Volunteers Essential to Wonderland’s Success
Volunteers are integral to the success of Rotary Winter Wonderland in Marshfield each year. With more than 500 individuals contributing 5,500 hours to the project from October setup through January takedown, and the additional support provided by Rotarians and Special Olympians in the off-season to organize and repair lights and display, the scale of the project is incredible.
“We generally have around 70 organizations that contribute time and talents to the project,” said Jenny King, Volunteer Coordinator. “This could be through helping to set up or take down the lights, or by volunteering to help collect donations and canned goods one of the nights the park is open.”
Boy Scout Troop 392, Altrusa, and Marshfield National Honor Society are three of the biggest contributors of volunteer hours toward the project.
“The Boy Scouts are the talented team that puts up the igloo each season,” said King. “Altrusa members work on set up Saturdays and behind the scenes to help do things from repairing costumes to wrapping lights on the panels you’ll see throughout the park. National Honor Society members are some of the most experienced volunteers the project has and under John and Kathy Campbell’s leadership, they help with some of the more technical set up for the project.”
Help is also provided by surrounding communities.
“Edgar High School is a great example,” said Danielle Nystrom. “They have been helping with the project for several years. They bring a bus full of students down for one of the setup Saturdays and also sign up for one of the Fridays during the season and always bring a ton of energetic students who not only welcome visitors at the gates but dress up in holiday themed costumes and walk around the park taking photos with visitors.”
King also highlights local Special Olympians as key to Rotary Winter Wonderland’s Success.
“In the off-season, they are the ones who test all the lights to see which need to be 
repaired for the upcoming season,” she said. “They also organize and wrap all the lights back up so they are easy for our volunteers in the fall to unwind and start decorating.”
Without the continued dedication of volunteers, Rotary Winter Wonderland would not be successful. To get involved, visit their website.
