chesapeake Bay. They designed and implemented canoe-in/kayak-in campsites for the park. Enjoy the Rappahannock Record story on the crew. Click here for more pictures of the crew in action.

The Belle Isle crew was one of 20 crews participating in one of two three-week residential sessions. We also hosted two Youth Service Corps programs which serves the same age group of at risk youth in a day program for three weeks.

By Gwen Kirby, Office of Interpretation, Hungry Mother State Park

On Saturday, August 14, blacksmith James Covert will be bringing his forge to Hungry Mother State Park to demonstrate the ancient art of smithing.

Historically, the blacksmith was a central part of the village. Using simple tools and heat, he made knives, farm tools, weapons, wagon wheels and all manner of important everyday items. Covert has made it his passion to make knives the old way, as the village blacksmith did.

On his website, Covert says "The primitive way I make weapons makes me feel connected to my past."

Covert, from Rural Retreat, Va., is an artisan blacksmith who specializes in knives. He keeps his outfit simple, utilizing hammers, an anvil, and a forge made out of a steel drum. As one of only a handful of artisans who use this technique, Covert has traveled all over the country demonstrating his art. He will be coming to Hungry Mother State Park on Saturday, August 14. The forge will be set up from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on the Green by the Restaurant. Visitors are welcome to stop by and talk with Covert about his project, his tools, and blacksmithing.

Day visitors can enjoy swimming and boating in Hungry Mother Lake, and there are several miles of trails for hiking and biking. The Restaurant at Hungry Mother serves lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Hungry Mother State Park at 276-781-7400

By Gwen Kirby, Office of Interpretation, Hungry Mother State Park

Summer's not over yet! On August 7, 2010 Hungry Mother State Park will celebrate the great outdoors with Trails Day, with programs to get us outside and learning more about the natural world around us.

10:30 am - Geo-who? Geo-what? Geocaching! - $3
Wondering what the newest craze is? It’s geocaching! Meet us at Lot 2 where you will learn how to use a GPS unit and become hooked on this high-tech treasure hunt. Preregistration required.

2:00 pm - Beachcombing - FREE
A park interpreter roams the beach with some interesting items from the natural world.

4:00 pm - Trick Your Stick! - $3 (cash or check only)
Come to the Discovery Center where you can customize your very own hiking stick. Sticks and materials provided. Sponsored by the Friends of Hungry Mother State Park. Preregistration required.

6:00 pm - Medicinal Plants Hike - FREE
Join us for a medicinal plant walk! We will identify these plants on a short walk through the park. Plant expert Carrie Sparks will be leading this exciting hike. Meet at the Discovery Center.

8:00 pm - The Park Presents…
“Appalachian Impressions” - FREE
Learn about the legendary Appalachian Trail with this interesting and informative movie. Topics include trail maintenance, gear, and “Leave No Trace” ethics. Meet at Shelter 2.

Contact the Discovery Center for more information: 276-781-7400

Maybe you didn't notice but the unique to Virginia State Parks Archery Range at Bear Creek Lake State Park had been closed for the past few months. Today it reopened thanks to a dynamic partnership between the park staff, the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park, and the work of the Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps Bear Creek crew.


The YCC crew worked hard on all aspects of the project from making the parking lot to hauling the target shelters to erecting the signage. Enjoy the slide show of their work on the project:


The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park will be operating the archery range. For now it is a 2D range with ten shooting lanes. The Friends have one 3D target to add and more coming in as donations. Fees for the range are $5 for adults and $3 for children 3-12 in addition to the general per car parking fee. You can buy an annual pass at the park for the archery range for $45. The range is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May through September and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the rest of the year.




The partnership is still open. The range could use some more targets, especially 3-D and the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park would welcome participation by local businesses to improve the quality of the archery experience. Click here for contact information to get involved.

By Megan France, Natural Tunnel State Park Chief Ranger Interpreter

Nature Trek 360˚ is a partnership with the Cove Ridge Center Foundation, Scott County Schools and Natural Tunnel State Park that offers a 3 day 2 night camp for middle school students with the goal of introducing the students to the natural and cultural history of their region. The program has been offered as part of Scott County’s summer school curriculum.

