'Tis the season of Thanks and Joy as many of us prepare for, or are celebrating, the Holidays. While we go out of our way this time of year to tell people how much they mean to us and appreciate everything they add to our lives, and our organizations, we hope that we communicate your value - to us - year around.

Collier County Parks and Recreation is fortunate to have hundreds of community members, dozens of business partners and charitable organizations to help us meet our mission and serve our community year around. We could not provide many of the services nor the immense positive impact for our environment without you. We understand that you are going to do good works because you are passionate about them and/or have a heart for service, so we are especially grateful that you have chosen us as one of your community service partners.

We are all in this together, and together we are improving our community's health, economy and environment. If one were to break down exactly what goes into improving each of these areas, based on the works you do in our Organization, the document would read like a novel. Your impact cannot be measured in words, or numbers but most effectively in "feelings". Feelings like Emotional Wellbeing, for someone who has achieved better health through socialization while volunteering. Feelings like Joy when visitors arrive on a beautiful and clean beach or park. Feelings like relief when there is a place to drop the children off for a fun couple of hours of pizza, movies and crafts so Holiday Shopping or Chores can be done, or when enjoying a book or meditation in a gorgeous garden with butterflies passing by. Feelings of personal growth from a lecture series, or an informative guided tour.

YOU are doing amazing things, and touching more lives than you will ever get to know. YOU are improving our community in leaps and bounds. YOU are the heart of our community, and the heart of our community is growing bigger every year.

Conservation Collier has interactive maps for 13 Collier County Preserves for hiking, mountain biking, walking, and seeing nature up close and personal. Click the photo above to see where preserves are located and check out the interactive maps.

Things to do and places to know in Collier County (and beyond.) Click on the photo to read the article.

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.