Adopt Windsor Locks Canal State Park!

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The new, Adopt a Park program provides an opportunity for volunteers interested in a long term commitment to serve and maintain an area or attractive feature of the park they love.

Adopting a park isn’t just about work. It can be a lot of fun! Adopting volunteers can plan a picnic, a hike, outdoor games and other activities when they serve.

Why adopt?

To keep our parks safe and clean! - Litter is unsafe, unsanitary, pervasive and potentially persistent. With your help, we can reduce the number of nuisance insects, vermin and other trash scavengers in our parks. Guests will enjoy a safer, more pleasant experience and a more fun adventure in our parks!

To build a closer, stronger community! - Volunteer service is essential to creating stronger communities. Be part of a service that makes a visible, tangible difference!

To help the environment! - With your service, you can help keep our local wildlife safe, retain their habitat, and help us control invasive species.

Who can adopt?

Individuals of all ages, community groups, youth groups, special interest groups, corporations, schools, agencies and families are all welcomed to choose and adopt a park. Youth 16 and under must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times during the activity.

Where can I adopt?

Not all parks may be available for adoption. Some have less volunteer involvement, and are in great need for assistance during the busy season. Please contact us to confirm what parks are available for adoption.

What can I do?

You (and your group) can help us maintain a garden, pick up litter clean up along a waterway, monitor the area for vandalism and potentially hazardous situations, clean graffiti, maintain trails, remove invasive weeds and species, and other jobs as suggested by the park supervisor.

How long do I have to commit?

We would appreciate adopting volunteers to commit five months of service, between May and September.

How often do I need to visit the park?

We encourage adopting volunteers to visit their parks at least once a month. Adopting volunteers choose their service dates, agreed upon with the park supervisor.

What do I need to bring?

Depending on the service provided, some parks may ask their adopting volunteers to bring along cleaning supplies such as trash bags, dustpans, brooms, buckets, graffiti removal soap, etc. In some cases gardening supplies may be brought along such as rakes and shovels. The volunteer coordinator will confirm the information with you, before your first visit.
It is necessary for adopting volunteers to wear their ID badge at all times during the service activity. Signed by the State Parks Division director, the badge allows volunteers to park and enter the park free of charge on service days.

Who do I report to?

Please report your service hours to the volunteer coordinator each time you visit your park. You may report safety threats, hazards and vandalism to the park supervisor or volunteer coordinator as soon as you become aware of it.

How can I best serve my duties?

Work only in fair weather, during park hours. Bring plenty of sunscreen, bug spray, a first aid kit, water, snacks, etc.

Learn the park’s regulations and follow them at all times.

Always wear your Adopt a Park volunteer badge at all times when you work.

Please do not leave unattended pets or small children in vehicles while you volunteer.
Always provide adult supervision (18 and over) to youth 16 and under.
Serve only during the park’s hours. Check the park’s webpage to confirm their park hours.
Always wear protective gloves when picking up trash.
Never over-exert yourself. Work comfortably, at your own pace.
Use a buddy system whenever possible. Notify someone from the park if you will work alone.
Keep the park supervisor’s and volunteer coordinator’s phone numbers handy each time you visit your park.
Always carry a first aid kit, in case of emergencies.

What do I get out of adopting a park?

Adopt a Park provides a service teaching opportunity for a family or a school group, a team building activity for an agency, and a day of service for individuals.
During the service dates indicated on their Adopt a Park badge, adopting volunteers can park at their park free of charge, if parking fees are in effect.

As an adopting volunteer, you will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are a direct part of our efforts to provide the safest and most enjoyable experience to our visiting guests.

You can give back to the park you love, knowing that without your kind service our labor would be far more difficult to achieve.

How will my service be recognized?

Adopting volunteers will receive a thank you letter of appreciation from the Agency. Recognition of adopting volunteers will also be made in the Agency website. As the Adopt a Park program expands, regular adopting volunteers may receive additional recognition at their park.

Count me in! How do I sign up?

Contact the Adopt a Park volunteer coordinator, Wanda Torres at (860) 418-5963 or e-mail Wanda.Torres@CT.Gov. Or if you prefer, just complete your application (add link) and, as soon as we receive it, we will be in touch with you to make scheduling arrangements.

Join our LISTSERV!

DEEP-StateParkVolunteers@list.state.ct.us

Through this list you will receive updates and information regarding volunteering opportunities and our new initiative, Adopt a Park. We do not share your contact information with anybody, and use it only for the purpose of communicating with our volunteers and applicants. This list will be used exclusively to stay in contact with our volunteers and applicants, and its list of names will never be distributed elsewhere.

Park Regulations

Please study our Park General Regulations in preparation for adopting a park: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/regulations/23/23-4-1through5.pdf