The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County recently honored its corps of dedicated volunteers at its annual volunteer appreciation celebration.
Last fiscal year 884 full-time, 183 group and 2,616 one-time volunteers contributed more than 64,000 hours with an in-kind value of more than $1.6 million.
“We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers for their help connecting people to nature,” said Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Joe Cantore. “The dedication of our individual, group and corporate volunteers is inspiring and humbling.”
Volunteers assist staff in carrying out specialized tasks and interacting with visitors at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in Oak Brook, Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. They bring history to life, care for wild and domestic animals and teach countless visitors about nature.
The new Golf Preserve volunteers assist in maintaining the turf and preparing for opening day at The Preserve at Oak Meadows, and Natural Resources volunteers steward the District’s thousands of acres of habitat and monitor animal populations. Special Services volunteers pitch in at events throughout the District and assist behind the scenes with special projects. Trail Patrol volunteers help visitors enjoy the trail system safely, and through the Volunteer Ranger Program, individuals introduce archery, fishing and kayaking to visitors of all ages.
“This dedicated crew of volunteers support the staff in carrying out the goals of each program,” said Deborah Cuca Brooks, the District’s Volunteer Services coordinator. “We are one of the most diverse volunteer programs in the Chicagoland area, and are pleased to have so many volunteers who have found their passion here and are willing to share their time and talents with us. We can’t thank them enough!”
In addition to acknowledging the efforts of all of its volunteers, the Forest Preserve District also recognized individuals who make exceptional contributions. Director’s Award recipients for noteworthy commitment to their respective programs were Emily Gerlach of Naperville (Danada), Joan Schultheis of Hinsdale (Fullersburg), John Cumpek of Carol Stream (Kline Creek Farm), Dave Hill of Wheaton (Mayslake), Jeffrey Smith of Woodridge (Natural Resources), Michael Madsen of Woodridge (Natural Resources), Tom Greene of Elmhurst (Special Services), Jean Stanish of Glen Ellyn (St. James Farm), Rudy Mensone of Naperville (Trail Patrol), Hahnz Teope of Hanover Park (Volunteer Ranger), and Michael Brooks of Arlington Heights (Willowbrook).
This year’s President’s Award recipients, who made significant contributions to their programs, were Lynette Heimann of Aurora (Danada), Robert Moore of Hines (Fullersburg), Joe Rieger of Lombard (Kline Creek Farm), Susan Benjamin of Carol Stream (Mayslake), Christopher Bowen of Westmont (Natural Resources), Vicky Sroczynski of Darien (Natural Resources), Tom Teune of Wheaton (Special Services), Donna Laidlaw of Wheaton (Special Services), Ruth Anne Mielke of Warrenville (St. James Farm), James and Helen Vick of Wheaton (Trail Patrol), Chris Cizek of Wheaton (Volunteer Ranger), Charles Kelly of Naperville (Volunteer Ranger), and Dianne Entwhistle of Elmhurst (Willowbrook).
Workday group Award recipients were Commonwealth Edison in Oak Brook, Adventist Health Systems in Bolingbrook, and Wheatland Salem Church in Naperville.
Partnership Group Award recipients were DRiFT-DuPage River Fly Tyers and Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.
Area Scouts recognized for completing Eagle Scout projects with the District in 2016 were Christopher Floyd of Roselle, Cody Haney of Wheaton, Daniel Flattum of Bolingbrook, Jacob Viehmann of Naperville, Michael Tung of Naperville, Pierce Downer of Villa Park, Stephen Yanan of Wheaton, and William Hines of Lombard.
Support groups recognized for their volunteer work were The Conservation Foundation, DuPage Graue Mill Corporation, Friends of Danada, Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Mayslake Landmark Conservancy, University of Illinois Extension, Wayne Area Conservancy Foundation and West Chicago Prairie Stewardship Group.
For more information on Forest Preserve District volunteer opportunities, visit dupageforest.org/Volunteer or call Volunteer Services at 630-933-7681.
