LHV VOLUNTEER “AMBASSADORS” MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
LHV Volunteer Coordinator Owen Worozbyt has had a busy season tackling new and existing projects with volunteers of the heritage area. Since May, Owen has coordinated regular meetings of LHV’s volunteer corps, “Ambassadors in Action,” encouraging a cadre of more than 150 volunteers to support a variety of events. In the last six months, these volunteers have given over 270 hours of work valued at more than $5,500.
Volunteers have assisted at a variety of public programs such as the Arts on Fire Festival, the Heritage Explorer Bike Tour and Festival, the Heritage Explorer Train to Carbondale, and LHV’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Volunteers also have been an important part of the ongoing clean-up and beautification of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Some volunteers, known as Trail Tenders, walk the trail on a daily basis. They pick up litter, and keep LHV informed of storm damage, graffiti, and other issues on the trail. They also eagerly report notable wildlife sightings, such as a pair of Bald Eagles seen in the Mid Valley.
Many volunteers, often from schools, civic groups, and scout troops, work on specific projects. Some of these projects include:
July 16th - LHV conducted a litter clean-up at the Broadway Street Trailhead. Twenty two volunteers participated, including the University of Scranton’s Green Team, Civil Design Partners, and ITT Tech. More than 25 bags of garbage were collected along a one mile section of the trail.
August 10th – Sixteen incoming freshman students from The Community Medical College participated in a litter clean-up on the Scranton Riverwalk. It was the first time the students had been on the trail, and they were impressed with the trail and how close it is to campus.
September 9th – In honor of Celebration of Service Day, more than 60 faculty and students from the University of Scranton honored the inauguration of the University’s new president by cleaning up the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail near the 7th Avenue Trailhead in Scranton. The group tackled several projects – they chopped down Japanese Knotweed (an invasive species that is abundant along the Lackawanna River), picked up trash, and filled in wet spots on the trail from all of the rain.
September 24th – For National Public Lands Day, 26 volunteers, including students from the University of Scranton’s Green Team and from West Scranton High School, performed extensive trail work along the LRHT near the Broadway Street Trailhead. The group cut down Japanese Knotweed, filled in wet spots on the trail, picked up trash, and trimmed back encroaching vegetation.
October 8th – Local students painted over graffiti on a wall along the trail by Decker’s Bridge in Peckville. The graffiti was reported by an active trail tender earlier in the week. It was painted over in preparation for the Steamtown Marathon on October 9th.
October 15th – A group of 10 Cub Scouts from South Scranton helped to fix up a garden at the Broadway Street Trailhead in Scranton. The scouts were working on a conservation badge that they need to fulfill in order to advance in scouting.
In addition to coordinating volunteers, Owen regularly speaks to educational and community groups to raise awareness of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. He has attended volunteer fairs at The Commonwealth Medical College, the University of Scranton, Penn State Worthington Scranton, and Keystone College, and he has presented to the Rotary Clubs of Scranton and the Mid Valley. Owen recently spoke to a group of Dickson City citizens at the Dickson City Crime Watch meeting, where he presented information about the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
To learn more about volunteering for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley, or if your community or nonprofit organization would like to host a presentation about LHV, please contact Owen Worozbyt at oworozbyt@LHVA.org or 570-963-6730 ext. 8212, or visit LHV’s “Volunteer Opportunities” page.
For More Information
Owen Worozbyt
LHV Volunteer Coordinator
(570) 963-6730 x 8212
oworozbyt@LHVA.org
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