Pam Cain used to ride her bike over to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enjoy its natural beauty.
Now, she’s among a group of folks who are helping to support it.
The Friends of the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a nonprofit support organization that works closely with park rangers to help the park through fundraising and hosting special events. Money raised by the volunteer efforts have helped pay for new washers and dryers in the laundry facility as well as repairs on golf carts.
Cain, who is one of the four active board members of the support organization, said it’s easy to want to get involved.
“It’s just such a beautiful place, you will fall in love with it,” she said. “There’s a lot of interesting ecology to the place — carnivorous plants and unique wildlife.”
One of the ways the Friends help support the state park is through the camp store. The store is open seven days a week and not only sells basic necessities, but local art. All proceeds go back to the park. Volunteers also coordinate the bike, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals as an additional revenue stream.
No matter what your talent or skill is, there is a way to give back, Cain said. Whether it’s working in the camp store or cooking up breakfast for the monthly Breakfast with a Ranger event or digging in the dirt.
“There’s something that fits every interest,” said Cain. “And its a beautiful atmosphere to donate your time.”
Volunteers also help coordinate special events such as the Earth Day festival, kid’s fishing workshops or ranger talks, which provide opportunities for people to visit this local “jewel,” as Cain calls it.
“We had one lady stop by an event who said she lived in Destin for 29 years and never knew about the park,” Cain said. “We’d love to expose the park to more people in the area. It’s such a great resource for the community. We want more people to appreciate the beauty of the place.”
For more information about Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, visit www.topsailparkfriends.org.
Now, she’s among a group of folks who are helping to support it.
The Friends of the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a nonprofit support organization that works closely with park rangers to help the park through fundraising and hosting special events. Money raised by the volunteer efforts have helped pay for new washers and dryers in the laundry facility as well as repairs on golf carts.
Cain, who is one of the four active board members of the support organization, said it’s easy to want to get involved.
“It’s just such a beautiful place, you will fall in love with it,” she said. “There’s a lot of interesting ecology to the place — carnivorous plants and unique wildlife.”
One of the ways the Friends help support the state park is through the camp store. The store is open seven days a week and not only sells basic necessities, but local art. All proceeds go back to the park. Volunteers also coordinate the bike, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals as an additional revenue stream.
No matter what your talent or skill is, there is a way to give back, Cain said. Whether it’s working in the camp store or cooking up breakfast for the monthly Breakfast with a Ranger event or digging in the dirt.
“There’s something that fits every interest,” said Cain. “And its a beautiful atmosphere to donate your time.”
Volunteers also help coordinate special events such as the Earth Day festival, kid’s fishing workshops or ranger talks, which provide opportunities for people to visit this local “jewel,” as Cain calls it.
“We had one lady stop by an event who said she lived in Destin for 29 years and never knew about the park,” Cain said. “We’d love to expose the park to more people in the area. It’s such a great resource for the community. We want more people to appreciate the beauty of the place.”
For more information about Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, visit www.topsailparkfriends.org.
