The month of March 2006 was very busy for the Treasure Lake Job Corp Interns and EE Specialists Randy Hale and Nick Plata. In March, there were one thousand one hundred and fourteen people who participated in EE programs. This is an increase in participation of almost seven-hundred from March of 2005.

The highlight of March was the Lawton Public Schools “Academic and Creative Thinking Skills” (ACTS) program for gifted and talented students which brought two-hundred and forty-five of their gifted and talented students to the refuge from March 6^th through March 10^th. Many good questions were asked and a myriad of topics were discussed. There were thirty-six programs in March. There were three outreach programs, four Colleges and/or Universities that participated, two Boy Scout groups, two At-Risk youth groups, and numerous elementary schools and organizations that took part in environmental education programs.          

Claudine Daniel attended the meeting of the Oklahoma Environmental Education Coordinating committee on March 8^th.  She reported on the progress of the development of the Environmental Education certification process for Oklahoma. Two sources of funding were offered from the committee. Guideline recommendations should be ready by fall.  OSU has asked to be considered as the provider of the certification services.  We hope to match National standards developed by the North American Association for Environmental Education.

Claudine Daniel and D’Anna Mallow met with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Comanche County Conservation District on the Natural Resources Journey scheduled for the week of April 17^th through 21^st. All of the slots available to 4^th grade classes have been reserved.   We are Partners in the National Environmental Education Week celebration. 

Wichita Mountains hosted the Oklahoma Junior Duck Stamp competition, for the 14^th year, on March 31, 2006. C.C. Stone, a 16 year-old student from Broken Bow High School won BEST OF SHOW with her entry of Male and Female Pintails entitled “The Courtship Encounter.” She won 250 dollars and her entry will be sent to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Contest.    

Claudine Daniel met with the partners of the Economics of Nature workshop, for a site walk through on March 15^th 2006.  Wichita Mountains Refuge is partnered with Oklahoma University, Norman, OK, The Alliance for Geographic Education and The Oklahoma Council on Economic Education to host 30 teachers for this Department of Education, “Excellence in Education” Grant.