Less than two weeks in his new role, the new Watson Mill Bridge State Park manager said he hopes to learn all about Watson Mill and the people who surround it.
“I’m going to go do every mile of trails that’s in the parks for the next two weeks,” John Mark Shelnutt said.
Shelnutt previously worked as a park ranger at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and most recently as the assistant manager at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
As a Georgia native, he said he has fond memories of his grandparents taking him to parks throughout South Georgia. His love for nature and civic duty led him to this career path.
But, it was the opportunity for growth and a sense of community that drew Shelnutt to Oglethorpe County.
“It seems like there is a community here,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with people that care so much about that. You can get so much done when you have effort in the community.”
Shelnutt enjoys water activities and participated in guided paddling activities during his time at Okefenokee. With access to the South Fork River, he hopes to bring similar events to Watson Mill Bridge.
The mission of the Georgia State Parks is to protect the state’s natural beauty and historic integrity while providing opportunities for public enjoyment and education. Shelnutt hopes to expand programming and educational outreach during his time at Watson Mill.
Sarah Ratcliffe, naturalist at Watson Mill Bridge State Park, said she looks forward to collaborating with Shelnutt to create offerings for the community.
“We are very excited about John Mark,” Ratcliffe said. “He seems very passionate.”
While at Okefenokee, Shelnutt led an outreach program to help bridge the system of the parks with the school district. He presented in classrooms how real-life examples from the park met the fourth-grade science standards.
In Georgia, every fourth-grader can get a free pass to state parks through the Every Kid Outdoors Program. Shelnutt hopes to recreate educational programming as he did in Okefenokee to encourage more Oglethorpe County families to enjoy the park.
“He has had a lot of success down there partnering with local schools and things to do outreach,” Ratcliffe said. “That’s something I’ve struggled with and I’m very hopeful I will learn a lot from him.”
Shelnutt said he encourages community members to reach out to him with any ideas, questions or concerns.
“This place is about having fun and community,” he said. “I want this place to be fun and safe and well managed.”