U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 4-H National Headquarters Honor Youth Mapping Project Aimed at Refuges and Hatcheries
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between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 4-H designed to enable
dozens of youths to experience nature and gain real-world conservation
experience, has been honored by the Service and 4-H National Headquarters
with the 2012 Connecting Youth with Nature through Natural Resources
Conservation Education Award.
The Project provides interactive, hands-on learning opportunities at
National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries in four states. The
project also builds leadership skills and pathways to careers in natural
resources stewardship through classroom and field activities.
The award was presented this week at the 77th Annual North American
Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Youth who learn today to value America’s fish, wildlife, and natural
places will become stewards of those resources tomorrow. Through this
innovative program, we’ve been able to tap into the experience and support
of the 4-H program to put dozens of youth leaders on the ground at
wildlife refuges and hatcheries,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director
Dan Ashe. “These young men and women are mapping data points that will
help our wildlife managers do a better job of improving habitat and
managing species on our National Wildlife Refuges, while also gaining
valuable experience in natural resource careers.”
The program has also enabled the Service to strengthen ties with
Cooperative Extension Units at Land Grant Universities – ties that are
essential as the agency strives to build its science capacity and recruit
a strong workforce for the future. The program is active in Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota and New York.
The Service and 4-H will expand the program this year to new sites that
will focus on urban and disadvantaged youth who are new to 4-H and
conservation.
Through this program, participants learn valuable work skills that are
used heavily in natural resource and environmental fields. They leave
with a demonstrated skill set and resume, as well as what the Service
hopes will be the passion to pursue degrees and careers in wildlife
biology and natural resource management.
The award program was initiated in 1980 to recognize 4-H volunteer leaders
from across the country who assist youth in learning about wildlife and
fisheries conservation and management. Today the award recognizes young
people pioneering new projects in natural resources conservation. The
Wildlife Management Institute, the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies and the Boone and Crockett Club also support the award program.
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