Rooted in service: Volunteers help Lake County Forest Preserves thrive

April is Volunteer Month, but in Lake County’s forest preserves, the contributions of volunteers are visible year-round.

Last year, 1,241 volunteers donated more than 21,000 hours — time valued at over $734,000 — supporting habitat restoration, education and cultural preservation. Opportunities are open to anyone, with training provided for every role.

Community Engagement Specialist Norma Zamudio works to support and grow our volunteer program, even becoming a licensed herbicide applicator and brush pile burn boss to better assist in the field. What stands out most, she said, is the people.

“Their knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment are truly contagious, and they’ve helped build a community that feels welcoming, inspiring and deeply connected to the land.”

For many volunteers, that connection starts with a single project and grows into something more.

Where a Calling Took Hold

Mat Sullivan traces his path back to a degraded lake, and even earlier, to a high school interest in ecological restoration, when he first volunteered.

As an intern about six years ago, he was assigned to Slough Lake at Duck Farm Forest Preserve in Lake Villa. At the time, the lake was struggling, overrun by invasive carp.

Working with the Lake County Health Department, Sullivan helped monitor conditions as the fish were removed. The turnaround came quickly. Clearer water. Healthier habitat. A visible improvement.

That experience stayed with him.

Today, Sullivan works full time with the Health Department, but he felt drawn back to Duck Farm to keep improving the lake’s water quality. He reached out to Stewardship Ecologist Kelly Schultz and began removing invasive plants and planting native species along the southern portion of the site.

He now serves as a site steward, helping lead others during restoration workdays.

Sullivan says the work is rewarding, especially watching the landscape come back to life.

“Pollinators are now showing up. I was amazed at how quickly native plants, insects, birds and animals began to rebound,” he said. “The difference is night and day.”

Life Outside the Cubicle

Jim Williams isn’t a “gym guy.” He’d rather stay active outside, and the forest preserves are his go-to.

That mindset started early.

“I had a rural upbringing. I was always outdoors; my parents insisted on it,” he said. He grew up on a cattle farm near Kansas City, Missouri. Another influence was just as powerful. His aunt’s passion for native grasses sparked an interest that’s never left him.

After a career in sales and corporate training, Williams turned to volunteering about three years ago, focusing on restoration work. He’s now a site steward at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan and spends much of his week helping at preserves across the county.

He values both the movement and the people. “I spent my professional career behind a desk in a cubicle,” he said. “It’s good to get out and exercise.”

Volunteering also comes with perks. Ecologists lead small-group tours, sharing insights on tree identification and native plants, and inviting volunteers to help monitor bluebirds and study pollinators.

“It’s deepened my interest in plants,” he said. “You start noticing more, asking more questions. It really expands your curiosity about nature.”

A Garden that Gives Back

Kay Ross devotes her free time to tending a vegetable garden in Waukegan, planting, watering and caring for crops throughout the season.

Partnering with Leroy Houze, they lead a group that grows fresh produce and shares it with nearby residents. The Forest Preserves owns the 0.08-acre site, known as Community Garden, and supplies seeds, plants and equipment.

Planting begins in May and continues through October at the site’s 20 raised beds. Watermelon, tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, green beans, spinach and carrots are among the crops they grow and distribute.

“We’re giving back to the community, and it feels really good,” said Ross, a program manager for an insurance company in Chicago. “It’s fulfilling. It’s also a chance to slow down and reconnect.”

Street parking is available along Oak Street and McKinley Avenue. When produce is ripe, residents are welcome to help themselves. Any extra is shared by volunteers, who walk the neighborhood and distribute it.

Ross said the group is always looking for more volunteers. They also appreciate neighbors keeping an eye on the garden to help protect it from damage by children or animals.

Close to Home, Lasting Impact

The open space in Lake County is one of its greatest strengths, and a big reason it feels like home to Carolina Schottland.

That sense of place draws her in. It’s why she chooses to spend her time volunteering in the forest preserves she values so deeply. For the past decade, she has dedicated her time in different capacities, from leading walks to hands-on restoration work.

Schottland now serves as a site steward at Nippersink Forest Preserve in Round Lake.

“It’s just outside my neighborhood, and I enjoy making a local impact,” said the practicing attorney, Round Lake trustee and adjunct professor.

She’s working to grow the volunteer base, often partnering with business, school and conservation groups to care for the preserve. Removing buckthorn and honeysuckle, along with pulling garlic mustard and sweet clover, are common tasks that help create healthier habitat.

Volunteers also collect native seed and clear sightlines along trails.

One of the aspects she values most is gaining insight from staff at the Forest Preserves.

“Conservation offers opportunities to learn,” she said.

• Kim Mikus is a communications specialist for the Lake County Forest Preserves. She writes a bimonthly column about various aspects of the preserves. Contact her with ideas or questions at kmikuscroke@LCFPD.org. Connect with the Lake County Forest Preserves on social media @LCFPD.