05-03-2007, 06:10 AM
Volunteers throughout Minnesota will be on hand Saturday, May 5 to help spruce up Minnesota state parks during the eighth annual "GreenTouch Day" sponsored by Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Supplied with rakes, clippers, trash bags and paint brushes, volunteers from electric cooperatives throughout Minnesota, along with park visitors and local residents, will pick up litter, brush trails, plant trees and prairies, and paint facilities in 16 state parks. The project is part of a long-term commitment Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have made to help the state park system.
"It will be a great day for families and friends to come out to a state park, do a little work outdoors, enjoy a free picnic lunch provided by the cooperatives, and feel good about their contribution to the environment," said Courtland Nelson, director, DNR Division of Parks and Recreation.
During the past seven years, Touchstone Energy has organized more than 3,700 volunteers who have donated 12,500 hours of their time to take care of resources and facilities in Minnesota state parks.
"This assistance from the electric co-ops and volunteers has helped us get ready for the summer season," said Nelson.
According to Jolene Jensen, Crow Wing Power public relations coordinator, GreenTouch is one way the cooperatives demonstrate their commitment to community.
"We're proud of the way our members have shown their spirit of service by volunteering to spruce up our state parks," said Jensen, "but we're not surprised by their generosity. It seems to come naturally to them."
Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives represent more than 40 electric cooperatives.
The cooperatives have also provided funding to print the State Park Guide brochure and instruction/information booklets for the state park Junior Naturalist program, an environmental education program for kids 7-14 years old.
"We appreciate the ongoing dedication and support of Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives," said Nelson.
People interested in helping out the state parks on May 5, can call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) for a list of participating parks, or visit the state park Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us for more information.
State parks where clean up events are taking place include:
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
Buffalo River, Glyndon, (218) 498-2124
Hayes Lake, Roseau (218) 425-7504
Itasca, Park Rapids, (218) 266-2100
Lake Bemidji, Bemidji, (218) 755-3843
Lake Bronson, Lake Bronson, (218) 754-2200
Old Mill, Argyle, (218) 437-8174
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
**Cuyuna Country, Ironton, (218) 546-5926 (May 9)
Father Hennepin, Isle, (320) 676-8763
Gooseberry Falls, Two Harbors, (218) 834-3855
Mille Lacs Kathio, Onamia, (320) 532-3523
Savanna Portage, McGregor, (218) 426-3271
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
Camden, Lynd, (507) 865-4530
Beaver Creek Valley, Caledonia, (507) 724-2107
Kilen Woods, Lakefield, (507) 662-6258
TWIN CITIES METRO AREA STATE PARKS
Fort Snelling, St. Paul, (612) 725-2389
Lake Maria, Monticello, (763) 878-2325
Supplied with rakes, clippers, trash bags and paint brushes, volunteers from electric cooperatives throughout Minnesota, along with park visitors and local residents, will pick up litter, brush trails, plant trees and prairies, and paint facilities in 16 state parks. The project is part of a long-term commitment Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have made to help the state park system.
"It will be a great day for families and friends to come out to a state park, do a little work outdoors, enjoy a free picnic lunch provided by the cooperatives, and feel good about their contribution to the environment," said Courtland Nelson, director, DNR Division of Parks and Recreation.
During the past seven years, Touchstone Energy has organized more than 3,700 volunteers who have donated 12,500 hours of their time to take care of resources and facilities in Minnesota state parks.
"This assistance from the electric co-ops and volunteers has helped us get ready for the summer season," said Nelson.
According to Jolene Jensen, Crow Wing Power public relations coordinator, GreenTouch is one way the cooperatives demonstrate their commitment to community.
"We're proud of the way our members have shown their spirit of service by volunteering to spruce up our state parks," said Jensen, "but we're not surprised by their generosity. It seems to come naturally to them."
Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives represent more than 40 electric cooperatives.
The cooperatives have also provided funding to print the State Park Guide brochure and instruction/information booklets for the state park Junior Naturalist program, an environmental education program for kids 7-14 years old.
"We appreciate the ongoing dedication and support of Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives," said Nelson.
People interested in helping out the state parks on May 5, can call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) for a list of participating parks, or visit the state park Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us for more information.
State parks where clean up events are taking place include:
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
Buffalo River, Glyndon, (218) 498-2124
Hayes Lake, Roseau (218) 425-7504
Itasca, Park Rapids, (218) 266-2100
Lake Bemidji, Bemidji, (218) 755-3843
Lake Bronson, Lake Bronson, (218) 754-2200
Old Mill, Argyle, (218) 437-8174
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
**Cuyuna Country, Ironton, (218) 546-5926 (May 9)
Father Hennepin, Isle, (320) 676-8763
Gooseberry Falls, Two Harbors, (218) 834-3855
Mille Lacs Kathio, Onamia, (320) 532-3523
Savanna Portage, McGregor, (218) 426-3271
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
Camden, Lynd, (507) 865-4530
Beaver Creek Valley, Caledonia, (507) 724-2107
Kilen Woods, Lakefield, (507) 662-6258
TWIN CITIES METRO AREA STATE PARKS
Fort Snelling, St. Paul, (612) 725-2389
Lake Maria, Monticello, (763) 878-2325