The Hidden Valley Nature Center community recently hosted another annual Volunteer Appreciation cookout. HVNC would never be possible without a great core of committed and talented volunteers. This year, the Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Doreen Conboy of Alna. Congratulations, Doreen.

Doreen has been a consistent, and amazingly talented volunteer since HVNC’s inception. She and her husband, Joe Barth, hand made each of the trail signs. In case you didn’t know, there’s nearly thirty miles of trails. That’s a lot of signs! Doreen is also responsible for the two videos on HVNC’s website. The video on the homepage is a wonderful overview of HVNC’s activities and there is also an exciting video of our half-marathon trail race. If you haven’t seen the videos, be sure to visit www.hvnc.org.

HVNC has a vibrant volunteer community. Volunteer opportunities are endless. You can lead a walk, help mow and maintain trails, help organize an event, or help staff one of our events. We are particularly excited about volunteers who bring their expertise and interests with them. Do you have professional services, or experience that you could lend to HVNC, have an idea for a workshop or event? If you’re interested in volunteering, email andy@hvnc.org and let him know.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, Oct. 27 for our annual Race Thru the Woods. We’ll need time keepers, check point staff, registration help, trail crews and more. There will be warm fires, food and drink available, and, as always, a great group of people.