Ceci Carmichael has been coming to the Woodstock area since 1996, which means she’s had nearly three decades to fall in love with WLC’s preserves — and she has, with each one. Ask her to pick a favorite, and she’ll tell you that’s like choosing a favorite child. That said, Rock Oak Preserve made a strong case recently. “As I walked down the center of the now verdant old railroad rock cut, I was struck by the magical and transformative power of nature to heal the land,” she said. “It felt like being in a cathedral.”

That quality of attention is what Ceci brings to everything she does for WLC. When she first arrived in the area, she asked herself what one person could do to help keep this place intact. The answer, she found, was WLC. She’s been supporting Vernal Fling for years, and most recently stepped up as a key member of the event’s planning committee, helping to shape this year’s Fling.

This Saturday, Ceci will be at White Feather Farm for the 14th annual Vernal Fling, where one lucky guest will win a dinner for four prepared by Ceci herself: a classically trained chef who has hosted cooking shows on the Food Network, the Fine Living Network and the Oprah Winfrey Network. It’s a fitting contribution from someone who has given her time, energy and care to WLC for years.

As we celebrate together as a community, we wanted to celebrate Ceci’s contributions to that community as our Volunteer of the Month.