We have got some beachfront property for you here at Beltzville State Park in Carbon County. The latest in our eight-part series on Exploring State Parks in the Poconos. This place is pretty busy over the summer months, especially with boating, fishing, and swimming. We're going to introduce you to a water rescue canine unit as well as the Friends of Beltzville State Park.

Beltzville has so much beyond its beach. Sure, it's the big draw, going back more than 50 years. Then—and now—it’s a hot spot on hot days, by boat… or by land. Beltzville Lake is where Kelby, the K-9 lifeguard, patrols.

The park, where friends come together for yoga, cleanups, and camaraderie.

And families, visitors, and locals head out hiking amongst the tall pines and waterfalls.

Zane:
 "I love so many things about this state park."

Friends of Beltzville:
 "Beltzville is just a beautiful spot that collects a lot of good people."

George:
 "There's thousands of people on this beach, and she can walk right past everyone —— and she'll just keep doing her job."

Cody Miller - Park Manager:
 "The Poconos has been a forever vacation destination, and we're in it. It's a beautiful resource. And there's a lot of things to do and see here at Beltzville."

Before Beltzville—All this was the Pohopoco Creek. The Lenape lived on this land then the farming village Big Creek Valley. By the early '70s, the flood control dam led to the lake, and the state park was born.

Cody Miller – Beltzville State Park Manager:
 "It's an unlimited horsepower lake. So all kinds of different boats out here. Jet boats, jet skis, fishing boats, big boating lake, good fishing."

Cody Miller is the new manager at Beltzville and along with his state park crew, helps manage the crowds which at times can be so large it warrants closing the gates.

Miller:
 "So our limit for the bathing place, the beach area and the picnic area is 8,400 people. We don't quite get that many before we shut it down. We don't want to overload ourselves, our staff, and our facilities."

The demand for what Beltzville offers has always been—sometimes leading to a capacity situation by 9 AM. That’s when the message goes out letting folks know the park is full.

Miller:
 "It's a beautiful area. I can't blame anyone for wanting to come here. Um, we have implemented a few new traffic control methods like this year. Anybody that shows up before 8 a.m., we're having them stage at the Pine Run Boat launch parking area. There's plenty of parking down there, a bathroom, people can use that."

And when Beltzville is full—there are other options for visitors—like parks we’ve featured before on this series—Hickory Run, Tobyhanna, and Gouldsboro—and even Lake Wallenpaupack features the Palmyra Township Public Beach.

Keeping all those swimmers and boaters safe at Beltzville is a Newfoundland that’s trained well for this volunteer job.

George Abraham – American Academy of Canine Water Rescue:
 "This is Kelby. She's my certified canine lifeguard. My companion, my best friend, and my partner out on the water."

These summers—Kelby is fitted with GPS trackers—safety goggles… Even a life preserver. Kelby can even tow a boat!

Abraham:
 "There's never a question about her abilities. She picks up everything. The first time we ever showed it to her. Um. And she will sit here and scan this beach, whether we're out on the boat or if we're out here on the beach. She's always looking and wants to know what's going on in her environment."

Miller:
 "If anybody needs help they go out and help them. They are credited with 12 rescues last year."

Also answering the call, these Friends of Beltzville State Park… Lois, Diane, and Patti are a few of the nearly 100 members supporting this park and its programs.

Diane Szweykowski – Friends of Beltzville State Park:
 "I think if you understand the heart of a volunteer, you know what goes into it. And we're just here to have fun and we do the special events too. We do the special events first day hike, Earth Day hike."

Patti Ponicsan – Friends of Beltzville State Park:
 "We offer weekly hiking. Um, we do yoga in the park. It's a beautiful setting on one of the trailheads sawmill, trailhead. We do arts and crafts, arts and crafts. We have a monthly arts and crafts group. It's more like a jabber session, I love that. LAUGHTER"

The connection these volunteers have with the park runs deep, marking a decade of projects, programming, and potlucks.

Diane:
 "It just feels like really their friends, their friends. And then to give back to something. I believe in our land, our earth, our planet, and Beltzville is just a beautiful spot that collects a lot of good people."

Jim:
 "Most times at these state parks, we're showing you all about these beautiful places. And the guy behind the camera is Zane Shupp with Pocono Television Network. We wanted to take him out here at Beltzville because this is your home state park. Zane, what do you love about this spot?"

Zane Shupp – Pocono Television Network:
 "I have been exploring it really in depth for about 20 years, but I was born and raised just a few miles from here, so I have been coming here my whole life to fish, to boat, to hike."

Zane took us for a tour of the falls on the Pohopoco Creek hiking high up over the lake. This is where he goes trail running.

Zane:
 "I think the hiking and trail running here is some of the best that you can find anywhere in this part of the state. I love the trails. The way that they're clear, they're open, they're pretty well maintained. And I love the amount of like pine forests through here. And just like the vibe that you get when you're on these trails. Now I explore this area more now with my kids. Yeah, my oldest is eight. I've been bringing him here since he was a baby, and now I bring my youngest, who is five."

It's his home park from taking to the water by boat checking out amazing falls right near where a covered bridge once stood—moved by the U.S. Army Corps and preserved near the beach. A place everyone can enjoy all year long.

Zane:
 "It's a multigenerational park. I really feel like because there are so many things to do here. There's playgrounds, there's pavilions, there's a lake, there's the creek, there's the waterfalls."
 "There are so many opportunities for people to get out, explore, um, explore a lot or little. It doesn't matter. And it all really adds up to a better quality of life, I believe, to get out here and do these kinds of things. Yeah, either it's for yourself or with family or with your friends. It doesn't matter. I think there's nothing but good that comes out of being able to come to our state parks and, uh, take full advantage of them."