BLUE MARSH LAKE (April 18, 2015) – Nearly 400 volunteers descended on Blue Marsh Lake in Leesport, Pa. for the 35th annual Take Pride in Blue Marsh Day. Volunteers worked on a variety of projects, including litter clean-up, nature trail maintenance, erosion control projects, wildlife habitat work and tree planting.
Take Pride Day is an important Blue Marsh Lake tradition as volunteers are mobilized across the entire property to help with maintenance projects. The Blue Marsh Lake volunteer program traces its roots back to the Keep America Beautiful and Take Pride in America campaigns, which encourage the public and organizations to get involved in the stewardship of public lands, waters and parks.
“It’s amazing to see the legacy groups that return every year to help the project. It is truly a community effort and gives our volunteers a feeling of ownership,” said John Cave, Natural Resource Manager for Blue Marsh Lake. “Take Pride Day is a great example of Army Corps staff working with volunteers to accomplish meaningful tasks.”
Volunteers represent every generation and many different groups, including the Scouts, local schools and universities, and youth organizations.
“We try and live by the ‘leave no trace’ rule,” said Adrian Lesher, a Leesport resident and volunteer with Cubs Scouts Pack 160. “This is a great way to try and preserve a natural resource that we all get to enjoy.”
Lesher said her group likes to make a game of the work and recalled that the girls beat the boys in a contest to see who would get dirtier while planting seedlings.
Many of the volunteers are regulars at Blue Marsh Lake and help throughout the year. Andy Harakel has been volunteering at the project for 10 years and helps organize the recycling program each season. Harakel said he enjoys being outdoors and working with the staff on a regular basis.
“This is our playground so we like to help and give back,” said Jo Spilde, a retiree and regular volunteer at Blue Marsh Lake.
Blue Marsh Lake Chief Ranger Scott Sunderland said participants accomplished more than 1800 hours of work during the 2015 Take Pride Day. Volunteers picked up five dumpsters of litter; planted 2000 seedlings; stabilized a section of trail; constructed and painted picnic tables; brushed five miles of trail; spread eight yards of mulch; replaced a guardrail; and completed a bridge replacement along the multi-use trail.
In the afternoon, participants enjoyed a cook-out made possible by donations from Reading and Berks County businesses.