The Portage Park District recently hosted a volunteer orientation evening at Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna. Prospective volunteers heard about the history and the future of the Portage Park District and opportunities to get involved in a variety of volunteer programs.

Dawn Alber, program coordinator, spoke about the "200 Years of Wildlife" program, which has been developed to celebrate Portage County's Bicentennial. Park staff and volunteers will use The BioBus, a converted Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority bus running on biodiesel, to transport naturalist program materials around the county.

The BioBus will visit fairs, festivals, parades, hikes and events from spring through fall as part of the Heritage Tours, a series of events that the Park District and its partners are presenting to highlight Portage County's natural and cultural heritage.

"Many hands are needed to pull this off," said Alber. "People love to see and learn at these park activities, so we need some extra volunteer help." Because the Park District has limited staff, the volunteer program is being expanded to recruit and train new volunteer educators, trail workers and park guides.

Volunteers will receive an orientation, training in their particular program area, and some unique thank-yous, such as special hikes and picnics. During National Volunteer Week, park representatives will be at the following parks to answer questions and sign up volunteers for 2008:

* Headwaters Trail parking lot, S.R. 700, Hiram, 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday

* Towner's Woods parking lot, Franklin Township, 5 to 6 p.m. Monday

* Franklin Connector Trail, Hudson & Judson roads, Franklin Township, 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday

* Headwaters Trail, Mantua Park, 5 to 6 p.m. May 1

* Dix Park, Ravenna Township, 10 to 11 a.m. May 3

More information, including a downloadable volunteer application, can be found at the Web site, www.portageparkdistrict.org, or by calling the Park District office 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays at (330) 297-7728.

(photo)
Dawn Alber, program coordinator, speaks at the Portage Park District volunteer orientation about the "200 Years of Wildlife" program, which has been developed to celebrate Portage County's Bicentennial.