by Barbara Dixson
More than eighty volunteers welcomed our 4,000 attendees to this fall’s Candlelight Hike. Hear what three new volunteers had to say about the experience.
What’s left of the October 28 Candlelight Hike at this point?
- A few bites of not yet eaten jack-o’-lanterns for the deer
- This link to the delightful show the Environmental Interpretation students put on about things that light up the night in Central Wisconsin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGgA-0znz7w&ab_channel=SchmeeckleReserve
- The pile in Melissa Ruether’s office—
- And the happy memories, especially of the night’s volunteers.
More than 80 volunteers made it possible for the 4,000 visitors to enjoy the lantern-lit trails, to stop by the education stations, to meet the visiting raptors, and to munch on snacks of popcorn and s’mores. The volunteers might have had the best time of anyone!
JONATHAN ISMAIL
Interviewing for his current UWSP job working in natural resources, Jonathan didn’t let the chilly May rain stop him from visiting Schmeeckle at the end of the day. He met “the delightful” Melissa Ruether, who gave him a warm welcome to Point, he explored the visitor center, and he took his mom to the Reserve as soon as he got into town. Jonathan has had “a fantastic experience” with student employees and renting outdoor equipment at the visitor center. When he joined the Friends, he was warmed by a handwritten note of welcome from its president, Jerry Lineberger. Jonathan has worked for a number of friends organizations, and this is “the best organized friends organization I’ve ever dealt with!”
As a Candlelight Hike volunteer, Jonathan worked at the raptor station. He also has zoo experience in his background, so he noticed that “the presenters did a good job helping the birds be comfortable.” The hike and the experience, Jonathan commented, were great! It was wonderful to see Schmeeckle folks and folks new to Schmeeckle, to see families, young people, and older kids, and to see that all of them were having such a fine outdoor experience.
CHRIS TOELLNER
Chris moved to Stevens Point from Wausau in September and has been hiking and biking on the trails in Schmeeckle since she arrived. She finds it a nice area, feels safe on the trails, and sees it as “family friendly.”
With the idea that she should register for the Candlelight Hike, Chris stopped by the visitor center, and, though no registration was needed, a staff member offered volunteer opportunities. She signed up, and worked in the crafts area in the visitor center meeting room. With no experience in origami, she figured out the folds along with parents and children, all of them smiling over wrong turns and successes, and the “kids excited with the things they made.”
Chris said she had “nothing but good to say about it” and “would do it again in a heartbeat.”
STEPHANIE BISHOP
Here’s what Stephanie Bishop said as she began reflecting on volunteering at the Hike:
Schmeeckle is particularly of interest to me, as my grandparents’ home was on the property before the university acquired it.
I can remember where their home, garage, greenhouses, chicken coops and berry patches were.
When the lake was first created, we had Easter dinner at my grandparents’ house. It was a beautiful day. Before it was open to the public, we walked around the lake after dinner to see what had been built.
My grandparents were Ester and Tots (Walter senior) Skowronski. My aunt Pat lived with them.
“My shift went SO fast!” Stephanie commented about volunteering. She worked as a greeter, on a team of two. She enjoyed greeting people and, between arrivals, talking with her team partner about “conservation, the environment, his aspirations for the future and who we were.” Stephanie was “happy to help” and is looking forward to the next volunteer occasion.
YOU’RE INVITED!
Get your hiking and volunteer energy ready for the spring Candlelight Hike, only six short months away! Put Friday, May 5, on your calendar now.