In addition Eleanor volunteers at the Philip Hart
Visitor Center in Empire and the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven, helps out with
the Park’s Artist in Residence program, lends a hand at the annual Port Oneida
Fair, assists with the Saturdays at the Lakeshore program, tour guides the
senior citizen buses on the scenic drive and occasionally participates in search
and rescue operations. Most of these activities fall under the Volunteers In the
Park program.She enjoys all the people she meets in her work
as well as the opportunity to be outdoors and learn more about the outdoors.
“I love doing the senior citizen bus tours. It’s
a chance to meet many interesting people, including many from foreign
countries.”
“One time I had a busload of Russian visitors,”
she says. “Only one woman on the whole bus spoke English and she was the
interpreter. I would say a few words and the translator would say several long
sentences. I never knew what she was saying, but they were all screaming with
laughter.”
“It’s been wonderful volunteering for me because
I am outdoors and they have me doing so many different jobs.”
Eleanor is just one of more than 800 people who
volunteer at the Lakeshore each year, annually donating around 30,000 hours of
work to enhance the Park experience for millions of visitors. The Blacksmith
Shop, Boat Museum, and Life Saving Station in Glen Haven, for example, are
almost completely staffed by volunteers.
Next time you enjoy the Sleeping Bear Dunes,
whether on a park trail, at the Visitor Center, camping or attending one of the
Park special events, look around you. Many of the people helping out are likely
volunteers. And Eleanor may be there with them, quietly lending a hand.
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