Friends of the Wissahickon names Sarah West as Volunteer of the Year

Posted 1/8/14

Shown (from left) FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley, FOW Volunteer of the Year Sarah West, and Maura McCarthy, FOW executive director. The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) awarded Sarah West the …

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Friends of the Wissahickon names Sarah West as Volunteer of the Year

Posted

Shown (from left) FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley, FOW Volunteer of the Year Sarah West, and Maura McCarthy, FOW executive director. Shown (from left) FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley, FOW Volunteer of the Year Sarah West, and Maura McCarthy, FOW executive director.

The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) awarded Sarah West the Volunteer of the Year Award at its annual Volunteer Recognition Night at Valley Green Inn in December 2013. West is a longtime FOW member, former FOW Board Member, and a current Trail Ambassador.

"The growth and popularity of FOW's Trail Ambassador hikes and talks is due in large part to her dedication," said FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley. "Sarah West was nominated by her peers for tirelessly contributing her time and expertise to FOW and the park, and for serving as an inspiration and mentor to her fellow volunteers."

Sarah West was presented with a hand-carved hiking stick, created by local artisan Isaac Maefield from locally-sourced wood. Maefield incorporated Wissahickon schist into its design especially for West, who leads geology hikes in the Wissahickon as a Trail Ambassador. She was a secondary school and college teacher in the sciences for 40 years, 25 of those years at Germantown Friends School.

FOW volunteers serve on various committees, participate in workdays in the park, or serve as Trail Ambassadors. These hardworking individuals help build structures in the park, repair trails, assist with fundraising, write for the newsletter, patrol the park, lead hikes, and countless other tasks. To volunteer with FOW, contact Volunteer Coordinator Eric Falk at falk@fow.org or 215-247-0417 x107.

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