National Public Lands Day 2008 Volunteers of the Year
National Public Lands Day recognizes the efforts of three outstanding and dedicated public land volunteers. Read about their tremendous efforts and accomplishments to care for our natural environment...
Cashea Arrington
Congaree National Park, South Carolina and Andersonville National Historic Site, Georgia
Cashea has been an inspiration for all people around the country. She has volunteered with the Student Conservation Association for 7 years in multiple states and most recently is working with the National Park Service at Andersonville National Historic Site as a Park Guide.
Her latest National Public Lands Day event was an event she hosted at Congaree National Park where she gathered folks from all over South Carolina to remove invasive species and remove litter from the park. Her efforts go much further than the outdoors as she has inspired many elementary and high school students into environmental education and ethics. For being 19 years old, working full time for the park service and volunteering any chance she can, she deserves to be recognized.
--Colt Arrington, Goose Creek, South Carolina
Gary Solomon
Oceanfront Park, Boynton Beach, Florida
In 2005, Gary Solomon approached the City of Boynton Beach requesting free entrance to Oceanfront Park to clean the beach each Monday. Gary was determined and diligent in his request and the City of Boynton Beach partnered with him and co-sponsored the volunteer group Gary formed - the Sand Sifters.
In no time, Gary recruited 100 volunteers who clean the beach each month. The City helped Gary link with the Solid Waste Authority through their Adopt-A-Spot program. In addition to participating in National Public Lands Day, the group hosts the Great American, International Coastal, and All American cleanups, as well as their own themed events. Gary has created partnerships with other regional government and non-profit agencies to benefit the local environment.
Gary’s volunteer efforts have been invaluable by providing outlets for community service hours, an informative website, tree give-a-ways, community education, and by maintaining an email list of 800 environmental volunteers.
Gary works hard to keep our beaches and parks litter-free while maintaining the ecological integrity needed to preserve wildlife. Gary welcomes everyone to join the group with a friendly and enthusiastic personality.
Through Gary’s organization, the Sand Sifters have reached out to the county to provide free sea life lectures and sea turtle awareness programs. Concerned with the overall welfare of the community, Gary has expanded area cleanups to include toy and food drives benefiting local charities.
The success of the Sand Sifters and the benefits to our environment would not be possible if it were not for the wholehearted dedication of Gary Solomon.
--Vicki Robertson, Boynton Beach, Florida
Richard Wachenheim
Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve, Romeoville, Illinois
Richard Wachenheim is the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Regional Steward, Resource Management Crew Leader and Volunteer Coordinator.
Seventeen years ago Richard started his work at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve and Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve, and the district did not know the gem that landed in their midst. He has become an incredible asset to the district’s restoration management plan.
Richard started volunteering at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve-- a site down the road from Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve as the Steward. When the Steward at Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve resigned his position, Richard took on that site as well. After a few years of volunteering at both Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve and being the exclusive Steward at Romeoville Prairie, it was suggested that with his skills he should work with the districts paid staff to help to manage all the preserves as Regional Steward. That move led Richard to being hired on full time as a Resource Management Crew leader. This move did not stop his volunteer commitment to the district, and he most recently received the district's first 15-year pin for years of volunteer service.
When he is not out cutting brush or foliar-treating buckthorn and non-native weeds, he is coordinating the efforts of what has risen to nearly 50 full time volunteer stewards, preserve volunteers, workday volunteers, resource monitors, Eagle Scout candidates and corporate sponsored workdays. The results of his work are visible to many that work and live in the area.
The past two years have really helped to establish Richard as a Volunteer of the Year candidate. Price Water House Coopers is in their third go-around with us bringing up to 200 new hires to assist in restoration management work; and our National Public Lands Day Workday has grown to 200 volunteers.
Of course Richard will say that many others have been involved in the restoration work, but if not for the dedication that Richard has shown over the years, the numbers of brush piles he has created and burned have gone a long way to make the preserves the beautiful site that they are today.
-- Renee Gauchat, Volunteer Supervisor, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Illinois