Students and Maryland Forest Service Improve the Green Ridge State Forest Hiking Trail

Flintstone, Md. — Students from the Department of Juvenile Services at the Green Ridge Youth Center recently worked with the Maryland Forest Service to construct a new section of hiking trail at Green Ridge State Forest. The latest section of trail is on the west side of Polish Mountain, and significantly improves the connection to the Mid-State Pennsylvania hiking trail near Black Valley Road north of Flintstone, Maryland. Both trails are part of the Great Eastern Trail.

“This is an excellent program for both Juvenile Services and the Maryland Forest Service,” said Francis Zumbrun, Forest Manager at Green Ridge State Forest. "The students help us to get important work done in the field. At the same time, students who participate in outdoor programs often see improvements in test scores, develop better conflict resolution and problem-solving skills and experience greater self-esteem.”

The Maryland Forest Service also provides environmental education to the students working in the forest. These efforts are part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, Governor O’Malley’s state-wide initiative to reconnect youth with the great outdoors.

photo caption: Sam Long, left, residential adviser from Green Ridge Youth Center, and Francis Zumbrun, Green Ridge State Forest manager, look at a map on an overlook where Maryland and Pennsylvania can be seen Monday afternoon on Alternate Route 40 on Polish Mountain. About 40 students from the youth center helped construct about one mile of steep terrain trail on the west side of Polish Mountain, and significantly improve the connection to the Mid-State Pennsylvania hiking trail near Black Valley Road north of Flintstone. Both trails are part of the Great Eastern Trail. John A. Bone / Cumberland Times-News