Volunteers enjoy food and fun at Hopper Mountain NWRC's 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Bash, December 13, 2008 (Photo: Blake Massey).

Richard Posey, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, presents the Superior Volunteer Organization Award to Habitat Works, December 13, 2008 (Photo: Blake Massey).

by Michael Woodbridge, Hopper Mountain NWRC
On December 13, the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, along with the Los Padres Forest Association, hosted the 2^nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Bash.  The event, conducted at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center in the Los Padres National Forest, was an opportunity for the refuge staff to honor and celebrate the hard work and dedication contributed by volunteers for the Complex over the past year.

Throughout 2008, refuge volunteers assisted refuge staff with trash clean-ups, California condor nest monitoring, tracking and observing condors, trail maintenance, data entry, and invasive species control, among other things.  In one of his last actions before retiring, Supervising Wildlife Biologist Richard Posey handed out certificates to all volunteers engaged in the Nest Guarding Program.  In addition, Bill Langford was honored with the Stellar Achievement award and Habitat Works received the Superior Volunteer Organization award.

Approximately 50 people attended the volunteer celebration.  In addition to the many independent volunteers who attended, the event also had members of volunteer groups such as Los Padres Forest Association, Los Padres ForestWatch, Habitat Works and the newly-formed Friends of the California Condor Wild and Free.