Heinz Refuge. Junior Duck Stamp Day, Oct. 13, 2007. 2007 Pennsylvania Jr. Duck Stamp top winner and 2nd place National Jr. Duck Stamp winner, Madelyn Yohn, and her art teacher, Wayne Hagy in front of display with Madelyn's winning entry between them at top. Photo: Bill Buchanan, USFWS

Heinz Refuge. Junior Duck Stamp Day, Oct. 13, 2007. (L-R)Megan Harris, Veda Sun, Semaj Reyes, Madelyn Yohn, and Acting Refuge Manager, Dr. Gary Stolz. Semaj holds his 2nd place, Group I, winning entry of a mallard titled,"On the Ledge". Photo: Bill Buchanan, USFWS.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum celebrated National Wildlife Refuge Week on October 13 and 14, 2007 with two special events. 

On October 13, the refuge hosted a special Junior Duck Stamp Day.  Several students who participated and placed in various age categories in the 2007 Pennsylvania Junior Duck Stamp Competition visited the refuge to show off their talents and to talk about their experience in the program.

Among the students attending the event was the 2007 Pennsylvania Junior Duck Stamp "Best of Show" winner, and the second place winner in the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition, 17 year old, Madelyn Yohn, of Myerstown, Lebanon County, PA. Madelyn attends the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center and her winning masterpiece was a beautiful acrylic rendition of a pair of northern pintails titled "Dabbling in the Marsh"

Along with Madelyn, three students from the Round Hill  Studio in Kennett Square, PA. attended the event; Megan Harris and Veda Sun, both 13 years of age, who received honorable mentions in their age categories and Michelle Johnson, age 10, who received  second place in her age category.  Also attending the event was 7 year old Semaj Reyes, who attends the Greenfield School in Philadelphia and won a second place honor in his age category.

Debra Pozzi of the Round Hill Studio and Wayne Hagy of the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, both art instructors and mentors to many of the art students, also attended the event.  Both teachers were absolutely delighted with the caliber of the work their students have shown over the years.

Acting refuge manager and Pennsylvania Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, Dr. Gary Stolz, said that not only did the program show the artistic talent of these young people but it also is a wonderful tool in teaching students the importance of conservation, especially wetland preservation.  Stolz also noted, "This is a great way to introduce many students to the natural world and very often helps connect them, and their families, to nature, especially those who may live in more urban environments.  Many of the youngsters who get involved in Junior Duck also go on to compete in the adult Duck Stamp competition and find interpretation of the natural world through their art as a life long pursuit.  We are very proud to be involved with the program."

In addition to the visit by the students and teachers a new Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit was created and set up in the refuge's Cusano Environmental Education Center and will remain there for several weeks along with information booklets on the 2008 competition.

The other special event at the refuge was participation by a group of local birders led by the refuge's current VISTA/Americorp intern, Tony Croasdale, in the "Big Sit".  This national bird-a-thon had a very different twist; the participants had to do their species identification from within a 17 foot diameter circle.  The refuge team, the Philadelphia "De-Listed" Eagles, ticked off 63 species between 5:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on October 14 as they scanned the area around the refuge's 145 acre freshwater impoundment.  The event was promoted by Birdwatcher's Digest and cash awards will be given by Swarovski Optik to the winning teams.  The "Eagles" were representing the Friends of the Heinz Refuge and any winnings they might receive will go to the Friends.