Des Moines County Conservation (DMCC) wrapped up its 50th Anniversary last week at the Annual Volunteer Banquet. During the anniversary year there were an extra ten public programs that helped raise donations for Big Hollow Recreation Area. Because of the “One Million in One Year” Anniversary campaign DMCC was able to put in a RV camp ground at Big Hollow complete with 42 sites. There was 4,400 tons (over 8 million pounds) of rock hauled to the new camp ground. The campground now has electricity and water running to it and by spring each site will have individual hook ups. “We were very fortunate to have generous donors with one special donation from the Harry & Virginia Murray Foundation of $100,000”, stated Kim Perlstein, DMCC Director. For about $300,000 more everything within Big Hollow can be completed.
DMCC touched over 10,715 lives with programs and had 115 volunteers who donated more than 1,800 hours of their precious time during 2012. Each year DMCC honors Volunteers of the Year and this year there were three.
Two cousins helped with almost every week of summer camp over the past few summers. They would often come in twice a day so that they could volunteer both for the morning and night camps. Many teenagers look at summer as a time to sleep in and hang out with friends; these two woke up early to volunteer. They would even call well before summer to make sure they were on the list to volunteer! When not helping with camps they have also helped with other tasks such as identifying rocks in our rock collection, cleaning, grounds work around the nature center, putting mailing labels on envelopes, and just basically any task asked of them. The volunteers of the year are Blake Hubbard & Dallas Young.
The group of the year has been very active in trail development over the years. From designing trails to making sure they were clean so the public could use them. A project that the group took on over the past year and a half was the Rossiter Heritage Trail Project. The project included scouting out interesting plants, trees, and other items to point out. Around 45 signs were installed at the park this summer in June. There were about 8 volunteers who came out to install the signs and there are still plans for around ten more signs to be placed in the park. Many park users have commented on how the signs are a great addition to Starr’s Cave Park. This year’s volunteer group of the year is the Des Moines County Nature Trails Association.