County Coordinator Appreciation: Mac Deuparo
The Old-Growth Forest Network wouldn’t be able to continue our mission of creating a national network of protected old-growth forests without our County Coordinators! They are the on-the-ground experts of their local communities and know all about the forests that are near and dear to their hearts. To honor our amazing volunteers, we regularly showcase one County Coordinator and share more about what makes them so special.
County Coordinator, Mac Deuparo, and Great Lakes Regional Manager, Leona Addie, at Independence Oaks County Park dedication.
Name: Mac Deuparo
In 3-4 Sentences describe yourself to the OGFN community: Hi OGFN community and blog visitors. My name is Mac and I am a 75-year-old widow who lives on a small lake. I have two daughters and three granddaughters. As I write I’m wearing a T-shirt that says “Girl Dad”! I have strong convictions about the future. I believe in science and global warming and that trees and forests play a vital role in protecting our natural ecology, the planet and my granddaughter's future. I’m a student of Henry David Thoreau. His “Walden Pond” satire on American culture and his essay on “Walking” has been my bible of parables about nature and our need of understanding nature on a more intimate and personal level.
County where you volunteer: Last summer I had the opportunity to submit 10 or more old growth forest nominations in Oakland County, Michigan. The county’s name should say it all. The county is rich in forest land thanks to visionaries that created State, County and Township Park lands over the last 100 years. Our forests are virtually the lungs for Metro Detroit.
Favorite Tree Species and Favorite Season: My favorite tree is the Northern White Cedar. When Thoreau says that our swamps are man/womankind's marrow… “Santum Sancterum” I get it. Cedar swamps coincide with my favorite season, Winter. I love the solitude both can bring. Winter is a time to reflect, contemplate and self-educate (read and write) cross-country skiing and escape the sounds of the city and insects of summer.
Favorite forest you have visited: The Sequoia tree groves around “Camp Nelson” California… look it up… it's off the beaten path…with reasonable camping prices and a great introduction to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Closer to home it is Bald Mountain State Recreation Area with 4,600 acres to explore and it’s only 30 sum miles from downtown Detroit.
Favorite Hiking Gear: When I have ventured into the forest over the years, I like a good walking stick. It is a handy tool for flicking small branches off the trail, turning a leaf to see a mushroom or salamander. A walking stick also offers a small sense of security, should you run into a rabid animal or an unfriendly dog or snake.
For a day hike I used small backpacks or waist packs to carry supplies like water, apples, nuts, maps, lighter and binoculars. With today's technology there are many app options that relieve us of carrying books for plant identification. Essential for a new and old tree lover is an app like “Plantnet”. It allows you to take a picture on your cell phone of the bark or leaf of a tree and Plantnet helps you identify your species.
Do you have any advice to share with someone considering serving as a county coordinator? I find the internet an essential tool. It will easily help you find the park and open space in your county. From there you can glean information about the acreage, types of landscapes, animals, lakes, streams, trails, parking, etc. that OGFN nominations require. Next the fun begins and that is why I enjoy doing it. It gets you out into nature. All you need is your phone or digital camera to document and submit a nomination for an OGFN.
I look at being in nature like fishing, when you fish you never know what you will catch. A bass, a perch, a blue gill etc. When you go for a hike, you never know what you will run into, a patch of black berries or what you will see. A turkey, hawk, owl, rabbit, turtle, deer, blue jay, morel mushroom, or a monster old growth oak, pine, maple tree etc.
See you on the trail.
Mac and granddaughter, Lauren, enjoying time exploring together.
THIS COULD BE YOU!
Are you interested in volunteering to be a County Coordinator with OGFN? Fill out this simple form today and the Regional Manager for your area will contact you shortly.
