June 2021
Serving it Up with Parks and Recreation
Happy Memorial Day.
For all the men and women who have died for our Country, there is no bigger sacrifice; for them or their families.
Thank you
Volunteer Shout Outs
Happy Retirement to George Fogg!

After over 30 years with Collier County Parks and Recreation George is retiring.

George was a Park Ranger during his career with Parks and has been a dedicated volunteer for many (many, many) years, helping to start the Clam Pass Trail Blazers. George has worked with numerous County Departments (not to mention his work in other states and Countries) in the development of parks. He has written several books about Park Planning, Site Design and Management Planning for Park and Recreation Areas. All George's books can be found on Amazon.com.

George, we wish you a wonderful retirement! Thank you for hard work, dedication and all the wisdom you shared.

Stay Healthy, Active & Playful!
Volunteer Opportunities
This coming Friday night 06/04 Volunteer with us and get free access to this Great Concert with tributes to The Beetles, The Rolling Stones and Elton John.

Volunteers will be needed to help keep the washrooms stocked, and some light cleaning during the event. Volunteer opportunities will also be available next month (July) for the final concert of the series.

Volunteers can sign up in the volunteer portal or contact Debra M. Siciliano at 239-252-4033 to sign up or for additional information.

From the Garden Program
Pollinator Week is Coming! 
 
Gardeners, farmers, and nature lovers can all agree on the importance of pollinators. Critters that visit flowers, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, act as pollinators when they move pollen from one flower to another. This act of pollination is important because it leads to fruits, seeds, and more generations of plants for the future. 
Celebrate your favorite pollinators during Pollinator Week, starting Monday, June 21st, 2021. Visit your favorite garden or natural space and count the different kinds of pollinators you see visiting flowers. Do you like to draw or write? Let pollinators be your inspiration this week.  
Avid gardeners might consider planting a few native plants loved by pollinators, such as tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii), firebush (Hamelia patens), or dotted horsemint (Monarda punctata). Native plants like these are especially attractive to Florida’s native pollinators. Create your own list of pollinator-friendly plants with help from the Florida Native Plant Society at FNPS.org/plants. 
Get even more ideas for Pollinator Week activities at Pollinator.org. How will you celebrate Pollinator Week? Share your activities with Lead Garden Volunteer, Connie Nagele, at CNageleart@gmail.com. 
 
By: Andee Naccarato, President of Naples Native Plants (FNPSNaples.org) 
 
Photo caption: Goldenrod is one of many Florida native plants that attracts pollinators. How many can you count in this photo? 

If you would like to volunteer with the Garden Program, we would encourage anyone with a passion for nature and willingness to learn, to contact Connie at her e-mail above, or Debra.Siciliano@colliercountyfl.gov, the volunteer coordinator for Parks, for more information.
Have you checked out your volunteer portal yet? You may sign up for volunteer opportunities from the comfort and convenience of your smart phone, tablet or computer.

We are posting new volunteer opportunities regularly. Log in to the volunteer portal and look for the Help Wanted button to see the calendar of opportunities.

Your login credentials are the e-mail address you have on file with us, and you will use password "1008". You will be prompted to change the password when you log in for the first time. If you have any trouble accessing your account please call me at 239-252-4033.