The program addresses standards of learning in science and social studies for students entering 5th – 8th grades, while also providing a framework to allow the students to discover the outdoors through exploration.


Over the past four years, results have been tremendously popular and generated a great deal of excitement in students, teachers, administrators and park staff.  Each day has a theme with a focus on different aspects of the natural or cultural history of the region.  The following sections offer a brief synopsis of the theme and programs offered each day.


Day One offers an overview of the park as well as focusing on technology and the natural history of the region. Students start their day off with a GPS activity that will allow them to explore several locations through out the park. Later in the day the students will spend time hiking through Natural Tunnel via Stock Creek, discussing the geological processes that formed the tunnel and an introduction to the karst topography of the region. While on the hike, students will have the opportunity to participate in an invertebrate study along Stock Creek. 


That evening the students will have the opportunity to view the night sky at an astronomy program.

Day Two focuses mainly on the cultural history of the region. During the morning students will have the opportunity to step back 200 years ago with a few programs at the Wilderness Road Blockhouse. There they will meet a couple of frontier women making clothing from wool and linen. Students will experience the steps that go into each process and the hard work that goes into each step.


In the afternoon students will learn how to canoe and snorkel. Snorkeling expedition introduces the students to the biological diversity and importance of the Clinch River to Southwest Virginia. That evening students will enjoy a hayride along Fincastle Road followed by a campfire at the Blockhouse.


Day Three will focus on Southwest Virginia’s natural environment. Students will spend a day at Falls of Little Stoney exploring sandstone bluffs, wildflowers, wildlife and the Falls.

    
The Nature Trek 360° program in 2010 ran three sessions serving 54 students. All program fees, supplies, meals and lodging were included in the fee paid by the school system.  One male and one female teacher are provided by the school system as overnight chaperons.  Students stay in the lodges at the Cove Ridge Center. The meals are cooked by Cove Ridge staff, and students are responsible for setting up meals and snacks, as well as cleaning up afterward and taking out trash.


The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive over the past 4 years.  Students ask if they could come back the next summer, the superintendent has received calls from several parents to let him know how much their children enjoyed the program, and teachers told park staff they overheard the students talking about the program when school began in the fall.  One parent said her son came home from the park and immediately went to the creek on their property to see what animals he could find. Our goal is for the Nature Trek 360° program to provide a student’s first step towards the “nature medicine” needed to begin curing today’s children of Nature Deficit Disorder.

By Taylor Thorp, Cove Ridge Center Director, Natural Tunnel State Park

This past June, 7 students and 2 staff left the Cove Ridge Center at Natural Tunnel State Park, heading off on the annual Virginia Is For Students Tour 2010. It’s a trip that’s been done before, visiting sites such as coastal Virginia during the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, as well as Chincoteague, False Cape, touring Washington, D.C., and visiting 9 Virginia State Parks in 1 week! But this year marked something different … something that hasn’t been done before in the history of Virginia Is For Students.


This year, the students followed in the footsteps of the American Civil War, from events that helped trigger it, to the first major land battle, to the site of some of the most important moments, and to the site of the surrender of Confederate forces that marked the end of the war. This year, the Virginia Is For Students Tour was planned around the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War – the 150th Anniversary.


So what is the Virginia Is For Students Tour, you ask? That’s easy – it’s a multi-day, overnight, educational and adventure touring program that focuses on the recreational and historical opportunities that exist within Virginia, or have direct bearing on our state. Working with Virginia SOLs, it offers rising Sophomores and Juniors a chance to visit parts of the state they may have never seen, while allowing them to be immersed in activities that can make a lasting impression. The Tour is run by the Cove Ridge Center of Natural Tunnel State Park in conjunction with the school systems of Scott, Lee, and Wise counties, and the City of Norton. It is partially funded through gracious contributions from the Cove Ridge Foundation & Advisory Board, a non-profit group that works with the Cove Ridge Center.


