The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently celebrated the contribution of hundreds of volunteers to the improvement of District lands with a Volunteer Appreciation Day.
Approximately 300 volunteers are involved with the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program. These volunteers play an important role in maintaining the District’s many recreational trails and campgrounds.
“District volunteers have put in hours and hours of time helping develop, construct and maintain District trails, picnic areas and campgrounds,” said Colleen Kruk, Land Use and Protection manager. “Without them, some of the District’s public lands would not be as accessible and enjoyable.”
The volunteer program tracks volunteers’ hourly contributions and honors a volunteer or organization when that person or organization reaches an established milestone. During the celebration volunteers were individually recognized and received plaques, shirts and caps.
The program’s established milestones are 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1,000 service hours.
Here’s are the groups involved with the District’s volunteer program, and the property they help the District maintain:
Green Swamp Preserve
*Withlacoochee River Trail Canoeists
*Florida Trail Association
*West Central Boy Scouts Chapter
*Hampton River Riders and Triple B Riding Club
Upper Hillsborough
*South Creek Foxhounds Equestrian Club
*Florida Sport Horse Equestrian Club
*Florida Trail Association
Lower Hillsborough
*South Creek Foxhounds Equestrian Club
*Wilderness Trails Association
*WYME Equestrian Club
Cypress Creek
*LPEC Equestrian Club
*Troop 33 Land O Lakes Boy Scouts
Lake Panasoffkee
*Friends of Hanover Citizen Support Organization
Potts Preserve
*Florida Trail Association
Starkey and Serenova Tract
*Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Inc.
*Venture Crew Boy Scouts – riffin/Deep Creek/Lake Manatee Lower Watershed
*Myakka River Riders
Five volunteer groups received special recognition. Each group contributed more than 500 hours of service:
*Friends of Hanover Citizen Support Organization
*South Creek Foxhounds Equestrian Club
*Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse
*Florida Trail Association
*Hampton River Riders
The Appreciation Day, which was held at the Green Swamp West Field Office, featured an awards presentation, exhibits, picnic lunch, live music, hayrides and a nature hike.
“While this celebration cannot fully express our gratitude, we hope it let our volunteers and their families know how much we appreciate them,” said Kruk.