Placerita Nature Center volunteer Evelyne Vandersande receives a challenge coin from State Parks Director Anthony L. Jackson, USMC. Photo: Ron Kraus/PCNCA
Some special volunteers got some special attention Wednesday when state Parks Director Anthony L. Jackson dropped by the Placerita Canyon Nature Center for a visit.
Jackson, who took charge of the California Department of Parks and Recreation in November 2012, was touring the state parks whose operations are contracted out to the county of Los Angeles – Placerita as well as the Castaic Lake and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Areas. County Parks Director Russ Guiney and his management staff were on hand to discuss the operational issues at each facility.
When introduced to docents and volunteers from the Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates, Jackson expressed his appreciation for the work of park volunteers.
Told of the longtime service of one PCNCA volunteer in particular – Evelyne Vandersande – Jackson, a retired major general in the U.S. Marine Corps, presented her with a challenge coin – a form of special recognition given by military commanders to a member of the unit.
Vandersande has been a volunteer at Placerita for 27 years. She is editor of the PCNCA newsletter and writes a weekly nature column for SCVNews.com.
- Ron Kraus
State Parks Director Anthony L. Jackson (left) and Placerita Nature Center volunteer Jim Southwell. Photo: Evelyne Vandersande/PCNCA
State Parks Chief Visits Placerita, Honors Volunteers
