Volunteer Spotlight: Get to know Cuplet Fern

Looking for some great hands-on activities with your children that will expose them to volunteerism, hard work, and community spirit? Bungalower is partnering with local tech-guru Gregg Pollack and his children to spotlight some of the amazing local organizations that are always on the lookout for volunteers.

Editor’s Note: All following video, content, and opinions are those of Pollack and not of Bungalower Media. We first wrote about the following organization HERE in April 2017.

If you look hard enough, you can find the hardcore nerds on any given topic. Last weekend, we discovered the elusive and fascinating plant nerds during a field trip to the Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area. The trip was organized by Cuplet Fern, one of the thirty-seven chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society (Website).  

Their mission:  

“to Promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida” 

The Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area (Website) is managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, an environmental regulatory agency of the state of Florida dedicated to protecting our long-term supply of drinking water and to protect and restore the health of water bodies in 18 counties.

By purchasing this conservation easement about 10 years ago, the Orange County government was able to protect it from development, which would ultimately decrease the water quality of the Econlockhatchee River which bisects the property. This conservation area is the only remaining natural sandhill community in eastern Orange County, and it is beautiful.

Joining us on this hike was Graham Williams, land manager from the St. Johns Water District, who told us how he protects and nurtures this conservation area. He, along with the other plant nerds, taught us about all the different flora and fauna of the area, many of which we got to smell and touch. If you’re interested in the preservation and conservation of native plants and plant communities, definitely check out Cuplet Fern’s monthly meetings and field trips. They’re extremely friendly, and you may come out a bit a plant nerd yourself.

Pollack will be sharing more videos of his family’s adventures in volunteerism into early 2020 as he endeavors to expose his children to the joys of volunteerism and in giving back to the community. If you have any to suggest for a future visit, please do get in touch or contact [email protected] for an introduction.