Date: September 19, 2008
Contact: Eric Leonard, 580 622-7282

For National Public Lands Day, volunteers at Chickasaw National Recreation Area will lend a hand to America’s lands on Saturday, September 27. There is still time for additional volunteers to sign-up to assist in this work-day event.

This event is part of a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was an army of 3 million Americans who in the 1930’s countered the devastation of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression by planting more than 3 billion trees, building 800 state parks, and fighting forest fires. At Platt National Park [today’s Platt Historic District], Company 808 of the CCC worked for eight years, planting trees, building roads, pavilions and campsites.

The redcedar trees are being removed to allow the native grass to re-establish and the prairie and remaining deciduous trees to prosper. “Although Eastern redcedar is a native species to Oklahoma, the trees are extremely invasive and can only be controlled by fire or mechanical means, such as cutting,” said Superintendent Bruce Noble.

WHO:        Volunteers interested in helping out their park. Pre-registration is requested.

WHAT:      Volunteers will be cutting down invasive Eastern red cedar trees in the Platt Historic District. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Bring work gloves and pruning shears. The park will provide gloves and tools, if needed.

WHEN:      Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 8:30 AM until 12:00 noon. Water and snacks provided for participants.

WHERE:    Meet at the Travertine Nature Center in the Platt Historic District.

CONTACT: For more information or to sign up for the event, contact volunteer coordinator Lauren Gurniewicz at 580 622-7285.