My Park Story: Volunteer Shelley Curto

Park volunteer, Shelley Curto, poses for a picture in the Dutch door of the historic Dick Proenneke cabin.

NPS / S. Curto

Have you ever wanted to run away from life and go live in the wilderness?

This was the exact mood I was in when I saw the volunteer opportunity for the Richard Proenneke Cabin Host at Twin Lakes posted on the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Facebook page!   
 

What interested you in volunteering with Lake Clark National Park and Preserve?

I had visited the park once before and was enthralled with the beauty of the park. I was already familiar with Dick Proenneke’s story and was very excited about the possibility of working at his cabin and sharing his story with others. So, when I saw this volunteer opportunity, my impulsive nature took over and I immediately clicked the link to www.volunteer.gov and started filling out the application.

Richard Proenneke's home on Upper Twin Lake is a popular destination for visitors to the park. Park rangers and volunteers lead tours of the cabin in summer.

NPS / S. Curto

What were the duties of your position?

I was a cabin host at the iconic and historic Richard L. Proenneke Cabin on Upper Twin Lake. I greeted guests and shared information about Mr. Proenneke, his cabin, and the artifacts at the site.

What did you find the most rewarding about your job?

It was definitely meeting and interacting with the guests, hikers, campers, pilots, and guides/outfitters that flew or hiked in to visit Proenneke’s cabin.

Because of the book, One Man’s Wilderness by Sam Keith, and the PBS documentary, Alone In the Wilderness, so many people have heard about Dick Proenneke. Their looks of joy and wonderment when they first saw the cabin were so fun to see. Everyone was so excited just to be there, and I got to experience their joy along with them every day!

While I loved sharing the story of Dick’s life on the lake, I also learned a lot while I was there. A couple of the pilots and guides had known Dick while he lived at the lake and they shared many stories about him. Many craftsmen, tradesmen, and minimalists made the journey to the cabin and they shared their knowledge about building cabins or living sustainably.

Boating is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the Twin Lakes area.

NPS / S. Curto

What was it like living at Twin Lakes?

Because it was a very remote site, I lived in a nearby cabin and got to experience rustic living. I lived in a small, 12x12 cabin, with a gravel floor, propane light, camp stove, and a wood stove (and lots of spiders). I hauled my water from the lake or creek (the water from Hope’s Creek was very refreshing), used an outhouse, a camp shower, and did laundry by hand. I dried used paper towels to use as a fire starter and reduce waste. I went blueberry picking and even built my own blueberry picker out of an empty can, toothpicks, and duct tape, styling it after the blueberry picker Dick made.

I learned to think “what would Dick do" or "WWDD" and became very self-sufficient. Even now, living back in “civilization”, I continue to utilize “WWDD” thinking. I pushed past my comfort levels and felt immense pride and joy at even the smallest of my accomplishments.

When I wasn’t working, I was able to explore the lake by canoe and kayak and go hiking. For the two months I was there, I lived in the moment and experienced true contentment and peace (notwithstanding the moments that I found a spider in my bed). If I could manage to take the time off work, I would do this experience again in a heartbeat!

National Parks are a great place to connect and re-connect with the special people in our lives.

NPS / S. Curto

Has Lake Clark sparked a connection with something or someone important to you?

My father and his wife, Jerry and Jeanette Mills, are long-time, year-round volunteers at Telaquana Lake in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. They are the reason I even knew the park existed! So, it was incredible to have the opportunity to honor and conserve a bit of park history while walking a few steps in their shoes as a volunteer for the National Park Service in Lake Clark. Because of them and the amazing experiences I had during my volunteer stint, Lake Clark will forever be a very special place to me.

What was your most memorable experience volunteering at Lake Clark?

They were all memorable; it's hard to pick just one!

I guess being woken up one morning by a black bear trying to get into the front door of my cabin, stands out as a pretty memorable experience. I had several more relatively close encounters with black bears while I was there and grew to be more comfortable being in their presence.

Then, there’s the time while I was working at Dick’s cabin, I was inside the cabin when a mama moose and her calf trotted down the back path to the beach. That was pretty exhilarating to see just 10 feet or so from the window!

And, of course, I have so many wonderful memories of the visitors, hikers, campers, pilots, and guides/outfitters that came to Upper Twin Lake! I met so many extraordinary people and heard the most amazing stories.

Taking in the views of the Twin Lakes area.

NPS / S. Curto

What advice do you have for those who want to volunteer with the National Park Service?

Check out www.volunteer.gov, find an opportunity, and go for it! Be sure to ask lots of questions, especially if it’s for a remote location. Also, if you happen to live nearby a national park or monument, go to their visitor center and ask about any opportunities that may be open, even if nothing is listed on the volunteer.gov website. They may have opportunities that haven’t been posted yet. I promise you won’t regret the time you spend volunteering with the National Park Service!