The Friends of Salt Springs Park

In 1994 The Friends of Salt Springs Park was organized to rescue the historic buildings of the park from a planned firemen exercise and has since been dedicated to the proper management and maintenance of the park for the community to enjoy.

In 1995 the Bureau of State Parks turned over daily management and operation of the park to the Friends, and they've enhanced the park through purchasing adjacent acres, expanding hiking and nature trails, updating picnic areas, restoring buildings, adding camping cabins and offering community outreach programs.

The Friends have created a year-round calendar of programs, open to the public at little or no charge, such as walks in the gorge, poetry readings and historical interpretations. One of the most popular new programs is the llama hike, which is made possible by a board member. Summer children's programs and guest speakers are also successful additions.

The Friends established the E3 program, which helps local school districts meet state required curriculum standards in Environment and Ecology education. Fourth grade students from local school districts receive two classroom sessions and one all-day field trip to the park, in which children learn basic principles of ecology and enjoy hands-on learning experiences in several habitats in the park. The Friends hope to offer this program to every school in Susquehanna County within the next five years, and hope that the program becomes a regular part of the schools' curriculum.

Salt Springs Park and the surrounding acres purchased by the Friends are rich with historical resources, and the Friends are the stewards of numerous historical items and artifacts, both donated and found at Salt Springs. These are displayed in the Historical Room and elsewhere in the Wheaton House. Displays are maintained to foster an understanding of the historical themes related to the park, including regional agriculture, animal husbandry, 19th and 20th century domestic and social life, and regional industrial practices and technology. Artifacts and archival materials are cared for according to The Collections Care Manual, which ensures that materials and objects are handled in accordance with the standards and ethics of the museum profession.

The Friends operate the park with very minimal state support. Daily operations and special programs rely on thousands of volunteer hours a year from members and the public. There are currently three part-time employees at the park, all paid for by the Friends. Income is sourced through camping rentals, membership fees and gifts to the non-profit Friends.

Some members of the Friends have taken their support a step further, and have included the park in their estate planning. These Friends are members of the Legacy Society of The Friends of Salt Springs Park. Through a simple clause in their wills, these generous members have granted a gift to the park that will ensure the park's future for the enjoyment of generations to come. This page celebrates their foresight and generosities which will help Salt Springs State Park continue to enrich the lives of all visitors, now and in the future.

Legacy Society Members

Bruce McNaught: Member since October 26, 2007

Nancy Wottrich: Member since October 26, 2007

Charles & Hedi Randall: Members since January 10, 2008

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