On Wednesday, November 19, Yukon Delta refuge staff members showed that outreach is truly a team effort.  Three different outreach opportunities presented themselves on that one date, and the entire staff was able to pitch in so that we could meet the needs of our stakeholders.  Education Specialist Brian McCaffery had plans to prepare for, and then give, a presentation about endangered species to the local Boyscout Troop here in Bethel, Alaska.  He then learned that on the same day, the village of St. Mary's was hosting the annual Lower Yukon School District Career Fair.  Dozens of students from remote Eskimo villages were going to fly to St. Mary's for the event, and Career Fair organizers invited the refuge to send a representative to staff a Fish and Wildlife Service career table.  Because of McCaffery's experience with endangered species issues over the last 15 years, however, he felt that it was important to maintain his commitment to the Boyscouts. 

Therefore, in order to respond to the request from the school district, McCaffery canvassed the refuge staff for volunteers to attend the career fair, with gratifying results.  Lisa Renan (Wildlife Biologist), Charles Rodgers (Aircraft Mechanic), and Robert Sundown (Subsistence Resource Specialist/Pilot/Law Enforcement Officer) all volunteered to attend and represent the Service.  At dawn, the three of them reported to the Service hangar, broke out their cold-weather gear (it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit), and hopped in the refuge's Cessna 206 for the one-hour flight to St. Mary's.  Once there, they held forth for several hours on the opportunities for, and benefits of, employment with the Fish and Wildlife Service.  They also explained and promoted the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, a professional career-path program for Native American students which is actively supported by the Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Meanwhile, scarcely were the Career Fair trio out of the hangar then Assistant Manager/Pilot Hollis Twitchell moved in.  Along with Alaska State Trooper pilots, he met with students from the local Yuut Flight School.  They discussed aviation needs and employment opportunities with state and federal agencies.  Students then received a tour of the hangar, learning about our equipment and the types of aircraft we fly. 

Of particular significance is the fact that three of the five staff members involved in Wednesday's outreach are Native Americans themselves (Rodgers, Sundown, and Twitchell).  As such, they serve as real-life examples and professional models for the young people of our region.  Due to the generous collaborative efforts of our staff, we were able to share our expertise and encouragement at three simultaneous events with well over a hundred young people from across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, among whom may be some of tomorrow's Fish and Wildlife Service leaders.