Helping Hands

 

Scusset Beach Friends Program         

 

 

Scusset Campground Walkway

 

What is a Friends Group?

 

Friends groups are organizations dedicated to supporting specific DCR properties through volunteer work, fundraising, providing programs & events, and advocacy.
 

                      

  Park Serve Day 2010 planting at  Scusset Beach  

Friends Helping Hands

                                                                      Park Serve Day 2011 Planting the new campground walkway

 

         What does a Friends Group do?

 

Friends groups undertake a variety of activities.  These can include work days at the park to help with a project, organizing fund raisers to help purchase much needed equipment or supplies, or serving as an adovocate for the park when needed. Friends groups are essential partners in protecting and enhancing DCR’s parks.

More than 70 groups are working across the state to enhance our forests and parks system,                             including:

  • Shawme-Crowell State Forest

  • Nickerson State Park

  • Waquoit Bay & South Cape Beach

  • Myles Standish State Forest

  • Forefathers Monument

  • Wompatuck State Park

  • Borderland State Park

  • Freetown-Fall River State Forest

 

                                        Massachusetts State Park Friends Groups Activities

  Fundraising

  • Pancake Breakfasts at Shawme-Crowell State Forest

  • Recycle cans and bottles at Nickerson State Park    

  • Operate a food booth at Fall River Celebrates America

  • Operate a gift shop at Borderland State Park

        Projects & Equipment           

  • Pavilion and playground at Shawme-Crowell State Forest

  • John Deere Gator at Freetown-Fall River State Forest  

  • Decoration of historic mansion at Borderland State Park

  • Operate a gift shop at Borderland State Park

              

Other Activities

  • Design and maintain friend’s group website at Wompatuck State Park

  • Plantings to maintain historic gardens at Maudslay State Park

  • Maintain existing trails and create new trails at Myles Standish State Forest

  • Sponsor bird walks at Willard Brook State Park

   Why Now?

Given the fiscal climate and the current economy, now is the perfect time to form a friends group.  The Scusset Beach Friends Group helps us leverage funds from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Matching Partnership grants to improve the park as well as assisting with projects and fund raising.      

The Friends of Scusset Beach
   

Over the course of the 2009 summer recreational season, we spread the word and and found positive interest in forming a Scusset Beach Friends Group.  The Scusset Friends became a reality in Fall 2009 establishing a Friends group, determining its bylaws, setting up non-profit status, and electing officers, and attending Training for friends groups

Accomplishments in 2010:

  • Obtaining a grant, planning and building the boardwalk to the Canal Access Road and Jetty. Primarily for handicap access, but it benefits and beautifies the park for all.  

  • Beautification extended to help on Park Serve Day, planting and cleaning up the park in preparation for the summer season.

  • Painting camp site numbers and traffic arrows in the campground.

  • Non-profit status allowed the park to receive a generous donation of power tools from an estate in Plymouth.

  • A website has been established.  Please visit:  www.friendsofscussetbeach.org

And in 2011:

  • The Friends of Scusset Beach continued with the campground walkway project. Obtaining a second grant for this project.  The walkway improves safety and access to the Nature Center, campground restrooms, and central parking lot.  Another beautiful addition to Scusset Beach State Reservation.

What will they accomplish in 2012?

  • The Friends continue to attend and support 2 Park serve day events to help beautify the Scusset Beach.                                         

  • Our Friends group plans are clean up and beautification of the beach bathhouse area.

Future Plans:

  • The Friends group hopes to begin phase one of a playground for the park.

 
What can I do?

 

Your level of involvement is up to you.   Some people are very active in their friends groups; serving on the Board of Directors, attending all meetings, working on a specific committee.  Other people are content to pay their membership dues knowing that they will support the park.  Your level of involvement is up to you.

I’m interested - So what’s the plan?

Get a Little Sand in Your Shoes!

Becoming a Friend     

Photos by: David Harris