Volunteer Story: Dr. Bill Sayre

Valles Caldera National Preserve volunteer Dr. Bill Sayre. NPS

From trail maintenance to visitor services, backcountry patrol to scientific data collection, the volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to Valles Caldera National Preserve are some of the best in the National Park Service.

As a retired educator and geologist, Dr. Bill Sayre has a profound gift for inspiring the hearts and minds of park visitors, volunteers, and staff at Valles Caldera. In 2022, he was awarded the National Park Service's George & Helen Hartzog Volunteer Impact Award, Adult Category, at both the regional and national levels. This award recognizes a single individual, over the age of 30, who has made a meaningful impact for their park or program.

"I am so grateful to have received the Hartzog award for adult volunteers. It was an honor to go to Washington and meet Director Sams and the other awardees. For me, the award showed me that I volunteer for three reasons.

First, I wouldn't have received this award had the rangers at Valles Caldera not nominated me. They are a great group to work with. So, reason number one is when you volunteer you get to join a welcoming and dedicated team and get to support great people doing important work.

Reason number two is doing that important work: sharing the wonderful vistas and beautiful valles of the park with the public. First time visitors are particularly enthusiastic when they come into the Entrance Station, and it's a joy to share that with them, answer their questions, and tell the story of the caldera. And it's gratifying to welcome back returning visitors who have developed a deep appreciation for the landscape.

My third reason is more personal. I'm a retired educator, and it is very fulfilling to have the opportunity to continue to learn and teach. And I think it's also important to stay active and engaged in the community.

Volunteering at Valles Caldera pushes all my buttons! And if you think volunteering with the National Park Service would push your buttons, too, give it some consideration. Come out to the park and see what we're all about. And enjoy nature at the same time!"

Bill routinely volunteers ~20 hours per week to greet visitors, develop interpretive programs, and assist with community outreach. Bill is also a key member of our Interpretation, Education & Volunteers program’s Strategic Planning Team, and his contributions will help us chart the course for the next 3 to 5 years in our program. Bill is an analytical thinker who represents a variety of park stakeholders. He is an advocate for Indigenous communities, offering thought-provoking questions and feedback about how we may better collaborate with Tribal and Pueblo partners and incorporate traditional knowledge in our programmatic decisions. Bill's contributions to the strategic planning process are an investment in the future of Valles Caldera National Preserve and its advancement of equity, inclusion, and access.

Bill, thank you for your continued dedication to this park and its people. We are proud to work alongside you and learn from you every step of the way!

Read more about Bill and the other 2022 volunteer award winners here: https://www.nps.gov/.../2022-george-and-helen-hartzog....

Watch a recording of the 2022 award ceremony in Washington, D.C., here: https://doi.gov/events. (Pro tip: Skip to 29:40 to see Bill.)

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Dr. Bill Sayre, dressed in a National Park Service volunteer uniform, speaks to us from a vast grassland with tall, dispersed pine trees and a historic, wooden barn and split-rail fence in the background.

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As a retired educator and geologist, Dr. Bill Sayre has a profound gift for inspiring the hearts and minds of park visitors, volunteers, and staff at Valles Caldera. In 2022, he was awarded the National Park Service's George & Helen Hartzog Volunteer Impact Award, Adult Category, at both the regional and national levels. This award recognizes a single individual, over the age of 30, who has made a meaningful impact for their park or program.

Volunteer with us!

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