Maddie Sizer

Cynthia Jacobs Carter, Ed.D. Lee District Park Authority Youth Award Maddie Sizer Board Member

Maddie Sizer volunteers in animal care, visitor support and assisting with interpretive talks at Hidden Pond Nature Center. The Burke youth has been involved in a wide range of program offerings, such as the long-running Pohick Rangers program, and is praised for showing “a genuine appreciation” for the subjects she discusses, whether it’s a reptile she’s showing to a group of children or a question she’s answering from a park visitor. Sizer has helped with the care of live exhibits during the pandemic and worked to remove invasive plants at the pond and other park locations. She is described as the “the go-to person for programs, contributing more than 200 hours to the site and her community, and has helped set the standard for what is expected from the animal care volunteers.”