Get Out in the Park and Volunteer With Friends of the Wissahickon in 2017

Volunteer on Jan. 16, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or become a long-term volunteer in the Wissahickon.

Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) invites the community to volunteer in the Wissahickon Valley Park—with single day work opportunities and longer volunteer commitments, there are many ways to give back to the park that you love.

On Monday, Jan. 16, FOW will be working with volunteers on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service at the Thomas Mansion in Germantown from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help remove invasive plants there. To register, contact FOW volunteer coordinator Christina Anthony at Anthony@fow.org.

“We are inviting outdoor enthusiasts from the Philadelphia region   to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to experience every corner of the Wissahickon,” said Maura McCarthy, Friends of the Wissahickon executive director. “We’re asking people to enjoy the park and raising money for its continued preservation. It’s our turn to give back to the park that is there for us every day,” McCarthy said.

There are other ways to volunteer with Friends of the Wissahickon in 2017. FOW volunteers provide critical support needed to protect, preserve, and enhance Wissahickon Valley Park. Each year, FOW volunteers work over 12,000 hours to help FOW perform duties and complete projects that are essential for the Wissahickon to thrive. There are three distinct volunteer programs for volunteers–Trail Ambassadors, Outreach Corps and Crew Leaders.

Trail Ambassadors are park docents who aid and educate park visitors about everything park related: directions, safety needs, park history, flora, fauna, and geology, and more. 

Outreach Corps volunteers will have the opportunity to represent Friends of the Wissahickon in the park and in surrounding communities. Outreach Corps engage with the public in the Wissahickon and are the face of FOW.

Crew Leaders are volunteers who become skilled in leading volunteer groups in the park and sharing their knowledge and expertise with others.  They work directly with FOW staff to help plan and lead volunteer workdays throughout the park. Crew Leaders can choose to focus on trail work, habitat restoration, structures, or trash and graffiti removal.

Friends of the Wissahickon is accepting applications for its volunteer programs through January 20. Contact FOW volunteer coordinator Christina Anthony at Anthony@fow.org.

Founded in 1924, Friends of the Wissahickon is a 1,600-member nonprofit organization and works in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to restore historical park structures, eliminate invasive plant species, monitor watershed management issues, and restore trails throughout the Wissahickon Park. Follow FOW on Facebook and Twitter. For more information or to become a member, visit www.fow.org.