Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Volunteer Information
Volunteers can do many things -- greet visitors, conduct tours, help rangers remove exotic plants or maintain the natural beauty of a beach, waterway or trail.
By Katy Black, Volunteer
Wakulla Springs State Park
There is a scene in “Fiddler On The Roof” in which the village matchmaker tells a father that a match between his not so good looking son and a village girl with limited eyesight is a perfect match.
Sometimes the willing volunteer finds the perfect match with a particular volunteer job. That is the case with me and Woods Patrol. Woods Patrol was one of the jobs listed by Ron Weiss in a talk with the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park a little over three years ago. We were sitting at the picnic area eating barbeque when he began telling the group about all the volunteer opportunities that needed filling.
The idea of driving the fourteen miles of dirt fire access roads in the park and seeing that they were kept clear of fallen limbs and trees appealed to me. So I began to pack my saw, ax and lopping shears every Tuesday and Friday morning and go to work. Three years and more than 250 Woods Patrols later, I’m still at it. What keeps me going?
The physical labor involved varies, of course. I find it challenging to see just how little of the work I have to leave to the paid staff to do. Some trees just need to be done with a chain saw! But even then, I clean up the vines and branches so the staffers can spend as little time as possible on each tree. I consider the physical labor part of my osteoporosis prevention program - and cheaper than belonging to a spa.
Being in the woods is a real treat for me. Birding is my number one hobby. No, be honest, Katy. It’s a passion - or a vice, maybe? Woods Patrol takes longer in warbler migration season, I’ve noticed! Over the course of three years, I’ve seen even such rare birds as the Cerulean warbler. Wild turkeys are another avian treat. Four legged critters I’ve seen include a coyote, three otters, bobcats, raccoons, opossums and fox squirrels. Deer are seen on probably three out of four trips. I have yet to see a bear, however. Maybe next time, but that’s part of the appeal. I never know what I’m going to see or what work I’m going to have to do.
Finding your niche is always a pleasure. Woods Patrol is my comfort zone from a physical, visual, even spiritual aspect. A very old woman taught me the expression, “It rises my soul.”
Find your place in the volunteer activities needed in the park. You couldn’t work for nicer, more appreciative folks. And they’ll tell you how much they appreciate what you do. Make yourself feel good - volunteer.
Please visit our website at www.wakullasprings.org
