Mountain-climbing Living Desert docent keeps it outdoors

Debbie Council

When the former physical education teacher and secretary retired, she said she decided it was time to become more active and see the world. So she went to Tanzania and climbed the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

At 66, she reached the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, at 14,495 feet. She also spent 25 days trekking around Annapurna Mountain in Nepal and conquered the 15,000-foot Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Locally, she was awarded first place in her age division for the Palm Springs Tram Road Challenge in 2001, 2002 and 2003. “I've had a lot of opportunity somebody from a bedroom community in St. Louis would never dream of,” she said.

She moved to Indio 16 years ago to be with companion Dick Bernstein, whom she met on a canoe trip in 1992 to Yellowstone Park.

“It was pretty much love at first sight,” she said.

She then looked for a volunteer opportunity that matched her love of the outdoors. Having lived in San Diego 12 years prior where she worked part-time at the San Diego Zoo and volunteered at Balboa Park, the avid bird watcher knew just where to look.

She attended a volunteer orientation at The Living Desert and signed up in 1994.

“I like that there are so many varied things you can do for The Living Desert as a volunteer and a docent,” she said. “We meet the public and help them plan their visit.”

Starting out as a volunteer, Park raked and swept out the animal exhibits under the supervision of animal keepers. She cleaned out feed bowls, put out fresh food and scooped poop, she said. Although the zebras were held in a separate area while she worked that exhibit, it was still rewarding.

“It was kind of fun because I never had a horse,” Park said. “It was interesting hauling the bales of hay. It's very gratifying.”

After four years of cleaning exhibits, Park became a docent, which is a three- to four-hour weekly commitment. She chose Mondays as her day of service and led school tours.

“I've made so many great friends with our docents,” Park said. “And being new to the community, it was a really good way to meet people.”

“It's so educational to know that our desert is so special,” she said. “Both the animals and plants have adaptations to allow them to live in this habitat. It's mind-boggling what they can do to survive.”

On different occasions, her Living Desert adventure put her up close and personal with a kestrel and screech owl. She has handled the wild birds at a station in the park where guests can have a closer look.

She said she enjoys the company of the reptiles — especially the desert tortoise and the chuckwalla, the largest lizard in the Coachella Valley.

“It's so very important for people here to realize the problems associated with them in the wild and how we can help keep them and live with them,” she said, referring to urban development and off-road vehicles that tear up their habitat.

Park recently moved to Sun City Palm Desert and said she is looking forward to Oct. 1 when her docent friends return and the recruiting period begins for new volunteers.

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Source: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100917/NEWS01/9160340/1006/news01/Mountain-climbing+Living+Desert+docent+keeps+it+outdoors

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