Michael and Ellie, a father/daughter team, have been volunteering with Friends of the Tonto since 2016. “We were looking for something to fulfill a school service project commitment which involved outdoor activity that we could do together” says Michael.
He continues, “the service project commitment has long been fulfilled but we continue to participate with Friends of the Tonto as we get satisfaction from seeing progress and knowing we are making a difference.”
They have been regular participants with two important projects – attending many of the scheduled Superstition Mountain Invasive Removal events and signing up for multiple Riparian Photopoint sites each season.
Ellie explains why volunteering is important to her. “With Friends of the Tonto I have witnessed changes in the forest ecosystem and some of the impacts. I’m seeing the progress a group of dedicated volunteers can make. I am now in the process of making choices for my career path and future studies and find that the experiences I’ve had and knowledge of the desert ecosystems I’ve gained are helping me with these decisions”.
Their enthusiasm and experience is invaluable to FOTNF as they pass this on to new volunteers and others within the community.
Join us at our next volunteer event! See our calendar of events here.