February 2025 Volunteer of the Month
February 04, 2025
Always coming in with a fun story or witty joke, February’s Volunteer of the Month Mark Flaum is sure to share his passion for geology at every opportunity!
Mark is always one of the first people to volunteer if we need help and does so with a smile.
By Sarah Reilly
Nominated not just for his humor- but for his unwavering enthusiasm for volunteering, Mark is a zealous volunteer full of knowledge from his history as a science teacher. Last year Mark was a huge help to get the outreach volunteer program going and attended several events on behalf of the preserve.
In 2021 Mark began volunteering with us as a program assistant, and in 2024 began helping with outreach as a Pine Bush Ambassador. He says the best part of volunteering is the kids and seeing them interact with the Discovery Center displays. He has personally been bringing his granddaughter to the preserve since she was in a carrier, acting as her transportation. “I couldn't count the number of times we brought her there and each time was magic for her and her grandparents.”
Born in Brooklyn, Mark attended SUNY Cortland where he earned his degree in geology and education. He taught geology, earth, and general science to secondary students on Long Island for forty years while raising two children alongside his wife of 51 years, Kathy. They retired and chose to relocate to the Albany area to be closer to his granddaughter. Here, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, biking, hiking and reading- carrying his lifelong love for science with him in whatever he does.
Mark is always one of the first people to volunteer if we need help and does so with a smile. He fondly remembers a time when “We were bringing a group of elementary school kids on the blue trail, and we stopped to see a swarm of Karner Blue butterflies. There were more than I've ever seen. The kids were simply dazzled and then some of the butterflies came towards the trail and landed on the kids. We cautioned them to just let the butterflies alone and not touch or swat them. The kids were wonderful and had an experience that they will always recall.”
He enjoys the variety of birds the preserve hosts and springtime when lupine are in bloom. His favorite part of the preserve, to no surprise, is due to the geology of the spot. “Atop the overlook on the Karner Barrens Blue trail, with a very small amount of imagination while gazing at the 'bergs and the valley, I can see Lake Albany sometimes and others a huge glacier carving out the valley. Amazing!!”
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