Mount Nittany’s Blue and White Trails Are Maintained Entirely by Volunteers
Volunteering
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! During the year, many people give of their time and energy to maintain Mount Nittany and help conserve the Mountain in its natural state. Please become one of our wonderful volunteers and help keep the Mountain open to the public for all to enjoy.
The Mount Nittany Conservancy has two regular volunteer opportunities:
Work Day Participation
Work Days are scheduled several times a year on Saturday’s and Sunday’s in the spring and fall. They are coordinated and led by the Conservancy. They involve physical labor and use of tools provided by the Conservancy to perform trail maintenance such as removing downed trees and brush, clearing and blazing trails, dismantling fire pits, and installing water bars and erosion controls. If your group is interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@nittany.org with the details of your group (age range, number, skill level, past participation, etc.) and we will coordinate with you. Lunch/snacks are provided.
Walk Up/Clean Up Participation
Walk Up/Clean Up opportunities are self-motivated and are available all-year long. They involve individuals or groups walking some or all of the trails on the Mountain, and while doing so collecting and removing trash (please take trash bags with you), breaking down and covering burnt wood and scorched rock at fire pits, identifying the location of trail issues – downed trees, overgrown bushes, risky “leaners” or other debris that threatens safe and comfortable hiking, excessive erosion and “water-bar” needs, etc. – then noting the location of these issues on our trail maps which are available at the trailhead, and reporting the locations to us. We encourage you to document your participation by taking photos and emailing them to us. If you or your group is interested in this volunteer opportunity, there is no need to notify us in advance, just email volunteer@nittany.org after you’ve volunteered to provide the location of any trail issues (“approximately 300 feet east of marker #5 there is a one-foot diameter tree across the trail…”) and send along any photos so we can thank you publicly.
The following organizations are just a few of the many support the Mountain by volunteering to keep the trails clean and accessible to all. If you or your group would like to volunteer your help, please email volunteer@nittany.org. Thank You! You are the rocks that hold up the Mountain.
- Circle K Organization
- Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity
- City Serve
- Lion Ambassadors
- Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity
- ServeState
In addition to these regular volunteer opportunities, if you love working in the outdoors and want to take a leading role in maintaining the trails on Mount Nittany, we have the Mountain Ambassador Program:
Mountain Ambassador Program
Mountain Ambassador’s lead work parties (see Work Day Participation above) – preferably two a year. Mountain Ambassadors report to the Chair of the MNC’s Mountain Committee, and coordinate volunteer work parties in conjunction with him/her. Work parties are scheduled several times a year on Saturday’s and Sunday’s in the spring and fall based on the availability of volunteer labor. They are coordinated and led by Mountain Ambassadors and/or MNC Board Members. They involve physical labor and use of tools provided by the MNC to perform trail maintenance such as removing downed trees and brush, clearing and blazing trails, dismantling fire pits, and installing water bars and erosion controls.
Mountain Ambassadors are designated and presented that title by the chair of the MNC’s Mountain Committee after demonstrating competency in trail maintenance and work party management, and are required to sign a waiver prior to performing Mountain Ambassador duties. If you are interested in becoming a Mountain Ambassador, please contact Troy Weston at volunteer@nittany.org. Thank you!