Friends Of Radnor Lake

PROTECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT OF RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA.

CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AT RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK THAT ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE. FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE FUNDS THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT RADNOR LAKE WHICH ENGAGED OVER 2,000 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR. VOLUNTEER NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO MORE TYPICAL LEVELS NOW AS PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS EASE. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE IN TRAIL MAINTENANCE, RECOVERY FROM STORM DAMAGE, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AND WETLANDS CLEAN-UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE IN NOTABLE VOLUNTEER EVENTS INCLUDING WORLD WETLANDS DAY, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WEEK, WEED WRANGLE, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY AND NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY. PARK STAFF MANAGE ALL VOLUNTEERS ON PARK PROPERTY AND PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT THE NATURAL AREA AND HOW TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT. JUNIOR RANGERS INTERN PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN HOSTED EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, ENGAGING TEENAGERS IN A SIX-DAY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH INTRODUCES THEM TO CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. DAILY WORK INCLUDES TRAIL MULCHING, MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE PARK AND AT THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER, AND EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. AGAIN THIS YEAR, INTERNS WORKED TO BUILD NEW TRIAL ON THE HARRIS RIDGE PROPERTY. THIS YEAR, ONE DAY OF BIRD WATCHING EDUCATION WAS ADDED TO THE CURRICULUM.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE HELPS FUND THE NATIVE GRASSLANDS INITIATIVE, A FIVE YEAR NATURAL AREAS PLAN TO REMOVE INVASIVE-EXOTIC PLANTS IN TARGET AREAS AND PLANT A CUSTOM SEED MIX TO RETURN 40 ACRES OF LAND TO THE NATIVE GRASSES THAT EXISTED AT RADNOR 50 YEARS AGO. THESE NATIVE GRASSES ATTRACT AND SUSTAIN POLLINATORS AND BUTTERFLIES, AND WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE POLLINATOR POPULATION IN THESE REPLANTED AREAS IN RECENT YEARS.THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER (BJMAEC) OPENED AT RADNOR IN 2015. FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE RAISED THE FUNDS TO BUILD THIS FACILITY AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAIN THE EAGLE PROGRAM. AT THE BJMAEC, PARK STAFF CARE FOR SEVEN NON-RELEASABLE BIRDS OF PREY THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS EDUCATION ANIMALS DUE TO PERMANENT INJURIES. THESE RAPTORS, WHICH COULD NOT SURVIVE IN THE WILD, ARE USED FOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE THE TWO DAYS A WEEK WHEN THE AREA IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ARE NOW INCLUDED IN OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE PARTNERS WITH RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK IN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL NEEDS AT THE PARK LIKE ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH, TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR RANGERS, SIGNAGE IN THE PARK, SECURITY CAMERAS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND MANY OTHER NEEDS APPROVED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL AREA IN AND SURROUNDING RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET OUR CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDES VIEWSHED, WATERSHED, WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE PROTECTION, PARK SECURITY AND HIKING EXPERIENCE.

PROVIDE EDUCATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, PARK ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND SPONSORED PROJECTS THROUGH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS, WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS. PARK ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR INCLUDE BIRDING AND WILDFLOWER HIKES, OFF-TRAIL GUIDED HIKES AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TOURS, HIKES WITH OUR RESEARCH TEAMS, AND CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD WETLANDS DAY, RACHEL CARSON DAY, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, AMERICAN EAGLE DAY, NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY. ALL PARK ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE ARE MANAGED BY RADNOR LAKE PARK STAFF.