Volunteer Spotlight
Highlands County Audubon Society Volunteer Team
Volunteer Team 3+ Award for Visitor Services
The Highlands County Audubon Society built a sheltered, accessible observation pavilion to help visitors connect with nature at the park. Located beyond the fringe of scrub habitat in the primitive wilderness area of the park, the project includes an uplands elevated wildlife observation pavilion in pine flatwoods and an interpretive kiosk. The kiosk provides information about pine flatwoods and scrub. Visitors may see wildlife such as the Florida scrub-jay and various migratory bird species. Campers, runners and bicyclists who frequent this area are drawn to the pavilion.
The team is led by Roberta and Steve Lake and Steve Blair. The other members are Jim Howell, Dale Knapp, Mike Knapp, Tim Delaney, Susan Volpitta, Bob Grassman, Jim Upchurch, Steve Turner, Paula Blair, James Brogdon, Dale Gillis, Marian Jordan, Fran Rolston and Paul Ebersbach.
After a year, the design of the structure was approved. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 29, 2019, and was completed over 21 days on Jan. 21, 2020. Steve Blair served as the project producer/coordinator while Steve Lake directed and supervised the construction. Steve Blair and Roberta and Steve Lake contributed 90 hours for project planning. Overall, the team contributed 769 more hours for construction, for a total of 869 hours.
The observation pavilion honors Audubon members and sisters Miriam and Carol Beck for their love of nature and commitment and contributions to Highlands Hammock State Park. Miriam served as president of the Audubon chapter and Carol Beck worked at the park from 1949 to 1965.
The $50,000 project was funded from the Audubon Society’s Miriam Beck Memorial Fund. Funds are used for educational purposes such as high school scholarships and environmental education teacher training workshops.
Expenses for lumber, concrete, galvalume roofing, auger and scaffold rentals, the parking area and the kiosk totaled $13,210. The combined total value of the wildlife observation pavilion donation is $36,846.
A wetlands pavilion is planned for the future.
2020 Florida State Parks Volunteer Recognition Award Winner