Grandmother Donates Her Time and Grandchildren to Virginia Aquarium

By Joan Barns 

Virginia Beach, VA - For the past 10 years, Barbara Van Heest, grandmother to Corey, Morgan, Jordyn and Tyler Van Heest, has volunteered 3,000 hours at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. But Barbara has given more than hours to the Aquarium, she has established a legacy of service through her grandchildren and instilled a commitment of conservation through education. Their efforts were collectively honored Wednesday evening as the Van Heest family was presented the Volunteer Hampton Roads Family of the Year Award. 

One by one, as Barbara’s grandchildren reached the Aquarium’s eligible volunteer age, she helped them with the application process. Youth volunteers who are 11 and 12 years old must work with a family member, so Barbara worked with each grandchild until they were old enough to volunteer alone. At first, the young Van Heests volunteered on the nature trail, showing Aquarium guests the animals of the marsh and woodland. Now, they are all old enough to volunteer in adult positions. Corey and Morgan, both sixteen, fill weekend docent positions and they have volunteered 293 and 386 hours respectively. “Their experience and maturity in speaking to people about the environment is the result of the five years that each has volunteered,” said Volunteer Resource Manager Kathleen Reed. “Their passion for what they do clearly comes from within so Corey and Morgan are ideal role models for other volunteers.”

Thirteen-year-olds Jordyn and Tyler are younger, but no less committed: both are eager learners and teachers. They have volunteered for three years, and given 140 and 150 hours respectively. “Guests at the aquarium are often wowed by the depth of information and the excitement exhibited by both of these young scientists,” said Reed. 

Nearly 1,000 volunteers make up the Virginia Aquarium Volunteer League that supports the Aquarium’s programs behind the scenes, in its exhibit areas, along its Nature Trail and in the Stranding Response Program. The volunteer program provides extensive training (more than 50 classes are offered each year), recognition events, and, most of all, an opportunity to be part of a community of people that is interested in serving the public.

The Virginia Aquarium is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. For more information on the Aquarium’s volunteer program call (757) 385-0274 or visit http://vmsm.com/involved_volunteer.html.

To view Virginia Aquarium's web page on Z&A, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-136-Virginia_Aquarium_and_Marine_Science_Center