Volunteers An Integral To Warsaw Parks Department
June 30, 2017 at 6:07 p.m.
By David [email protected]
“They’re very important to us. We have several groups that come yearly and volunteer,” said Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner. “It’s good for people to see the hard work that goes into some of this stuff, and there’s tons of people in the public that will enjoy it in the future.”
Some years the department hasn’t had that many volunteers, Gardner said, but lately they’ve had more, including individuals, corporations and Tippecanoe Valley High School students.
Rachel Grasmick was volunteering with her three kids – Gavin, Grace and Gabby – Thursday morning at the Nye Youth Cabin through the Parks Department. They were weeding, putting mulch down and other landscape work around the cabin. Gardner said the cabin is rented weekly so “hundreds and hundreds of people” will see the efforts the Grasmicks put into the landscaping around the cabin.
Grasmick said her kids just finished the Indiana Master Naturalist program, which requires participants to do about six hours of community service. The program gets kids connected to natural resources.
“So this is what we chose to do (for the volunteer hours),” she said.
“I think it’s important for the kids to be involved and realize that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that there’s a much bigger world out there and they’re a part of it. Giving back is part of it. The kids love it. They don’t care if they get paid or not. They don’t know the difference.”
Gardner said if the Grasmicks wanted to volunteer more at the parks in the future, he would welcome their help.
“We try to work with the public, whether it’s through events, programs, we have beaches and lakes and everything. Volunteering is just another way we can reach out and work together with the public. We’re happy to do that,” he said.
Anyone wanting to volunteer, Gardner said, should email him at [email protected] and he can “usually come up with something for them to do.”
Grasmick said volunteering with the Parks is “super easy. Literally, I called and left a message ... and then they sent me to H.R. and within five minutes, (Gardner) already called back. I was shocked. Usually, it’s not that easy.”
“We try to respond to all of our calls and emails pretty quickly and stay on top of things. And we always have something like this to do, so any group of volunteers can help,” Gardner said.
“They’re very important to us. We have several groups that come yearly and volunteer,” said Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner. “It’s good for people to see the hard work that goes into some of this stuff, and there’s tons of people in the public that will enjoy it in the future.”
Some years the department hasn’t had that many volunteers, Gardner said, but lately they’ve had more, including individuals, corporations and Tippecanoe Valley High School students.
Rachel Grasmick was volunteering with her three kids – Gavin, Grace and Gabby – Thursday morning at the Nye Youth Cabin through the Parks Department. They were weeding, putting mulch down and other landscape work around the cabin. Gardner said the cabin is rented weekly so “hundreds and hundreds of people” will see the efforts the Grasmicks put into the landscaping around the cabin.
Grasmick said her kids just finished the Indiana Master Naturalist program, which requires participants to do about six hours of community service. The program gets kids connected to natural resources.
“So this is what we chose to do (for the volunteer hours),” she said.
“I think it’s important for the kids to be involved and realize that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that there’s a much bigger world out there and they’re a part of it. Giving back is part of it. The kids love it. They don’t care if they get paid or not. They don’t know the difference.”
Gardner said if the Grasmicks wanted to volunteer more at the parks in the future, he would welcome their help.
“We try to work with the public, whether it’s through events, programs, we have beaches and lakes and everything. Volunteering is just another way we can reach out and work together with the public. We’re happy to do that,” he said.
Anyone wanting to volunteer, Gardner said, should email him at [email protected] and he can “usually come up with something for them to do.”
Grasmick said volunteering with the Parks is “super easy. Literally, I called and left a message ... and then they sent me to H.R. and within five minutes, (Gardner) already called back. I was shocked. Usually, it’s not that easy.”
“We try to respond to all of our calls and emails pretty quickly and stay on top of things. And we always have something like this to do, so any group of volunteers can help,” Gardner said.
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