Volunteer Spotlight, Amanda Jones

A woman standing next to a utility vehicle.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park recognizes Volunteer Amanda Jones for her efforts to support the park and park staff. Amanda has been volunteering with the park for the last four years. She participates in maintenance projects, from cleaning the beach of foreign debris to building sea turtle nest cages. Amanda is also a part of the Turtle Patrol Team and assists park staff with sea turtle surveying during the nesting season. She is always up for an adventure and a new task to add to her repertoire!

Amanda is a Georgia native but moved to Florida 39 years ago and has lived most of her life in the Sunshine State. Originally, she resided in the Orlando area and moved to Naples in the mid-2000s. She began to frequent Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park for its serenity and escape into the natural world. Amanda always loved the ocean, so naturally she was drawn to the beauty of the Gulf at Delnor-Wiggins. What inspired and continues to motivate Amanda to return to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is the feeling she receives when she is at the park. She said, “There is something magical about the beach that is hard to put into words. It is a peaceful, serene and unbelievably beautiful place to regroup, center oneself and reflect.”

Parking area five, the northern boundary, has always been Amanda’s favorite part of the beach at Delnor-Wiggins. She would bring her own supplies and remove foreign debris left by visitors. One day she met a volunteer for Delnor-Wiggins who encouraged her to begin volunteering for the park, and she became a member of the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, the Citizen Support Organization that supports the park.

Since she began volunteering, her interest in the natural world has grown tremendously and her knowledge base has expanded. Amanda conducts interpretation to park visitors on shorebirds, marine life and the park’s history. She enjoys having conversations with visitors and educating them on the park’s natural and cultural resources.

Her favorite volunteer position at Delnor-Wiggins is being a part of the Turtle Patrol Team. She loves experiencing the mama sea turtle tracks up to the nest, the excavation of the nests and, if lucky, the natural release of hatchlings during turtle patrol. She also enjoys the volunteer appreciation days where she can socialize with other volunteers and park staff. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is happy to have Amanda Jones as a part of the team! 

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