This year, the Virginia Is For Students Tour took 5 students from Lee County High School and 2 students from Rye Cove High School (in Scott County) on a 8-day trip around our state. Beginning on Sunday, June 20th, the students traveled through more than half the state, and took in 3 State Parks, 1 National Battlefield, 1 National Military Park, 2 National Historical Parks, a large Ropes Course and Zip-Line, whitewater tubing, and canoeing – not to mention the sights, experiences, and friendships that occurred along the way! Two nights were spent in tree house shelters – yes, in real trees! – at Maple Tree Campground, while 2 nights each were spent at Lake Anna and James River state parks, and 1 night at Hemlock Overlook. The group returned to the Cove Ridge Center on Sunday. June 27th.


When it came to adventure and recreation, this year’s Tour made sure that the students kept active. From whitewater tubing on the Potomac River during their first full day out, to tackling an 8-mile canoe trip on the James near the end of the trip – this trip made full use of the outdoor activities throughout our state. In addition to the swimming and hiking offered at each State Park, the students spent an entire day in the middle of the week at the Adventure Links Hemlock Overlook, where they participated in various team building activities. From ground initiatives to low-ropes elements to soaring down a zip-line – the programs at Hemlock Overlook helped to raise group and individual confidence, self-esteem, and group dynamics and cohesion. And all the students agreed – it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip!


While adventure and recreation were an important part of the trip, some of the most unforgettable moments came from visiting the historical sites throughout the Tour. As the first stop on the trip, the students toured Harpers Ferry, WV, site of the infamous John Brown Raid on the federal armory, and one of many precursors to the American Civil War. The next historical stop centered on Manassas National Battlefield, where the students toured the sites of the first and second battles of Manassas (or Bull Run). It was here that they learned about spectators venturing out from nearby Washington, D.C. to watch the first battle – only to flee back to the city when the Confederate forces won. One student told the staff after visiting: “Manassas was heartbreaking. It’s sad to hear about the thousands of men dying and (us) actually being there.” It was also here the group saw firsthand the spot where General “Stonewall” Jackson earned his nickname.


Later in the week, the students toured the battlefields and sites around Fredericksburg, VA. They followed the Sunken Road and saw the wall that protected Confederate forces during the Marye’s Heights portion of the battle, where failed Union charges led to more 6,000 casualties. The group also visited the Stonewall Jackson Shrine, where they saw the bed in which he had died. One student commented, “It was awesome, yet very… creepy. The bed he passed away in still had the indentation of his body.”


The last place the students visited was Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park, the site of the last major battle of the Civil War. The group toured the McLean House, and saw firsthand the room and desks where Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant signed the surrender papers that ended the war. All the students mentioned that site and the house had a profound impact on them, and one student said, “We got to see ‘where our nation reunited.’”


Waging through “battles” of their own, the students fought heat and bugs and long days to follow in the footsteps of some of the most important parts of Virginia’s history. They witnessed and toured sites that marked the beginning, middle, and ending to a war that saw more battles fought in our state than in any other. And one thing all the students and staff could agree on was the fact that there was no information in any textbook that could compare to the impact of actually being there.


So, where will the Virginia Is For Students Tour go next year? When will it run? These are questions that the students are already asking! Not to worry – planning is already underway, with hopes that next year’s Tour will be better than ever!

Today Odwalla changed the rules for voting to plant trees in state parks across the country! Now you can plant 5 trees for each Facebook account or email address (if you don't have a Facebook account).

Virginia is currently in 5th place with far fewer votes than last year. We used last year's money and volunteer labor to plant trees in our parks across the state. Won't you help us by planting more trees?

If you have already voted, you will find a drop down box that lets you plant 4 more trees. If you have not yet voted, you will be able to plant 5.

You can plant 5 trees for every email address you have but you may have to clear your browser history or cache in order to vote using different accounts. Simply click here or on the picture below.

The Coca-Cola Live Positively Campaign is donating $100,000 to the national or state park that garners the most votes on their Live Positively website. You must have a Facebook account to vote.

Coke will also donate up to $200,000 to the National Parks Foundation based on votes received.

At this writing, four Virginia State Parks are in the top ten! Vote now and vote often! Click here.

