Posted: 4/24/07
GreenTouch Day is May 5
If you think spring cleaning at your home is a big project, donít look for sympathy from Roger Heimgartner. The term takes on a whole new meaning when you are the park manager of Beaver Creek Valley State Park in Caledonia. Heimgartner has a list as long as a timber rattler of projects to get the parkís facilities and eight miles of hiking trails ready for the summer season.
"You get a few warm days in the 70s and the phone starts ringing off the hook from people asking if you are open," Heimgartner says.
Even with a long "to do" list, Heimgartner says spring is his favorite time of year at the park.
"I look forward to seeing the visitors. The birds are migrating back. You see trout fisherman in the creek and the turkey hunters coming in to camp. Itís a time when staff returns and we get stuff done," Heimgartner says.
But like so many other programs around the state, the state parks have limited resources and budget. That is what makes GreenTouch Day so important to Minnesota state park managers like Heimgartner.
GreenTouch is a partnership that began seven years ago by Minnesota electric cooperatives to help state parks get "spruced up" for the busy season by enlisting their employees and the community to volunteer. The first Saturday in May is dedicated by participating electric cooperatives as GreenTouch Day. In addition to the volunteer work, the partnership also gives the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources funding to enhance the State Park Guide and the junior Park Naturalist Program.
Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TEC), of Rushford, rotates the location of GreenTouch Day between three state parks in its service territory: Beaver Creek Valley, Forestville/Mystery Cave and Great River Bluffs.
"GreenTouch Day is the perfect opportunity for individuals, families, youth groups and other organizations to take a few hours to enjoy nature while helping our local state parks," said Brian Krambeer, TEC president and CEO. "We work in the morning and afterwards the volunteers are welcome to spend the rest of the day enjoying the park without having to pay for a park permit."
Heimgartner says he looks forward to the help GreenTouch brings to his park every three years.
"The more volunteers we get, the more we can get done. Volunteers are real important to us. Everyone has busy schedules and we understand that time is precious. We are thankful for the time volunteers dedicate to this event," Heimgartner says.
Heimgartner is especially thankful for the bucket trucks and line crews TEC brings to help with tree trimming.
"Those linemen save us thousands of dollars in tree trimming costs, which is appreciated when you are trying to stretch your dollar," Heimgartner says.
GreenTouch Day details
TECís GreenTouch Day is Saturday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to noon at Beaver Creek Valley State Park. Volunteers will be asked to help put up trail signs, clean shelter areas and assist with trail maintenance. Bring your work gloves. Rakes may also be helpful if the ground is dry enough to permit wildflower seed planting. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to visit the park and no park sticker will be needed that day for volunteers. Snacks and beverages will be provided. If you planÝto join TEC at Beaver Creak State Park please call TEC at 1-800-432-2285 or send an e-mail to btesch@tec.coop. For more information about the park, visit the link on TECís website: www.tec.coop.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com