National 4-H Honors Wildlife and Fisheries Adult Volunteer Leaders
Contact:
Jennifer Martin, CSREES Staff, (202) 720-8188
Printable version
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2006 – USDA's National 4-H Headquarters honored six 4-H leaders as winners in the 2006 National 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Adult Volunteer Leader Recognition Program.
“These programs open youth to careers in conservation and natural resources, which they otherwise might never have the opportunity to experience,” said Dr. Cathann Kress, director of youth development, National 4-H Headquarters. “Youth-adult partnerships are a cornerstone of the 4-H program. When caring adults partner with young people on projects, we continually see amazing results.”
The program was initiated in 1980 to recognize leaders from across the country who assist 4-H youth in learning about wildlife and fisheries conservation and management. The Fish and Wildlife Service co-sponsors the program with National 4-H Headquarters, which is part of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).
The six winners will receive significant national recognition, including an expense-paid trip to attend the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, held in Columbus, Ohio, this week.
The 2006 National 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Adult Volunteer Leader winners are:
- Debbie Beisel, Clymer, Penn., has been involved with the Indiana County 4-H program for 10 years and has developed several areas of 4-H project work, including wildlife, forestry, and natural resources activities.
- Terrence “Terry” Higgins, Marydel, Del., has been involved with the Kent County 4-H program for seven years and has co-chaired the Delaware Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program.
- Herbert “Bert” Sanders, Charleston, Miss., has been involved with the Tallahatchie County 4-H program for 10 years and has served on the Mississippi 4-H Field and Stream executive committee.
- Heather Van Den Berg, East Lansing, Mich., has been involved with the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp for 11 years and has served as a volunteer adult advisor to the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council.
- Patricia “Patti” Warner, Corvallis, Ore., has been involved with the Benton County 4-H program for five years and has coordinated Keepers of the Creek, a hands-on wildlife habitat education site and urban stream restoration project for grades K-5.
- Dorothy Wester, Plainfield , Wisc., has been involved with the Waushara County 4-H program for 18 years and has led several youth and adult canoe trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The award program is also supported by the Wildlife Management Institute, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Boone and Crockett Club and the National Rifle Association.
National 4-H Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the land-grant universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life. More than 7 million youth, ages 5-19, participate in 4-H youth development experiences in all 50 U.S. states, territories and Army installations worldwide.
CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. For more information, visit http://www.csrees.usda.gov .
#
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases and program announcements are available on the Internet. Go to the CSREES newsroom at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/newsroom.html. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive CSREES press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to news@lyris.csrees.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type 'subscribe news'. |