An official Press Release from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation by Jim Meisner, Jr.

A statewide volunteer program, the Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps, has been named the Outstanding State Volunteer Program in the United States by the Take Pride in America program.

Virginia State Parks are operated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Take Pride in America program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The award was presented by Robert Stanton, senior advisor to Secretary Ken Salazar and a former director of the National Park Service, and Lisa Young, director of Take Pride America. “Virginia State Parks have received many accolades over the years, from awards honoring facilities and amenities to being recognized as the best managed state park system in the United States,” said DCR Director David Johnson. “This award recognizes the hard work and contributions of nearly 1,000 young people and staff who made this program so successful.”


Fashioned after the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, the YCC is a summer program for young volunteers between the ages of 14-17. Working in crews of approximately 10 volunteers and three college-age supervisors, the young people each contribute between 120 and 180 hours of service. Participants work in state parks across Virginia on a variety of conservation projects including trail and campground maintenance, construction, fence building, tree planting, noxious weed removal and fish habitat improvement. Program projects are designed to foster teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment, said Gaston Rouse, State Parks director of volunteer services.

“These youngsters are the future of the Commonwealth and the future of America,” Rouse said. “Volunteering is one of the most important facets of adult life, and we need to incorporate that into the lives of our children.”

In 2007, the YCC program received the Virginia Governor’s Best Youth Volunteer in Virginia award.


Since its creation in 2002, nearly 1,000 young people have participated in the YCC program. This year, YCC volunteers will work in 20 parks in two three-week sessions. Ten were completed earlier this summer, while the second session of YCC volunteers will work through Aug. 7 in nine state parks: Westmoreland, Holliday Lake, Leesylvania, York River, Belle Isle, Claytor Lake, Lake Anna, Sky Meadows and Wilderness Road state parks, as well as the Petersburg National Battlefield.

In 2009, 165 youths performed park development and maintenance projects, putting in 45,483 hours of work, valued at $933,765 in employee wages.

“The YCC program gives young people opportunities to serve their state and communities while learning important skills and it introduces natural resource and environmental fields as a possible career path,” said DCR State Parks Director Joe Elton. “The YCC embodies the core responsibility of the state parks system by fostering environmental awareness at a young age and connecting our volunteers to the awe and wonder of nature. YCC participants carry the memories of these experiences with them for the rest of their lives and they remain our partners in protecting state parks for future generations.”


This year, 246 are expected to participate in the program, logging an estimated 65,000 hours worth $1,360,450 in employee hours. The program attracted 447 applicants in 2010.

The YCC program was selected by a panel of judges from hundreds of qualified nominations representing outstanding examples of public lands stewardship from across the country. This year, there are 15 National Award winners, representing projects and events in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Take Pride in America is a nationwide partnership program authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of our nation’s public lands. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior for the benefit of all public lands at all levels of government nationwide.

By Christa Kermode, Special Events Coordinator, Sky Meadows State Park

Enjoy the afternoon with your “best friend” on July 31, 2010 at Sky Meadows State Park.  From Noon to 6:00 PM you can find out about your “furry friend” and what he/she needs from local pet lovers & the Fauquier SPCA.  Activities include: informational booths, dog obedience tips, doggie costume contest, best trick contest, and much more…Bring in a can of dog food and get a free raffle ticket.  The Junior Volunteers will be hosting a doggie wash and selling hot dogs & raffle tickets.  All proceeds will benefit the Fauquier SPCA.

The Fauquier SPCA was founded in 1957 to offer protection and assistance to the animals of Fauquier County and surrounding areas.  The Fauquier SPCA lived up to its name almost immediately.  Barely two weeks after it was organized, the SPCA went to the rescue of some starving livestock, whose owner was subsequently convicted of cruelty to animals.  In the more than 50 years following its inception, the Fauquier SPCA has continued its mission of providing local animals with the most complete services possible.

An official Department of Conservation and Recreation Press release by Jim Meisner, Jr. Public Relations Specialist

Virginia State Parks continued the year-long trend of record attendance with an Independence Day weekend attendance of 266,739, a 22 percent increase over last year’s previous record-high of 218,889.

