Hello, Friends!

As you no doubt know by now, Lovers Key State Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth, a real treasure that is here for all to enjoy.  I'd like to share a secret with you...the secret of how we keep the park facilities and the natural resources found within the park in such great shape, even with almost one million visitors a year!

The "secret weapon" is volunteers, many of whom are FOLKS members.  I have a wonderful staff that I am very proud of, but without our team of volunteers, we would be stretched too thin to achieve all our goals.

What are our volunteers doing?  Some are helping to greet visitors and collect entrance fees at our Ranger Station.  Some work on small construction projects within the park...building picnic tables, making repairs to our park buildings, that kind of thing.  Other volunteers help by working hard to eliminate harmful exotic vegetation, like brazilian peppers or australian pine trees.  Some volunteers have green thumbs, and they maintain the park's beautiful butterfly garden and grow native plants in the newly-renovated park nursery.  Some volunteers even serve as guides on nature tours through the park.  In other words, all of these volunteers are doing the work that makes Lovers Key such a special place for all of us to enjoy.

FOLKS has some lofty goals...they are working to raise funds to have a Visitor's Center built within the park.  They step in to help the park with purchases that might not be feasible within the regular park budgets.  FOLKS members provide crucial support for several major events at the park during the course of the year.  

Is there a way for YOU to help FOLKS accomplish their many objectives?  We think so!  Some people help financially via their tax-deductible donations to FOLKS.  Others donate their time to help at the park on a regular or semi-regular basis.  Some simply sign up as members, even if they can't make a financial donation, or don't have time to help throughout the year.  All of these ways of contributing are important and meaningful.

Our volunteers enjoy working hand-in-hand with other volunteers and our park staff.  The camaraderie is great and we get a lot accomplished.  If you'd like to become a member of FOLKS and help out, please contact Brie Jamison by email or phone (239-463-4588) to learn more.  

Michael Hensley,
Park Manager