provided to The Santiva Chronicle
“Ding” Darling Refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) celebrated their annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Luncheon on Friday, March 28, at The Roost outdoor pavilion at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island.
The paella lunch was made possible through DDWS by the Is Cloak Volunteer and Visitor Services Philanthropic Fund and Tom Edgar Volunteer Endowment Fund.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of DDWS and the refuge,” said DDWS executive director Ann-Marie Wildman. “From maintenance and visitor services to staffing the Nature Store and assisting with biology research, they keep things running smoothly when federal budget and staff cuts pressure refuge staffing. This is the least we can do to thank them.”
Refuge staff reports that in the past year, 158 volunteers worked 13,209 hours at “Ding” Darling.
“That more than doubles our staffing,” said Ranger Tucker Phillips, volunteer coordinator, who presented awards with refuge complex leader Ranger Kevin Godsea. “I could stand here for hours and never express the importance of and gratitude for our volunteers.”
Godsea echoed Phillips sentiments, thanking the volunteers for their dedication and hard work. He also updated them on hurricane recovery projects, reporting the Bailey Tract will fully reopen the end of April and restoration projects such as DDWS offices and Wildlife Drive improvements continue into 2028.
DDWS formed in 1982 specifically to support a volunteer corps after the opening of the refuge’s first visitor center that year. More than 11,000 people visited in the first month after the center opened, overwhelming a staff unaccustomed to dealing with the inquisitive public. For more information about the refuge volunteer program, contact Ranger Tucker Phillips at Tucker_Phillips@fws.gov.
Below is a list of volunteers who won awards for hours milestones. The refuge and DDWS also recognized Jeanne Tyrer for 25 years of service and volunteer Barb Wyskowski and her team of Wild Weeders for their extensive work planning, planting, and maintaining the new Pollinator Gardens at the Visitor & Education Center.
250 hours: Ruth Brooks, Becky Clemens, Michele Fisher
500 hours: Diane Esslinger, Mary Rice, Nancy Stilwell
1,000 hours: Mike Rice
1,500 hours: Lyndon Borror, Jeff Clemens, Jon Sperry, Joy Sperry
2,000 hours: Bill Michels, Debbie Michels
3,000 hours: Nancy Riley, Jeanne Tyrer
3,500 hours: Greg Scherer
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