Volunteers make a difference for state parks

CHIPLEY, FL - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service announced that volunteer hours increased for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

In a recent press release by the DEP, “more than 6,000 volunteers contributed more than 1.2 million hours of service to Florida’s state parks last year – a 53,000-hour increase from the previous fiscal year and a record high for the park service.”

“This record number demonstrates the outstanding commitment and stewardship to Florida’s environment demonstrated by state park volunteers,” said DEP’s Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “The contributions of park volunteers alongside our dedicated staff are sincerely appreciated and equate to roughly 581 full-time positions saving the state $24 million.”

Manager of Falling Waters State Park in Chipley and Ponce de Leon Springs, Scott Sweeney, explained the importance of volunteers.

“Volunteers make huge contributions to the Florida Park Services in many ways,” said Sweeney. “They help maintain the natural beauty of park’s landscapes, trails, and beaches and work hard as our interpreters, tour guides, greeters, landscape artists and resource custodians.”

If it weren’t for volunteers, he explained, the park wouldn’t have the level of service it has today.

“Falling Waters State Park has been blessed over the years with individuals willing to give of themselves to make the park a better place for the 30,000 plus that visit the park every year,” he said. “The park has a small staff and the volunteers are crucial in helping maintain and improve its overall operations.”

He said that volunteers helped make the park what it is and gave examples of some of the work that was accomplished.

“We get volunteers from all walks of life out here and they are some of the most spectacular people you’ll ever meet,” said Sweeney. “They bring a variety and level of skill that is just phenomenal.”

A man in his late 60s came and helped build one of the bridges in the park.

“This man was old-school with the way he built things,” said Sweeney. “He taught me techniques I never thought of using and I learned so much more than I could’ve ever expected.”

Not only did these individuals have skills, he said, they had stories.

“Our volunteers come from all over the country and from all walks of life,” he said. “And boy, do they have stories to tell.”

Another example of volunteer ingenuity is the newest portion of walkways, stairs and lookouts for the waterfall and trail at Falling Waters.

“It was built by three men, all in their 60s,” he said. “You couldn’t have asked for better craftsmanship.”

Sweeney explained there were three types of volunteers.

The first are community volunteers.  “These are volunteers from the local community that dedicate one or two days out of a week or a couple days out of the year,” he said.

The second type is the seasonal volunteer. “These volunteers come down a couple months out of the year and they come from all over the United States,” he said. “Sometimes even from other countries.”

And the third type is full time volunteer. “These are people who have sold their homes and do this full time,” he said. “They are basically nomadic, moving from park to park months or years at a time.”

He said that they appreciate their volunteers so much that they have a special area for their campers; Falling Waters has four areas reserved for volunteers and Ponce de Leon has two.

Two teachers from Roulhac Middle School, Greta Draayom and Cindy Padgett, recently received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their volunteer work during their summer program.

“They basically put together the curriculum used in the program,” he said. “It went well for the first year with 25 kids participating.”

Sweeney said he encourages volunteer work.

“Volunteering can be a rewarding experience in a Florida State Park,” he said. “Not only will you have an active role in the management of your state park, but you’ll be given specialized training and hands-on experience that can improve job skills and allow you to meet new and exciting people.”

He explained that a local organization specializing in volunteering locally are the Friends of Falling Waters.

“Some of the projects that the volunteers have been involved in include park brochures, trail improvement, community events, educational programs and the Butterfly Garden,” he said. “Get involved and make a difference.”

For more information on the Friends of Falling Waters visit www.friendsoffallingwaters.com, or call Falling Waters State Park at 638-6130.

For more information on Florida’s state parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org.

The next scheduled event is Legends in the Fall, October 9-10.