Our Last Week Volunteering At J.N. Ding Darling ..at least for now

J.N. Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Florida (92 degrees, hot and humid)

We have completed our five month volunteer "gig" at J.N. Ding Darling NWR.  It has been a super experience. 

My electric "limo"

I got to ride in style each day from the campground to the visitor center.  My responsibilities included answering phones, helping out at the front desk and gift shop, coordinating volunteer schedules, and other duties as assigned.  :)

My desk

Jeff (my boss) desk...YIKES!

John worked with the maintenance crew and whacked away at all types of nature.  Poison ivy was a frequent visitor, however, he never complained even in the high humidity.  He helped out with all kinds of tasks and one of his favorites was mowing.  The equipment and tools were in great shape (not always found when working with campgrounds).

Tree trimming

Power washing

Our site

We made many friends and are looking forward to seeing them again soon.  We are very excited to be able to return in January to work the winter season.  

Ivette & Verna

Becky & Jesse

Joyce & Becky

Lisa

Barbara and Madame the Crocodile

Tony

John, Jean, & Glen

Jack

Working with the great volunteers and staff in the Education Center was the highlight of my experience. They are all so very dedicated and most have been coming to Ding for many years. I learned so much about the birds, habitat, turtles, reptiles, bugs, and local attractions through their guidance. We laughed often and I enjoyed hearing all their stories about Sanibel.

Jeff was our boss and the volunteer coordinator.  He wore many hats.  One of them was coordinating over 250 volunteers and five resident couple volunteers during high season. He was fun to work with and we are so glad he asked us to come.  He has a stack of applications and we have been on a waiting list for many years.  

John & Jeff (our boss)

I forgot earlier to post pictures of the Education Center when we first arrived.  This beautiful 3.3 million dollar building was built with no federal funds.  It was all raised by with donation thru the Ding Darling Wildlife Society. This non-profit organization is very active and helps fund many projects for the refuge. 

Looking out from the front desk

Jim Sprankle Woodcarving of a Mangrove Cuckoo (unfortunately the only one we saw)

Replica of Ding Darling's studio (check out the gun used to hunt ducks at one time)

Classroom

Crocodile vs alligator skull

Recycling art exhibit

Story board about trash on the beach

Manatee bone (normal on top, injured bone on bottom due to boating accident)

Manatee display

Touch table

Front Door

It will be much busier when we return.  Some of my responsibilities will change, however, John's will be the same.  This time we will be joined by four other couples in our "gated community".  Lisa told me there is so much to do locally and it's impossible to fit everything into your schedule.  Sounds good to us.  Stop back in January to read all about it or better yet, come visit us.  

Sometimes The Best Made Plans Actually Work Out

Sanibel, FL (86 degrees, blue skies with puffy clouds)

Rosette Spoonbills

We have tried for years to get a winter volunteer position at J.N. Ding Darling NWR, without any success.  There are five sites available, however, the same group of volunteers return each winter. You cannot blame them!  Sanibel is a very special place and the birding, weather, and shelling is phenomenal.  

Turtle eggs

Baby loggerhead turtles

You might remember that this spring we were getting ready to travel up to Maine and workamp for the spring/summer season with a KOA campground.  Just before we were to leave the manager of the volunteers at Ding Darling offered us a summer volunteer position due to some funding being cut for the refuge. There was a great need especially for maintenance help at the refuge and John really enjoys that type of work  After some consideration and discussion with the campground in Maine we decided to go

ahead and accept it.  We were hoping to get our foot in the door and see if we liked volunteering here.  

We have enjoyed our time tremendously and have learned so much about the birds and sea life from the rangers and volunteers we have worked with each day.  We have also made some great friends. The weather has certainly been a challenge.  August has been especially hot, humid, and buggy. The no-see-ums can be fierce and John has had frequent outbreaks of poison ivy. With three weeks left to our commitment we received a phone call from our manager telling us that one of the volunteer couples  was not returning due to health reason.  Did we want the position?  It did not take us long to give him a resounding "Yes".  

Snowy Egret

Our plan is to take a couple of months off and visit some of our favorite places in Florida.  In November and December we will be working again for Slippermania selling sport memorabilia in Port Charlotte.  Starting in January we will return to Ding Darling until April.  John's duties will remain the same, however, I'll be giving some interpretive talks to visitors about alligators/crocodiles, manatees, plants, and an auto tour of Wildlife Drive. In addition, I'll be answering the phone in the administration office.  In the winter time this is a very busy place. Over 800,000 people visit it each year.  

Killdeer

We are very happy to be returning this winter.  It could not have worked out any better.  If you are in the area, please let us know.  We'd love to show you our back yard.