Anne Rozite volunteers because maintaining the health of our park’s trails is important to her. She serves to help restore the natural environment by focusing her efforts in the removal of non-native plant species like invasive Brazilian pepper trees.
Anne Rozite
Volunteer Anne Rozite, along with husband Andy, found their way from Michigan and Indiana to Collier-Seminole State Park after settling down in the nearby village of Goodland. Being avid trail hikers at the park, Anne and Andy decided to volunteer in an effort to help with trail trimming but soon became key members of the park's Exotic Plant Treatment and Removal Team.
After 11-plus years of volunteer service and close to 3,000 service hours, you can still depend on Anne to give it her all. Each week, like clockwork, Anne is out there battling the endless fight in helping to restore the park's natural landscape through herbicide application treatments of the non-native invasive plants. Plants such as Brazilian Pepper, Melaleuca, Old World Climbing fern and Para grass top her list.
Volunteer Anne Rozite and Park Services Specialist Michelle Craig supervising scouts from Naples Boy Scout Troop 155 during an exotic plant removal day, Air Potato Round-up!
Anne not only participates in maintaining trails but is also involved in presenting interpretive guided walks and talks. Her favorite program is about the immense mangrove forest. Her program engages park visitors to ask questions while giving an opportunity to learn about these amazing, land-building, mangroves. Anne says a healthy mangrove ecosystem not only benefits the park and the natural environment but also helps to protect us from violent storms and hurricanes.
This mangrove forest is part of one of the largest contiguous mangrove forests in the western hemisphere. Anne also loves telling about how the flowers of the mangroves help in the production of honey. Mangrove honey tasting is always a highlight of her program!
Anne does it all! She loves talking to park visitors about the importance of our mangrove forest through interpretive programming.
Anne's dedication doesn't stop here. Anne has also served as Vice President and Acting President of the Friends of Collier-Seminole State Park. Along with helping out in the ranger station office, she has hosted park information tables at local events and has assisted in other park activities and events such as the "Friends" Sundae Social.
Anne is a highly valued Florida State Park volunteer and team member willing to go the extra mile in everything she does. She's a tough act to follow.
Anne invites you to join her in maintaining Florida's fabulous flora and fauna at Collier-Seminole State Park.
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