Band of Brothers Volunteer

The McGinnis brothers moved to Sunny Isles Beach about a year and a half ago. Taking a break from pursuing their academic studies, they decided to fill their summer days with field experiences by volunteering at Everglades National Park (ENP).

Alexander McGinnis-Yates is a senior at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Attending school near Great Smoky Mountains National Park “gives you an inherent fondness for wildlife and nature,” says Alex. An environmental studies major concentrating in ecology and environmental biology, Alex hopes to work for the NPS. Looking for opportunities to get his foot in the door with the agency, Alex started volunteering.

“Living close to the Everglades is a really cool opportunity for me to escape from the city and into new habitats that I am not used to being in,” says Alex. Escaping south Florida’s summer heat and learning about different National Parks and their environments is a great reason for volunteering, too. Generally, Alex says he’s “happy to help out in any way that I can and gain some work experience in the process.”
Aaron McGinnis recently graduated from high school and is attending Worcester Polytechnic institute in Massachusetts this fall. “I plan on majoring in Chemical Engineering,” shares Aaron, “and [I] am considering obtaining a concentration in Environmental Engineering.”  

Besides building camaraderie with his brother, Aaron explains, “I’ll have the chance to learn more about some of the environmental issues and conflicts facing the world today. I hope to gain valuable experience and knowledge that will help me in my future endeavors as we attempt to create a sustainable world that promotes preservation of the environment as well as the advancement of society.”

Have siblings or friends and want to volunteer together? Contact us today!