stewardship and service: a maryland park ranger’s life erik ledbetter seasonal park ranger seneca...

Stewardship and Stewardship and Service: Service:

A Maryland Park A Maryland Park Ranger’s LifeRanger’s Life

Erik LedbetterErik Ledbetter

Seasonal Park RangerSeasonal Park RangerSeneca Creek State ParkSeneca Creek State Park

Your Maryland Park ServiceYour Maryland Park Service

Founded in 1906, the Parks and Forest Founded in 1906, the Parks and Forest Services are among Maryland’s oldest Services are among Maryland’s oldest State agencies.State agencies.

Maryland was a leader among the states Maryland was a leader among the states in establishing a program of forest in establishing a program of forest conservation, and out of that forest conservation, and out of that forest conservation initiative, Maryland’s conservation initiative, Maryland’s system of state parks emerged almost system of state parks emerged almost immediately.immediately.

The Birth of Maryland ParksThe Birth of Maryland Parks

In 1906, philanthropist brothers John and Robert Garrett challenged the state to In 1906, philanthropist brothers John and Robert Garrett challenged the state to establish a forestry program by donating nearly 2000 tree-stripped acres of land establish a forestry program by donating nearly 2000 tree-stripped acres of land in Garrett County to the state on the condition that the state establish the in Garrett County to the state on the condition that the state establish the governmental machinery to promote wise use of forest resources. governmental machinery to promote wise use of forest resources.

At that time, Maryland’s tree cover had been reduced from nearly 90 percent of At that time, Maryland’s tree cover had been reduced from nearly 90 percent of its land surface when the first colonists arrived to a paltry 35 percent. its land surface when the first colonists arrived to a paltry 35 percent.

Maryland was running out of wood, losing wildlife habitat, suffering the Maryland was running out of wood, losing wildlife habitat, suffering the ravages of erosion and stream siltation, and being scourged by unchecked forest ravages of erosion and stream siltation, and being scourged by unchecked forest fires. fires.

1906: A New Beginning1906: A New Beginning The state legislature The state legislature

responded with Maryland’s responded with Maryland’s first forestry law, which first forestry law, which Governor Edwin Warfield Governor Edwin Warfield signed into law on April 5, signed into law on April 5, 1906. 1906.

Maryland was thus the third Maryland was thus the third state in the union, preceded state in the union, preceded by Pennsylvania and by Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to establish a Wisconsin, to establish a statewide forestry program.statewide forestry program.

Fred Besley: Fred Besley: Maryland’s First ForesterMaryland’s First Forester

Governor Warfield appointed Governor Warfield appointed an able young forester an able young forester working for the U.S. Forest working for the U.S. Forest Service, Fred W. Besley, who Service, Fred W. Besley, who would serve as Maryland’s would serve as Maryland’s first State Forester from 1906 first State Forester from 1906 until 1942. until 1942.

A Yale School of Forestry A Yale School of Forestry trained protégé of Gifford trained protégé of Gifford Pinchot, first U.S. Forester, Pinchot, first U.S. Forester, Besley proved to be an able Besley proved to be an able and energetic choice. and energetic choice.

Volunteers and Parks: Volunteers and Parks: Partners from the FirstPartners from the First

Among Besley’s first Among Besley’s first acts was to create a acts was to create a staff of over 300 staff of over 300 volunteer forest volunteer forest wardens to reduce the wardens to reduce the incidence of forest incidence of forest fires and fight fires fires and fight fires when they occurred.when they occurred.

Volunteers have been Volunteers have been partners in our parks partners in our parks and forests ever since. and forests ever since.

Your Maryland Parks TodayYour Maryland Parks Today

Today, Maryland's system of 66 state parks Today, Maryland's system of 66 state parks provides over 300,000 acres of public lands. provides over 300,000 acres of public lands.

Eleven million visitors come to these valuable Eleven million visitors come to these valuable resources each year and contribute over $650 resources each year and contribute over $650 million in economic activity to the state’s million in economic activity to the state’s economy. economy.

There is a state forest or park within 20 miles There is a state forest or park within 20 miles of every state resident. of every state resident.

Our MissionOur Mission

To manage the natural, To manage the natural, cultural, historic and cultural, historic and recreational resources to recreational resources to provide the best use for the provide the best use for the benefit of peoplebenefit of people

Seneca Creek State Park:Seneca Creek State Park:Montgomery County’s OwnMontgomery County’s Own

1951: Montgomery County Council approves a 1951: Montgomery County Council approves a proposal to “establish a 1000 acre State Park” along proposal to “establish a 1000 acre State Park” along the Potomac River to protect the Seneca Creek the Potomac River to protect the Seneca Creek Watershed in the county Master Plan Watershed in the county Master Plan

Concept includes soil and water conservation and Concept includes soil and water conservation and recreation as major uses. recreation as major uses.

Seneca Creek State Park:Seneca Creek State Park:Montgomery County’s OwnMontgomery County’s Own

1955: State acquires 255 acres of Woodlands estate, 1955: State acquires 255 acres of Woodlands estate, including historic Clopper Millincluding historic Clopper Mill

1964: Woodlands Homestead site added to Park. 1964: Woodlands Homestead site added to Park. Early uses include picnicking and wilderness Early uses include picnicking and wilderness camping. camping.

1964-present: Park grows to its full 13 mile extent, 1964-present: Park grows to its full 13 mile extent, from Rt. 355 in the east to the Potomac in the west.from Rt. 355 in the east to the Potomac in the west.

Seneca Creek State Park:Seneca Creek State Park:Recreational ResourcesRecreational Resources

Clopper Lake: 90-acre lake; canoes, kayaks and Clopper Lake: 90-acre lake; canoes, kayaks and rowboats available for rent, launch ramp for private rowboats available for rent, launch ramp for private boats (no motors please!), excellent fishing for boats (no motors please!), excellent fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie.largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie.


