For 30 years Fairchild volunteers have sustained the Fairchild Explorer Program, educating children about plants and nature and teaching them about Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and its mission. This year, in recognition of the exemplary contributions these volunteers have made to the garden and to the community at large, the Fairchild Explorer Program guides have been named the 2010 Bertram Zuckerman Volunteers of the Year. The guides were honored at the Volunteer Appreciation Brunch on March 17, and were recognized for their contributions by members of the Board of Trustees, Fairchild Director Dr. Carl Lewis, and all the volunteers and staff in attendance.
The 36 volunteers currently serving in the Explorer program exemplify the passion and dedication which have always been pre-requisites for this job. The guides come weekly from October through May. They work as a team, meeting in the morning, to plan out the details of the day. Each day of the week has a curriculum which is carried out in the day’s tours and activities and every day is different, depending on the size of the school group, their level of preparedness, the weather conditions and the other activities taking place in the garden that day.
Explorer volunteers are known for overcoming all obstacles. Maybe there’s bad weather. No problem, they dodge the raindrops. Did twice as many kids arrive than were expected? No matter, they still manage to answer every question and give each child personal attention. Whatever the conditions, the guides work together to ensure that the visiting school children experience Fairchild in a memorable and meaningful way.
The Fairchild Explorer Program guides are recognized as the 2010 Volunteers of the Year for their excellence in sustaining this remarkable educational program which has enriched the lives of South Florida’s children for 30 years. Congratulations and keep up the great work, Fairchild Explorer Guides!
This year’s Volunteer of the Year award recipients are:
Linda Arabian, Sylvia Baltin, Terry Blechman, Monique Chemaly, Anita Cody, Marie Cohen, Beth Collinsworth, Norma Craig, Martha Curtis, Marysol Daugherty, Stacy De Meo, Betty Eber, Karen Friend, George Gates, Mary-Anne Goseco, Pat Hackett, Susan Kalinsky, Jeff Kaplan, Barbara Katzen,Sandy Marietta, Susie Mayobre, Coky Michel, Paul Michel, Leone Modestino, Jackie Moser, Carol Onstad, Mary Rose, Ruth Santos, Mimi Schwar, Michele Seuren, Judy Stewart, Tamara Strang, Egon Tegtmeyer, Lynn Toth, Kathy Weiss, Julie Whitfield.