By volunteer
Bernheim volunteer Mark Ray shares why the new Welcome and Wayfinding role is one of the most rewarding ways to help guests experience the Arboretum.
Not long after we moved to Louisville in 1994, my wife and I somehow found our way down to Bernheim with our kids. We quickly fell in love with the place, even though it had much less to offer back then. Many things we now take for granted, such as Isaac’s Café, the Playcosystem, the Forest Giants (and their new BFF, the Tin Man), the Canopy Tree Walk, L+A+N+D, and more, were still far in the future.
Today, Bernheim truly offers something for everyone. That’s a blessing, but it can also be overwhelming for first-time visitors. (And Bernheim sees a lot of first-time visitors.) If someone has just two or three hours to spend, how can they make the most of it? What are the must-sees and must-dos, which may be completely different from your own favorites?
Enter the new Welcome and Wayfinding volunteer role. Formerly part of the Volunteer Naturalist program, this position is open to any volunteer with deep knowledge of all that Bernheim has to offer. And, trust me, you’ll need deep knowledge to be effective.
Some visitor questions are easy, like “Where’s the café?” or “Is Forest Hill Drive the road to Bardstown?” (Yes, I got that question recently.) Others are more challenging. If someone asks, “This is my first visit; what should I do?”, you need to quickly offer suggestions based on their interests, your experience, and even the weather. On a scorching summer afternoon, you might guide a Forest Giant hunter with toddlers to park near Mama Loumari instead of trekking across the prairie. On a busy fall morning, you might suggest Elm Lick Trail as a quiet escape for a seasoned hiker. And if a visitor loves art, you might explain how Walks in the Fictional Woods is like a wind chime you can literally step inside.
Bernheim has many important volunteer roles, but I’m convinced Welcome and Wayfinding is one of the most essential. After all, we never get a second chance to make a first impression. And it’s one of the most rewarding roles, since you can experience the joy of discovering Bernheim for the first time all over again.
Who knows? A visitor you greet today may someday stand in your place and help a newcomer discover Bernheim for the very first time.