Recycled Tire PlaygroundRecycled Tire Playground


27-hole Disc Golf course, largest in Mid-27-hole Disc Golf course, largest in Mid-Atlantic StatesAtlantic States


Hiking Trails: Hiking Trails: 50+ mile trail 50+ mile trail network, network, including new including new Seneca Bluffs Seneca Bluffs and Seneca and Seneca Ridge TrailsRidge Trails


Mountian Mountian Biking: 16 Biking: 16 miles of miles of dedicated dedicated mountain mountain bike trails at bike trails at Schaeffer Schaeffer Farms unitFarms unit


Picnic groves and Picnic PavilionsPicnic groves and Picnic Pavilions

Seneca Creek State Park:Seneca Creek State Park:Historical ResourcesHistorical Resources

Woodlands: Archeological remains of Woodlands: Archeological remains of Clopper/Hutton Family plantationClopper/Hutton Family plantation


Clopper Mill and Black Rock MillClopper Mill and Black Rock Mill


Seneca Stone Cutting Mill and SchoolhouseSeneca Stone Cutting Mill and Schoolhouse

Seneca Creek State Park:Seneca Creek State Park:Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Preservation of Regional Water QualityPreservation of Regional Water Quality


Wildlife HabitatWildlife Habitat


Agricultural and pasture landAgricultural and pasture land

A Maryland Park Ranger’s JobA Maryland Park Ranger’s Job

A Maryland Ranger devotes professional responsibility for A Maryland Ranger devotes professional responsibility for stewardship and protection of Maryland’s natural and historic stewardship and protection of Maryland’s natural and historic resources. In carrying out that duty, a Ranger incorporates resources. In carrying out that duty, a Ranger incorporates education, enforcement, management, conservation, or some education, enforcement, management, conservation, or some combination of these skills in regular interaction with the public.combination of these skills in regular interaction with the public.

A Ranger’s Life: EducationA Ranger’s Life: Education

We are a diverse group! Maryland Rangers have academic We are a diverse group! Maryland Rangers have academic backgounds in Parks and Recreation, Biology, Conservation, backgounds in Parks and Recreation, Biology, Conservation, History, Archeology, and many more fields.History, Archeology, and many more fields.

In-Service Training:In-Service Training: Emergency Medical Response/Emergency Medical Response/

CPR and AEDCPR and AED Search and RescueSearch and Rescue Water RescueWater Rescue Wildland FirefightingWildland Firefighting Tree care / Chainsaw OperationTree care / Chainsaw Operation Trail Design, ConstructionTrail Design, Construction

and Maintenanceand Maintenance

A Ranger’s Life: OperationsA Ranger’s Life: Operations

Check Park facilities for safety/cleanlinessCheck Park facilities for safety/cleanliness Respond to weather emergenciesRespond to weather emergencies

Snow/iceSnow/ice FloodsFloods Wind damage/downed treesWind damage/downed trees

Greet visitors, provide advice and informationGreet visitors, provide advice and information Educate visitors as to Park policies and Educate visitors as to Park policies and

encourage complianceencourage compliance

A Ranger’s Life: MaintenanceA Ranger’s Life: Maintenance

We are universal handymen and women!We are universal handymen and women! In an average day we might:In an average day we might:

Fix a restroom plumbing problemFix a restroom plumbing problem Repair a leaking kayakRepair a leaking kayak Cut up a fallen treeCut up a fallen tree Maintain a trailMaintain a trail

And much much more!And much much more!

A Ranger’s Life: InterpretationA Ranger’s Life: Interpretation

Boat toursBoat tours Nature WalksNature Walks History HikesHistory Hikes Lectures and Public OutreachLectures and Public Outreach Live Animal programsLive Animal programs

We Need You!We Need You!

Volunteers have been Volunteers have been partners in our parks partners in our parks from the beginning: from the beginning: remember Fred Besley’s remember Fred Besley’s Forest Wardens!Forest Wardens!

We have a role for every We have a role for every age and skill.age and skill.

Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer Opportunities Trail MaintenanceTrail Maintenance GardeningGardening Planning / Staffing Special EventsPlanning / Staffing Special Events PhotographyPhotography Conducting Historical ResearchConducting Historical Research Tree PlantingTree Planting Building Bird BoxesBuilding Bird Boxes Sign MakingSign Making Carpentry WorkCarpentry Work Historic Interpreter / DocentHistoric Interpreter / Docent Registering CampersRegistering Campers MowingMowing Leading Canoe TripsLeading Canoe Trips

PaintingPainting Leading Nature HikesLeading Nature Hikes Desktop PublishingDesktop Publishing Computer workComputer work Visitor Center ReceptionistVisitor Center Receptionist Sign Language InterpreterSign Language Interpreter Volunteer CoordinatorVolunteer Coordinator Presenting Campfire programsPresenting Campfire programs General Maintenance / RepairsGeneral Maintenance / Repairs Organizing slide and photograph filesOrganizing slide and photograph files Historical InterpretationHistorical Interpretation Assisting in development of trail maps, Assisting in development of trail maps,

brochures, etc. brochures, etc.

Opportunities for YouthOpportunities for Youth

Student Service LearningStudent Service Learning Maryland Conservation Maryland Conservation

CorpsCorps Conservation Jobs CorpsConservation Jobs Corps

So Come Join Us!So Come Join Us!

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/senecavolunteer.aspsenecavolunteer.asp

stewardship and service: a maryland park ranger’s life erik ledbetter seasonal park ranger seneca...

Documents

state forester

state legislature

program of forest conservation

forest services

forestry law

marylands tree cover

forest conservation

forester fred besley