Expanded Programs Offer More Volunteer Opportunities in 2008
Manitoga launched its 2008 season with a growing range of programs for students, professionals and the public. Internships, a camp leadership week for older youth, docent education, volunteer landscape workdays, a regular program of daily tours and specially designed group tours will give local residents and visitors from near and far many reasons to visit the site.
In March and April, the first two of six scheduled Volunteer Landscape days welcomed more than 50 volunteers. "The first meeting of our new Woodland Landscape Council last fall taught us that many people are ready for both hands-on participation at Manitoga and also for learning more about Russel Wright's philosophy in designing the site," said Board Landscape Chair Katy Moss Warner. In response, individual members of the Council have organized six landscape workdays this year, each offering opportunities to learn and do.
Manitoga Advisory Board member Chris Galligan led the first workday on March 29, joined by fellow arborists Chip Marks and Josh Maddox and Manitoga Landscape Curator Ruth Parnall. Moss Warner said that Galligan treated volunteers to the best pruning lesson she has heard.
Then teams spread into the landscape to trim trees, clear the fabulous views that Wright called osios, and downed trees and limbs. There was plenty of time for camaraderie over morning coffee and lunch and volunteers were proud to leave Manitoga's remarkable trees and paths looking better for the upcoming tour season.
On April 19, volunteers gathered to hear Curator Parnall demonstrate common invasive species and how to remove and dispose of them. (See Parnall's notes on invasive exotics and pictures of common local threats.)
Teams then spread along the tour path and in Mary's Meadow to remove invasive plants and clear out underbrush. At the end of the day, twenty piles of sticks, downed limbs, invasive exotics and other winter debris attested to the measure of energy and hard work volunteered.
"We were proud to leave the Quarry Path route that the Manitoga Daily Tour follows ready for the season opening on April 26," said Moss Warner. She noted there is still plenty to do to recapture Wright's design and the experience he wanted visitors to have. "We hope more people will join us for upcoming Volunteer Landscape Days to learn things they can use in their own gardens, to learn more about the story of living in harmony with nature that Wright designed Manitoga to tell, and to spend a great day with friends in a beautiful place!"
The next Volunteer Landscape Day on May 17 will be led by Garden Your City author Barbara Hobens Feldt and will focus on improving the face Manitoga shows to the world along its 9D entrance.
Volunteer Docents also have the opportunity to learn all about Manitoga's story when they prepare to lead tours of Wright's Home, Studio and Woodland Garden. "Our training is being constantly enriched as ongoing research at the site is used to expand our training manual," said Assistant Director Lori Moss, who oversees Docent recruitment and training. "We arrange special tours of Manitoga for our Docents led by family and friends who knew Wright and scholars who study him. We also take them on field trips to related sites so they can understand Wright's important place in Modern design."
To learn more about upcoming Volunteer Landscape Days, training to become a Volunteer Docent and other volunteer opportunities, email Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Kuryla or call the Manitoga office at 845-424-3812.