Community Stewardship

Learn about our different stewardship programs below. Contact stewardship@vancortlandt.org if you would like to become more involved.

Launched the Summer of 2020, the Vital Volunteers program is aimed at engaging individuals interested in assisting in park maintenance on their own time. As part of the program, individuals must go through a virtual and field training process. Once approved, the individual will work with VCPA staff to determine a hiking trail that the individual will help to maintain. Responsibilities include keeping the trail corridor clear, removing trash and reporting large trail issues and vandalism.

Vital Volunteers is currently at capacity.  We will open it again in the future when space becomes available.

Support for this program comes from the New York Community Trust.

Trails Crew: meeting monthly on the 1^st Saturday of each month, this volunteer crew works on larger trail projects within the park. Projects include trail reroutes, plank walkway construction, closing desire lines and improving trail drainage. All training is done in the field.

Tibbetts Watershed Crew: meeting weekly every Wednesday morning at 9am, this crew acts as the protectors of Tibbetts Brook. Tasks include water quality monitoring of the Brook, removal of invasive non-native plants from wetlands and Van Cortlandt Lake and planting native species in the floodplain forest of the brook.

Held on the 3^rd Saturday of each month during the Spring and Fall seasons, these events are open to the public to assist in park maintenance. Each month has a different themed event, depending on what we need assistance within the park. Some of the events include trash removal from Tibbetts Brook, Educational Garden harvest days and garlic mustard pulls. Check our Calendar Page for the next Community Volunteer Day.

Groups can schedule a volunteer project if at least 10 people can be present for the event. These events can be scheduled with our staff for weekdays and are geared towards school groups and corporations. There are no fees for School Groups or Nonprofit Groups to schedule a volunteer day. Please visit our Corporate Volunteer Days page for more information and fees for these programs.

All volunteers are required to sign a waiver at the beginning of the project. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent sign the waiver form. You can print out and bring this waiver with you to the volunteer event or fill out the form when you arrive.