Sgt. Ranger Steve Southard with the Clark County Park District said the county designed the program because the public wanted to get more involved in the parks.
“We see a lot of people who want to get involved and want to do things with the Rangers, so we sat down and designed this program,” Southard said. “We have a lot of kids that are interested in hiking and animals and what we do in the parks.”
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CRP recruits will be required to pass the Community Emergency Response Team program provided by the Clark County Emergency Management Agency and obtain certification for adult and infant CPR/AED. Once certified, volunteers will assist with the patrol of park properties.
Patrol areas will include; the Historical George Rogers Clark Park and Peckuwe Battlefield, Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve, Estel Wenrick Wetlands, Spangler Nature Preserve, Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail and the Prairie Grass Bike Trail.
The adult level training course will begin in January, with classes scheduled on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s throughout the month. Youth classes will be scheduled later in the year.
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Southard said adult courses will be held first, with the hope parents will get their children involved.
“We would like this to be a family unit thing, where mom and dad can participate too. We don’t want it to be like the parents just drop their kids off,” Southard said. “We want this to be family.”
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