Have you ever gone hiking in a state park? Or camped by a river to enjoy a glorious sunset? You may not realize it, but a group of highly trained volunteers is out there keeping the natural beauty of Texas healthy and ready for your enjoyment.

Earl and Sue are master volunteers. Literally. For 15 years, they’ve been members of the Lindheimer Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. In addition to building and preserving trails in state parks, Earl and Sue are part of what’s known as the Stream Team, testing water samples from the Guadalupe River to monitor pollution. As Master Naturalists, they love having access to a variety of outdoor projects where they could travel and meet other nature lovers.

Since you can never have too many skills, about 11 years ago, Earl and Sue received specialized training to become Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the foster care system and they continue volunteering to this day. They were also reading tutors for 10 years at Hoffman Lane Elementary school in New Braunfels.

91-year-old Earl, and 87-year-old Sue are soft spoken, humble people. They’ve developed a comfortable, natural rhythm that comes from 64 years of marriage. And they still manage to surprise each other. During their photoshoot, Sue gets a little shy when Earl reaches out to kiss her cheek for their portrait “Oh my goodness!  She says, “Our children aren’t going to believe their eyes.” 

Last year, they moved to Austin to be closer to their 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. But moving hasn’t stopped them from volunteering, Sue joined a couple of committees at their Querencia retirement community, and they both continue volunteering in New Braunfels. Earl and Sue embrace the long distances, time-commitments, physical demands, and emotional journeys required of master volunteers.

Sue puts it simply. “We do it because it needs to be done.”