Nicole and I met volunteering at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. She was helping support a reef she had never snorkeled.
After our shift, Captain Jeff and I took her out. This is her first look: reef fish, a jellyfish, and the Christ of the Deep statue off Key Largo. I loved seeing all of it. Hearing Nicole every time she spotted something new was the best part.
Watch the 2-minute, 40-second film above, then read Raise Your Hand and See Where It Takes You for the story behind our friendship and our experience volunteering in the Keys.
What’s in the film
We start aboard the boat with Nicole, then put the camera underwater. There are sergeant majors over the reef, a translucent jellyfish near the surface, and parrotfish moving through the coral. Nicole swims into view as we look around together. Later, the camera reaches the Christ of the Deep statue, its raised arms surrounded by fish.
The film moves between those underwater details and the people there to see them: Nicole in her mask, Jeff aboard the boat, and the two of us back at the surface. The captions identify some of the marine life along the way. It’s a short look at an evening on the reef, with the friendship behind it told in the accompanying article.
The volunteer shift before the snorkel
At the park, I help in the visitor center and with events. The work gives Jeff and me a way to spend more time in the Keys and get to know people beyond a passing hello. Meeting Nicole was part of that.
You don’t need to be planning an extended stay to look into volunteering. Florida State Parks lists opportunities for individuals as well as resident volunteers, while the Friends of John Pennekamp lists both remote and in-person roles. Follow the official links below to see what is currently available.
Want to help? Donate to the Friends of John Pennekamp, become a member, or explore the official Florida State Parks volunteer portal.