Children's Environmental Education Programs' Volunteers Honored

Each year on the Monday before Valentine’s Day, the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation (SRPF) honors and recognizes volunteers at its annual “Volunteering is a Work of Heart” luncheon held in the Visitor Center at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. This year three individuals were awarded gifts and recognition for their volunteer work. Long-time Murrieta resident Nancy Backstrand was recognized by Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District (RivCoParks) and the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation Board of Directors for her over 30 years of volunteer service in support of the children’s education programs at the Reserve. She was presented with a plaque that will be permanently on display at the Visitor Center and a letter from Scott Bangle, General Manager of RivCoParks thanking her for the selfless contribution of her considerable talent and time. The history of Nancy’s input with the development of the first Docent trainings, the creation of the Outreach, Family Wildlife Day and Heritage Host programs was shared. “We describe Nancy as a force in nature when it comes to impacting a child’s experience at the Reserve” says Ginger Greaves, Executive Director of the Foundation. Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to Bob Robinson and Jim Lockyer. Bob gave hundreds of hours setting up and tearing down from Foundation events throughout the year. “Bob is always the first to volunteer for the jobs that most people would rather not do” sited Greaves. Jim Lockyer, who is also a Docent with the children’s program, assisted with the Foundation’s grades 5-12 Habitat Studies and Restoration program, volunteering his time to teach journaling to students and photographically documenting the program. “ Jim has a unique way of working with students. He helps them nurture their curiosities about nature” said SRPF Board member Virginia Hyde. The Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation’s purpose and passion is to educate and empower youth to protect and preserve nature. It provides five environmental education programs for grades 3-12 at the Reserve. To volunteer for the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation and at the Reserve contact email volunteer@srpf.org or visit www.srpf.org.