Volunteer Spotlight - Amy Perry

Here is what Amy had to say about her experience volunteering with HIP!

​I feel fortunate that in HIP, my county has an active, professional, even award-winning(!) organization that can help me with my passion--Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve.  The wetland there is my favorite nature spot in Hamilton County. I feel led by God to care for the nature preserve the best I can. I do so in partnership with the city of Fishers (who owns the park), as well as with HIP. 
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My first HIP event was in 2024. I had been removing invasives in central Indiana for several years with other organizations, such as the Indiana Native Plant Society and the Hamilton County Master Gardeners. I love tromping around in the woods and learning from other fans of native plants. In fact, I would advise someone who’s getting started to do activities with other people. Talk to them and don’t be afraid to ask them questions, because they might learn something from your question.

Besides removing invasives, I take walks three times a week in various parks, volunteer for the Nature First program, serve as a Ritchey Woods Park Steward, and lead a walking group at RW at 10 am on Wednesdays. I’m also co-administrator of the Friends of Ritchey Woods Facebook group. In 2024 I helped organize a public celebration of Fishers’ 20 years of owning Ritchey Woods.

​The one word that describes my volunteer work is either “fun” or “soul-nurturing.”

I became interested in native plants when my husband and I kept hearing a pair of great-horned owls calling back and forth to each other, and we attended a Create a Backyard Wildlife Haven program led by Amanda Smith. Now our yard boasts at least 80 different native plants.

My other activities and loves are my husband, our daughter and granddaughter, our two cats, reading, Bible study, church, online word puzzles, strength training at the gym, and giving parties. A Duke graduate, I’ve been a teacher of French and English, book editor, and software technical writer. I finished my career as a computer quality advocate at Eli Lilly and Company.

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