St, Augustine: Volunteering at Anastasia State Park

 This is our third summer/fall at Anastasia State Park as resident volunteers.  Every year we perform the same jobs, camp site and bathhouse maintenance, yet each year is different.

August was the typical hot and humid month
in St. Augustine

This year we arrived mid-July to help my mother through some hard times and since the park was short on volunteers for August we started working.  

Spiders were active in September
with beautiful webs

Our original plan was to play until our volunteer slots for September and October but it is always good to be flexible.  And volunteering is in our nature.

October flood high tide in Salt Run
Full moon, North-west wind, Full tide
Coastal Flooding

So a typical work day for us at Anastasia State Park starts with a cat walk between 5 and 6:30 AM depending on the sunrise.  Why so early, well, cats tend to be nocturnal and I like to get an early start on the bath house.  In state parks and most private parks animals are not allowed to roam free so we leash walk them.  

OK, let's go for the walk
I'd prefer to run free but it's against
State Park rules.... Drat!

But there are many benefits to an early start:  the sky is fantastic just before dawn, the planets are visible this time of year, you may see a falling star, The armadillos dart about, if you can call their movement darting.  The cats get a rather uninterrupted walk and often walk 1-2 miles. Lastly, I can get up early and Bill can then go back to bed for a nap.  See, everyone is happy,

Resurrection Fern amid the Spanish Moss
view above our camper

So between 7 and 8, I make the first bath house check for the day.  

Ready for work.
Volunteer uniform and work tools

Hopefully there are no major problems and it takes only a quick wipe down, sweep, and maybe mop in the shower area.  That doesn't always happen, especially on busy weekends or when it is raining and muddy.  But that morning check keeps the bath house clean for the next several hours.

Bill styling in the work cart
Heading out for the site numbers

Bill usually collects the site numbers and gets the cart ready once he finishes his morning nap... or completes the night sleep.  You can decide the correct term.  But don't think he gets off light because he gets the evening bath house check.

It has been a rainy year
view from inside the work cart

As I said earlier, each year is different.  This year has been rainy.  One day I headed up to get the numbers and it was a bit damp (see above).

Salt Run on one of the many stormy days
which you pass on the way to the ranger station
not a bad view!

In fact we had several weeks of rain which left a soggy campground.  We did feel sorry for the tent campers as the steady down pour or those 4.5" rains could make a mess of any site.

It will be a bit longer before the
campfire circle is usable by humans

The next task is to clean the camp sites.  You inspect the site, pick up trash, clean the fire pit, sweep and dust the table, and fold down the sheets and put a mint on the pillow.  Well, all but the last two. But we do clean the back woods behind the sites because the party animals (raccoon) steal packaged food and drag it into the palmettos.

Palmettos in a rather damp area
this year, next year it may be bone dry

 Some sites require raking (always in October due to falling leaves) and trimming of branches, vines including grapes, and stickers such as Spanish Needles.

Spanish Needles or
Beggar Ticks (Aster family)

Of course everything grew extremely well due to the rain and sometimes you need to trim the grape vines from the roadway.  Hopefully, the vine would have a few grapes for your efforts.  But not too many this year.

Ample rain brings ample grape vines
Full of growth in August
Grapes in September
Falling leaves in October

Can't forget that mid-day a complete bath house cleaning is needed.  This means you disinfect and wipe down everything!  Showers, sinks, toilets, benches, walls, floors, lights, doors, stalls, and anyone who gets in the way!  This takes a little time but well worth it as we all like clean bathrooms.  And finally we empty the trash and run the trash compactor if needed.

The park has a wonderful compactor
it is amazing what gets compressed
it is also amazing what is trashed

When you finish your chores there is time to relax, walk the cats, go to the beach, play music, visit with friends, go fishing, play tourist, and read.

Days off allow time to explore,
fish, beach, and relax

In addition to working the campsites we help in other areas such as the Endless Summer Run, Music in the Park, bird counts and ghost tours (2014), and more.

Bill running sound for the monthly
Music in the Park event

Regardless of the activity there is always fun to be had when you volunteer.

All is well that ends well
From the Endless Summer Run