Season of Gratitude: Celebrating Our Volunteers
November is the season of gratitude, a special time to reflect on the generosity and dedication of those who support our community. It is in this spirit that we celebrate the incredible volunteer force behind the Friends of the ACFL.
Founded in 1986 by a handful of passionate volunteers, including Ruth Johns, Doreen Dunton, Leigh Slotemaker Olsen, and Phil Burton, we owe our beginnings to their vision and hard work. Nearly forty years later, Friends of the ACFL has blossomed into a thriving organization still powered by remarkable volunteers. Last year, volunteers contributed more than 6,600 hours of service to us!
“Volunteering with the Friends of the ACFL is an easy and satisfying way to support the organization. And it’s fun. As a Trail Ambassador and a docent, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming visitors and introducing them to the incredible resource we have at our doorstep, and at the same time, hearing stories from locals with a long history of enjoying the forestlands. The love and enthusiasm people have for the Forestlands is infectious and inspiring, and makes me want to share it with all…so I volunteer,” says Connie Harris, who has been volunteering for Friends of the ACFL for nearly three years.
Friends of the ACFL coordinates a wide range of volunteer opportunities designed to engage people of all ages and interests:
Trail Work Parties & Stewardship Hikes: Join seasonal work parties to help maintain trails and remove invasive species. These events are open to everyone ages 12 and up, whether you're a first-timer or a regular. No application required.
Forest Discovery Center Docents: Provide visitor support and help operate the nature center during open hours. Applications open in early Spring.
Trail Ambassadors: Engage with trail visitors on weekends to encourage responsible recreation. Applications open in early Spring.
Citizen Science Volunteers: Help monitor forest health through water quality testing and other research activities. Look for applications to open in the future.
Event & Fundraising Volunteers: Help with the planning and execution of events throughout the year, including the Annual Benefit.
We invite all volunteers and new faces to join us for a work party on Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Little Cranberry Lake. We will focus on improving the trail surface near the lakeshore observation platform using tools like wheelbarrows and shovels.
“Volunteers are critical to our boots-on-the-ground effort to steward the ACFL for future generations. From lending extra muscle to trail work projects, to enthusiastically engaging with ACFL visitors on the trails and downtown, to helping us better understand the ecosystems we cherish, our volunteers keep the legacy of community action in the forest lands alive and well,” says Ellie Kravets, Community Programs Coordinator.
If you haven’t yet applied to volunteer with us, please complete the volunteer application on our website at
www.friendsoftheacfl.org/volunteer
A huge thank you to all of you who have volunteered for us. Your efforts inspire and sustain the stewardship of this beautiful forestland that we cherish so deeply. We look forward to seeing you on the trails and at future volunteer events!