If you are anything like me, when the weather report shows temperatures below freezing with a wind chill near zero, I clutch my blankets, close the door and stay inside where the heat is on and my tea is close.
It’s a natural phenomenon that when the days are shorter and the nights are colder, we tend to do less, slow down, and stay inside. Bears have the right idea for these conditions, hitting the snooze button for several months while they enter hibernation.
At a glance it might seem like the general activity levels at our parts and forests do the same, slowing down with the colder weather. It’s here where I’ll challenge you to take a second look! For many of these places, things are just starting to heat up!
First day hikes have become a popular activity for friends groups and community members to start off the new year on the right foot. There’s also an assortment of winter festivals around the state offering warm cider and chili cook-offs after a day of skiing, ice skating or ice fishing that you simply can’t do during the summer.
Don’t go cold in your parks and forests.
Footprints in the snow showcase which trails are popular, where people are going, and if you are lucky, what they are doing. Post-snowfall is also a time when newly downed trees are likely to be discovered.
How can you help keep these trails—your favorite trails—open to receiving hikers? Check in with the local friends group to see if they need trail volunteers. If there isn’t a friends group, check our website for the soon-to-be unveiled Trail Stewards program and/or sign up to be a conservation volunteer through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Visit your trail
If you’ve adopted a trail or simply find yourself keeping the path clear whenever you are on one, winter can be a fun and exciting time to perform a trail assessment. Shortly after a fresh snowfall you can literally see the path that people are taking on your trail! Take notes, record what you see, and share your findings with the friends group.
Get Organized
What skill sets and time do you have that might help support your state parks and forests? There are many ways to get engaged, including micro volunteering, doing research, event specific volunteer engagement, and more. Perhaps you love to talk about parks and forests? PPFF is always looking for some volunteers to expand our tabling opportunities.
Plan Ahead
Much like the first mosquito bite you receive in the spring, summer park and forest events can arrive faster than you might be ready for. Plan ahead! Take a moment and write down the activities you want to be involved with this year. Maybe you really want to learn more about your park’s unique ecosystem or would like to volunteer at two events hosted by your local friends group during the summer. Keep an eye out on the PPFF calendar of events for opportunities near you!
So the next time the temperatures drop remember: don’t go cold on your parks and forests!