The record-high visitation follows another record setting holiday weekend when visitation increased 15.9 percent on Memorial Day weekend.


The 35 award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

DCR Director David Johnson attributes the significant increase to a number of factors. “The weather across Virginia was simply incredible all weekend long,” he said. “The warm dry weather made state parks, and state park swimming facilities, immensely popular. Over the past decade, we’ve seen a steady rise in attendance as we’ve responded to visitors' requests for more cabins, campsites, lodges and staff-led programs and activities. Simply put, more people are coming to Virginia State Parks because our parks are better than they have ever been.”

Tracking the first six months of 2010 compared to the same time last year, overall state park attendance is up 8 percent.


“Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia’s economy and Virginia State Parks are one of our best assets to attract visitors,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Families from around the country, and especially from the East Coast, travel to Virginia to enjoy the pristine beauty of our state parks.”

The estimated economic impact of Virginia State Parks was $175 million in 2009.

The Independence Day weekend saw a 70 percent increase in swimming over last year. Other significant gains over 2009 included a 19 percent increase in camping deposits, a 6 percent increase in cabin rentals, and a 36 percent increase in food and beverage sales.

Overall sales for the weekend increased 27 percent over last year.

“We are excited to see Virginia State Parks continue their record setting year with another outstanding holiday weekend,” said DCR’s State Parks Director Joe Elton. “Visitors have come to our parks for nearly 75 years to find therapy for the mind, body and spirit as they enjoy our unspoiled natural resources. More than 266,000 people visited our parks over the holiday weekend, and they returned home with cherished family memories that will last a lifetime.”

Virginia State Parks offer dozens of festivals and concerts and thousands of seasonal nature and history programs across the state.

For more information about state park activities and amenities, or to make reservations in a campsite, cabin or family lodge, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at (800) 933-PARK or visit our website.

America's 50 states offer a network of state parks that have offered outdoor recreation opportunities for decades. Do something for yourself and America's State Parks, visit one this weekend!

If you follow my posts you know that this has not been the best year for First Landing State Park's campground.

First there was flooding (there are still sites we can't open). Wheo n it was clear that the water just wasn't draining off the sites and we took action to block the sites from rental, we realized we had already booked more sites than might be available. We made it through Memorial Day thanks to the hot dry weather but despite some last minute site openings, we still had to cancel some customers for the 4th of July weekend. I guess you can imagine what it would be like on the customer end of that phone conversation: "Hello customer, we are calling to ruin your vacation." Trust me, it's not a lot of fun on our end either.


To top if off, two other things have created more confusion. First, the park renovated some of the sites over the winter. This would normally be a great thing since the sites were made larger. However, we have since realized that these changes caused some real problems for our customers. It seems that folks have favorite sites and have figured out what kind of sites they need to reserve so they have a chance at getting that favorite site. Well, out renovations messed all that up. Normally we would have warned everyone and swapped site types for them but again the flooding prevented that at least for the weekends so far.

Secondly, we have had some issues with our reservation software. There was a glitch that was creating overbookings through the web. Because of everything else that was going on the best solution was to temporaily disable on line reservations for the park. I hope that we will be able to reinstate web reservations soon.

The good news is that we are through the worst of it after this weekend. Below is the new campground map. If your favorite site has changed site types, contact the Reservation Center by calling 800-933-7275 (they are closed Monday July 5 for the State Holiday) and they will try to transfer your reservation to the site type you desire.

As most of our regular customers know, we do not reserve specific sites. But, if you have one you like, there is zero chance you will get it if you do not have a reservation for that type of site. Please beware though - you must always reserve a site that is large enough for your equipment. If you have a 30' RV, if your favorite site is a 20' site, you are just our of luck.

The other good news is that the new check-in policy means that you have some choices when you check in. You will be allowed to select any site in a particular campground that matches the site type you have reserved. This should be an improvement over our previous process.




Please call us at 800-933-7275 if you need some help trying to rearrange your reservations. I can't promise we can solve the problem, but we will promise to try.