An outdoor day of activities in support of the historic and recreational resources of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (NHS) will be held on Saturday, April 13. For more than 20 years Hopewell Furnace has held clean-up events intended to assist and draw attention to your local national park. Groups and individuals wishing to participate in all or part of the day’s activities are encouraged to contact Hopewell Furnace at 610-582-8773 in advance to reserve a spot on the roster of participants. Activities are free for everyone and will take place rain or shine (the exception being severe weather that would cause the park to be closed that day).
Participants will carry on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by becoming involved in service work on the same public lands the Corps helped develop. Hopewell’s “Day of Service” provides civic groups, scouts and the general public with an opportunity to show their hands-on support towards a local national park. Volunteer groups and individuals will be working with members of the park staff to prepare trails and grounds for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. “We’re so grateful to our local citizenry for their assistance helping to prepare Hopewell Furnace for our main visitation season,” said Site Manager, David Blackburn.
On Saturday, April 13 between 9 am – 10 am participants may arrive at the Hopewell Furnace Visitor Center. Participants will receive equipment and directions before setting out on a morning of trail and grounds clean-up. Volunteer groups and individuals will be working with members of the park staff and volunteers to prepare trails and grounds for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Proper clothing and footwear should be worn for working and hiking. The park will provide gloves, hand tools and safety equipment as needed.
By noon the work should be finished, and participants may use Hopewell’s picnic facilities for a break or to have lunch. Some drinks will be provided by the park. Those wishing to have a more substantial lunch are encouraged to bring their own since other food is not available on site. Participants are encouraged to spend the afternoon visiting the historic iron works or hiking the park’s trails.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape and community. Showcasing an iron plantation and its surrounding countryside, all of the park’s facilities are open 9 am – 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. It is closed on other federal holidays. Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345. Admission to the park is free. For more information stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact us by email at [email protected]. Visitors with specific needs should contact the park for assistance before their visit.
