Nestled along the magnificent and rugged coastline of California’s far northern reaches is Sue-meg State Park. A popular destination for those traveling along the 101, Sue-meg offers beautiful views, a dense grove of Sitka spruce, epic rock formations and serves as a site of important cultural exchange. The park, restored in 2021 to its original Yurok place name, features traditional Yurok plank houses and a lush native plant garden which create opportunities for visitors to learn about the region’s history and spaces for traditional practices to continue. Tucked inside this wonderful park is a Visitor Center staffed entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers.
These volunteers, whose ages range from 34 to 89, have welcomed some 8,000 visitors to Sue-meg just this year alone. When asked what inspired her to donate her time and energy to Redwood Parks Conservancy’s Visitor Center, Marlyn Di Tommasso said she’d noticed the Visitor Center wasn’t open enough to meet public demand and the increasing number of travelers to the area. When the store and information center reopened to the public following the pandemic, Marlyn’s daughter and former Executive Director of RPC, Joanna Di Tommasso, asked Marlyn if she would be interested in volunteering her time to see the store open again. Marlyn gladly accepted and has since logged 194 hours at the store, serving as ambassador for the area she loves and offering a warm welcome to the park’s visitors.
Catherine Alexander, originally of Fairbanks, Alaska, is currently wrapping up her 7th season as a volunteer at Sue-meg. First visiting the park in 1953, Sue-meg would go on to play a large role in Catherine’s life as she and her husband raised their family in the nearby Humboldt community of Bayside. For birders, whale watchers, geology fanatics and more, Catherine says Sue-meg has it all. With her degree in Biological Science, she loves to connect with visitors about the region’s unique and diverse flora and fauna. She says she enjoys helping people see the park with a fresh set of eyes, showing them that it’s more than just a place to park their trailer. Catherine encourages people to get out there and experience the forest, saying, “It can change you and how you see the world. […] I love my park.” She adds, “We’re cool!”
Long-time Sue-meg volunteers Debbie Marshall and Eli Conners have contributed a tremendous amount of time and energy to the Visitor Center over their years of service. Debbie first joined the team back in the spring of 2000. When asked how volunteering at the Visitor Center makes her feel, she replied, “Happy and useful.”
The latest addition to the Sue-meg volunteer team is Lew Litzky, originally of New York. A longtime advocate for living an active lifestyle, Lew appreciates meeting young people from all over the world who are participating in healthy activities and are excited about life. Having been a long distance bicyclist himself, he recently connected with a group that cycled to Sue-meg all the way from Etna Summit and enjoyed swapping stories with the crew. When asked about his experience as a volunteer, Lew said, “It helps me to be a better person to give to others. I truly believe that giving and receiving are the same. When you give with an open heart and an open spirit, you get the same back in return. That’s what I get from volunteering.”
This sentiment, that through giving back we truly receive, was echoed across each volunteer’s story at Sue-meg. RPC’s South District Manager, Ryan Gilmer, who works directly with the team at Sue-meg says, “I really appreciate my volunteers’ time and effort and their open and honest communication. They are passionate about the area, about nature and share that with the visitors. They are investing their time and lives into the work we are doing at the park. I’m thankful, just as the public is, that they are there and committed to our mission.”
As of publication, this team of passionate volunteers have contributed a total of 1,271 hours to the Visitor Center at Sue-meg. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we are able to continue in our mission of fostering the understanding, enjoyment, and stewardship of the parks and public lands of California’s far north coast. Erin Gates, North Coast Redwoods District Interpretation and Education Program Manager commented, “Volunteers are an essential part of California State Parks. Their passion, knowledge and ability to give back to their community benefits everyone; park staff and management, our community and visitors from around the world who come to experience our parks.”
California State Parks is excited to see a new chapter of the Sue-meg Visitor Center begin next year, after a remodel project this fall will have the center closed through the remainder of the year. With new exhibits that better reflect the cultural and natural significance of this park, and a blended operation of both volunteers and State Park interpretive staff providing information, the future is looking bright for this little visitor center that could!
The proceeds from sales made at Redwood Parks Conservancy’s Visitor Center stores, along with contributions from people like you, are returned to the parks to fund conservation, restoration, education and research in order to protect and preserve the world’s tallest trees. Looking to find another way to give back to your community and parks? California State Parks and Redwood National and State Parks are looking for volunteers! Visit redwoodparksconservancy.org/volunteer for more information.
To learn more about our projects, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website www.redwoodparksconservancy.org!
