Florida Forest Service Volunteer Spotlight

Brenda Gehres

Blackwater River State Forest

Brenda Gehres has been a Camp Host at Blackwater since April 2018. She has rotated between Krul and Bear Lake during her time at the forest. Brenda and Rusty Fields are a faithful team who we can count on to provide a good experience for the camper and the day-use visitor. They are always courteous and professional in their day-to-day interactions with the public. 

We can always depend on Brenda to jump on a lawn mower and help mow or to grab a cleaning brush and begin scrubbing the facilities. We are fortunate to have found such a dependable person who day in and day out quietly does her job rain or shine.

Rufus Fields

Jennings State Forest

Rufus has been a volunteer at Jennings State Forest since June 2017. He routinely keeps Jennings recreation areas clean by changing trash, refilling brochures and interacting with visitors. Rufus always has a great attitude, whether when interacting with visitors or when given a task. Rufus has been an extremely dependable volunteer for four years and has always been willing to take on new projects.

His services go beyond just keeping the bathrooms and recreation areas tidy. His work ethic and great attitude provide a positive example for visitors, as well as Florida Forest Service employees that he encounters. Rufus was recently recognized by forest visitors for his positive and helpful attitude. Visitors always enjoy talking to Rufus and asking him questions, because he is always eager to help in any way he can. 

William Garay

Jennings State Forest

William "Bill" Garay, has been a volunteer at Jennings State Forest since February 2020. Bill has been an integral part of the maintenance of the popular Pioneer Trail and has recently taken on more proactive trail development roles at Jennings.

Bill has almost exclusively developed and implemented the Cross Cut Connector Trail, which gives visitors to the Dunn’s Farm Trailhead Complex a round-trip loop style trail that connects the Dunn’s Farm Trail and Pioneer Trail and returns visitors to the Dunn’s Farm Trailhead Complex parking area. This new trail adds approximately 3 miles of sandhill ecosystem to the trail complex and gives visitors the chance to see plants and animals that are different than those found along the Pioneer Trail.

Bill has also taken the initiative to install an entrance arch for the Dunn’s/Pioneer/Cross Cut Trail Complex, which gives visitors an opportunity for a photograph to begin or end their trail hike. Bill is a dedicated and energetic volunteer who always gives 100% to any project he is tasked with.