Sara Luering stands next to an old steam engine that was used to run a saw mill in the 1950s.

Specialist to speak about prescribed burns, invasive removal and other major projects at the park

Sara Luering, a park services specialist at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, will be the guest speaker at the Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club’s meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 10, at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive for socializing starting at 6:30 p.m.

Sara will speak about how the park preserves 10,500 acres and supports more than 350,000 annual visitors.

Balancing conservation and recreation is an “all hands on deck” operation at the park, she says. Using tools such as prescribed fire and invasive removal paired with a robust interpretation program, the park allows visitors to feel part of the conservation efforts.

LOVE OF OUTDOORS

Raised in Jacksonville, Sara grew up with a love of the outdoors. She spent her free time at the beach, in the woods or watching nature documentaries.

She attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife rehabilitation with a minor in psychology. Her coursework included a summer clinical caring for injured wildlife and presenting educational programs to the local community.

FULFILLING A DREAM

Sara moved to South Florida to pursue a career as a zookeeper. During her time as a zookeeper, Sara became interested in Florida ecosystems and how to educate Floridians about their own backyard. She became a park services specialist at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and is fulfilling that dream now.

At the park, Sara enjoys interpreting the natural and cultural resources to the public. She is able to accomplish this through educational programs, guided hikes, outreaches, and by running the Kimbell Education and Visitor Center inside the park.

When not at work, Sara can be found on her paddleboard exploring mangrove tunnels or hiking in one of Florida’s unique habitats with her husband, Andrew, and dogs, Sawyer and Copper.