Featured Volunteer

Another key contributor to the Western Wildlife Corridor is Joyce Richter. She loves spending time outdoors and helps out in a variety of ways. Joyce joined the Western Wildlife Corridor over 20 years ago, right after retiring from Mount St. Joseph University, and immediately got to work restoring habitat and helping with events. She has been on the Board for 20 years!!! What an incredible resource she is for the organization and for our environment. We’re so grateful for everything she does.

Joyce is yet another Cincinnati native. Born many years ago in Cincinnati, she went to Regina High School, then entered the Sisters of Charity. She taught in schools in Maryland, Michigan, and Cincinnati, and taught grade school, high school, and at Mt St. Joseph University (MSJ). Besides her career in education, she worked for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati assisting the president, and at MSJ’s facilities management. She taught all subjects in grade school, followed by math in high school and computer applications at MSJ…maybe she could teach us a few things! Remember that she is not old, she is just slightly more mature than the rest of us.

Joyce is passionate about the Bender Mountain Nature Preserve. She hikes there frequently, helps people, leads guided hikes, and is a monitor for that property. In 2003, the Hamilton County Park District purchased 42 acres on Bender Mountain and transferred ownership to Delhi Township in a deal facilitated by Western Wildlife Corridor’s stewardship of the area. Seven years later, we bought 13 acres of woods at the end of Bender Mountain in 2010.

More recently and more importantly, the Sisters of Charity donated another 75 acres of forests on Bender Mountain to us. Joyce was instrumental in making this happen. She deserves recognition for that tremendous feat alone! Bender Mountain is now over 125 protected acres of forest and one of the most popular hiking destinations in the region. Looks like everyone wants to follow in Joyce’s footsteps on Bender Mountain. Joyce has also given presentations and is a big part of the annual Flower-A-Thon, organizing the very popular competition to see who could identify the most plants. Joyce has also worked the outreach table at many public events and did the e-newsletter to members for years. Joyce plans to have continued great health and use her skills, interests, and talents to help others. She wants us to understand each other, respect our differences, and work together for the church, the Earth, and people everywhere.