News Release

Volunteer Spotlight: A Duo Devoted to Florida’s Wildest Spaces

Ginny & Andy Skok in the field

News Release Date: May 8, 2025

Contact: Nicole Enriquez Montoya

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, I’m thrilled to highlight the incredible work of Ginny and Andy Skok. This incredible pair has dedicated their time, energy, and passion to helping protect one of the most unique landscapes in the country – South Florida’s wild spaces. Big Cypress National Preserve isn’t just any preserve, it’s a place filled with rare plants, tons of wildlife and a landscape that speaks for itself. Ginny and Andy have been a vital part in helping care for it all and that’s exactly why I’m excited to share their story.

The Skoks work is mostly in the field and whether it’s helping with natural resource projects, assisting with monitoring efforts, or putting their boots on the ground (literally) in remote parts of the preserve. They’ve become a trusted part of our natural resources team, known for their dedication and consistency which have made them go-to folks for work that takes patience and a true love and passion for this place.

Big Cypress is over 720,000 acres of wild, diverse, and critically important habitat. Volunteers like the Skoks help us better understand and protect the plants, animals, and ecosystems that call this place home. Their work may not always be visible to the average visitor, but its impact is long-lasting.

When asked how they got involved, Ginny shared that they’ve been exploring this region for nearly 30 years and have long felt a connection to South Florida’s ecosystems. Originally from Connecticut, they now live seasonally in Florida and have volunteered across multiple conservation areas including Everglades National Park, Fakahatchee State Park, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples Botanical Garden and Panther Wildlife Refuge – yeah, they’re kind of everywhere. Their love for Florida’s ecosystem runs deep. Two years ago, they began volunteering at Big Cypress. Drawn in by its size, beauty and biodiversity.

“We are so blessed to work in areas unblemished by people and see nature at its finest in the way Florida was before it was developed.”

At Big Cypress, Ginny and Andy work closely with rare plants and have contributed GPS points on invasive species for resource management as well as train staff on interpretation for giving swamp walks. Together, they make a strong team. Ginny’s focus is endangered plant identification, while Andy, affectionately called the “master GPS navigator” is great on directions. The two balance each other perfectly and bring a genuine sense of teamwork in everything they do.

Trichomanes galeottii - Ginny Skok

In December of 2023, during a rare plant survey in Big Cypress, Ginny and Andy helped document something remarkable: the first known occurrence of a new fern, from the Trichomanes genus, in both Florida and the continental United States. While visiting a known site of theirs in the preserve, Andy spotted and photographed a fern that looked noticeably larger than expected. That observation sparked a closer investigation, eventually leading to the formal identification and publication of this discovery in the American Fern Journal in March 2025. It was identified as Trichomanes galeottii – a species previously known only from Cuba, Central and South America.

A discovery that highlights just how valuable their curiosity and eye for detail are.

Ginny and Andy remind us that caring for the land doesn’t always mean grand gestures. It’s often about showing up, staying curious, doing the work and that’s exactly what they do. Their supervisor, Courtney Angelo, the botanist at Big Cypress for the past six years shared how impressed she’s been by their consistency and passion: “They’re incredibly dedicated to the flora of South Florida. What really stands out is their ability to be in the field, make observations, pay attention and ask questions which essentially is the scientific method.”

Ginny & Andy Skok with Supervisor Courtney Angelo in the field

The swamps, prairies, and pinelands of Big Cypress National Preserve hold a beauty that’s easy to love and important to protect. The Skoks help ensure these spaces continue to inspire. From muddy boots to published findings, their journey reminds us how powerful volunteer work can be. We’re lucky to have them on the team.

Published by: Nicole Enriquez Montoya