Senior Volunteer Finds Her Niche at Huntley Meadows Park

RSVP Northern Virginia helped Celia Boertlein find her niche.

Celia, honored in October as Volunteer Alexandria’s RSVP Volunteer of the Year, says she found out about RSVP while volunteering with New Hope Housing.

“I got involved with RSVP through New Hope Housing initially and found that RSVP had volunteer positions open at Huntley Meadows, which has always been one of my absolute favorite parks,” Celia says.

Celia primarily works with the children’s programs at Huntley Meadows, a sprawling 1,500 acre park run by the Fairfax County Park Authority in the Hybla Valley section of Fairfax County.

“I just love working with the kids in particular and getting their appreciation for nature, conservation and things like that,” she says.

RSVP Northern Virginia will hold a seminar on volunteering in retirement , Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 9:30 a.m., at the headquarters of New Hope Housing, located in the Alexandria Area of Fairfax County. For more information to register for this free event, email RSVP Volunteer Specialist Carly Hubicki at chubicki@volunteerfairfax.org or call RSVP at 703-403-5360. To learn more about RSVP, please visit www.rsvpnova.org. RSVP Northern Virginia is a program of Volunteer Fairfax, Volunteer Alexandria and Volunteer Arlington.

Huntley Meadows is regarded as one of the top places to view wildlife in the Washington D.C. Area. Celia said on a recent Saturday, 27 different species of birds were recorded seen at the park.

According to Halley Johnson, Huntley Meadows’s volunteer coordinator, “Celia sets the bar for new volunteers and for volunteers in general, just so incredibly high. She makes the experience, not just for visitors and program attendees but for other volunteers and staff just amazing,” Halley says.

Celia was the first volunteer Halley on-boarded when she started working at Huntley Meadows. Celia says she enjoys working with the park’s staff and the feeling is mutual.

“When she (Celia) comes in, you know it’s going to be a good day,” Halley says.

Huntley Meadows has a variety of volunteer opportunities available ranging from working the information desk at the park’s visitor center to serving as a docent at the Historic Huntley House located in the park.

What does Celia get out of volunteering?

“I think I actually give back far less than I get,” she says. “I think it’s always fun to see what new things are going on. I love working with the kids. They’re amazing in what they know and what their opinions are about things.”

Celia says volunteering as a senior is critical because “You need to maintain those social contacts. I know for me, sitting around the house and reading is just not the way to go,” she says.

She says the benefits of senior volunteering are numerous. “I feel much more alive. I get a little exercise. Being with people in different kinds of activities is just important, you need to find your niche and this is the place I enjoy the most,” she says of Huntley Meadows.

To view a short video feature on Celia and on Huntley Meadows, please click here.

For more information on volunteering at Huntley Meadows through RSVP please contact RSVP volunteer specialist Carly Hubicki at 703-403-5360 or chubicki@volunteerfairfax.org.