Party held for retiring CNC director

For many years, Carpenter Nature Center on the St. Croix River has been a destination for school children and adults from the south metro and the surrounding area. The environmental education program at the nature center, which provides many students with their first outdoor learning experience, has been led for the past 32 years by executive director Jim Fitzpatrick.

On Jan. 4, the nature center hosted a retirement party for Fitzpatrick, honoring him for his long service and contributions to the community. At a special evening program following an open house at the center, volunteers, staff and board members paid tribute to Fitzpatrick as he ended his last day of work.

Volunteers are an important part of Carpenter Nature Center, which has a small staff to manage the 725 acre properties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the multitude of programs that draw thousands of visitors annually. Currently, there are about 150 volunteers involved in activities ranging from maple syrup production, class instruction assistance, garden and orchard maintenance, animal care and bird banding.

The nature center, which does not receive any government assistance, has gone through some lean times, like many non-profit organizations. About 22 years ago, volunteers Jean Janssen, Rosemary Eisenmenger and Daryl Donath formed the Volunteer Advisory Board to raise money to help pay for various projects at the nature center. Over the years, they were quite successful in their fundraising, and at the retirement program, two of the members presented Mr. Fitzpatrick with $1,000 for the Carpenter Nature Center Fitzpatrick Fund for Land Acquisition. At the conclusion of the program, Fitzpatrick promised to continue his work, although he might not start as early in the morning as he has for many years.

For more information about becoming a member or Carpenter Nature Center volunteer, call 651-437-4359.

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