April 2025 Volunteer of the Month
April 08, 2025
Befitting for the month, we would like to recognize April Lu as our volunteer of the month! Always eager to assist however she can and learn something new, April has donated much of her time in various ways.
Thank you, April, for being an all-around super volunteer and always brightening everyone’s day!
By Sarah Reilly
Beginning her volunteer journey with us in 2019, April has become a friendly face known by staff with her presence in several of our volunteer opportunities and a frequent attendee at programs and events. Her enthusiasm for the preserve, learning all she can, and helping wherever needed have earned her this distinction!
April is a volunteer naturalist, docent, community scientist, and last year began helping on bird banding mornings. “Volunteering at the Pine Bush provides such a pleasant opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, who visit from far and near; who are not shy to share their wide ranges of knowledge with interesting stories; and who all have a common interest to protect and preserve the natural and culture heritages of the Albany Pine Bush”. April always greets visitors warmly, and can answer many of their questions, creating a welcoming and informational atmosphere that helps make the APBP so special.
Visitor Services Specialist Wren Evans oversees the docent program, working closely with April. In their nomination, they note that “April is an incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated docent, and we are privileged to have her donate her time to the Discovery Center! April has a tenacious appetite for learning new things – she has learned every additional skill offered to her in her role and is an impressive interpreter. Every time we talk, I always come away from the conversation having learned something new.”
In her free time, April enjoys nature photography and being able to capture a “frozen moment”. The photo here is one she took while out in the preserve! As a naturalist, she of course also spends a lot of time out walking trails, favoring Six Mile Waterworks and the time of year when Karner Blue butterflies are flying. As far as a favorite thing to see, she remarks it is a “hard question! If I have to choose one, Blue Jay (and other Corvidae members) is my favorite for they are family-oriented, curious and intelligent beings.” Always finding ways to lend a hand in her community, April also volunteers her time as an event assistant for a wildlife education organization.
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