Community Roundup: Friends of wildlife refuge receive national honor

USA TODAY NETWORK
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Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge receives national recognition

OAK HARBOR – In the heart of Ohio, a labor of love is unfolding as Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (FONWR) seamlessly connects conservation and the local community. Their unwavering commitment and enthusiasm have earned them the esteemed Molly Krival Award — Friends Group of the Year for the 2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards, presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association (Refuge Association).

The Friends of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor received the Molly Krival Award.
The Friends of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor received the Molly Krival Award.

Named in honor of the late Molly Krival, a trailblazer in the Refuge Friends Group movement, this award recognizes the exceptional contributions of dedicated volunteers in Friends organizations, who provide indispensable services to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Among their notable accomplishments are:

  • Fostering the next generation of conservationists through a robust intern program. In 2022, interns contributed 3,196 hours of work.

  • Supporting the Bird Friendly Facility project through volunteer efforts and the acquisition of interpretive displays, which help prevent bird strikes and educate visitors on effective measures to prevent such incidents.

  • Creating safe and accessible sites for outdoor recreation including a 1,400-foot ADA-compliant boardwalk and crushed gravel trail at the Fox Nature Preserve, an ADA compliant kayak launch and pavilion at the Nehls Nature Preserve on Catawba Island and purchasing and operating an electric shuttle on the refuge.

  • Collaborating with Partners for Fish and Wildlife and vendors to treat 846 acres for invasive species on private lands and purchasing and restoring 69 acres of land for the refuge to be protected, forever.

  • Contributing nearly $600,000 towards the refuge in 2022, more than double the refuge’s federal operating budget.

The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by the National Wildlife Refuge Association on Sept. 26 at the iconic Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. Linda Schnee, National Friends Coordinator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Joan Patterson, Board President of the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates presented the award to Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Board President Kendra Foust during the ceremony. In her acceptance speech, Foust thanked the many members, volunteers, and donors who have made an impact on the refuge through the Friends group since its inception.

Port Clinton High School student, Jerren-Lee Hirt holds a fox snake, during his Science class field trip to Ohio State University Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island.
Port Clinton High School student, Jerren-Lee Hirt holds a fox snake, during his Science class field trip to Ohio State University Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island.

Lake Erie Stone Lab offers hands-on learning experience

PORT CLINTON - Port Clinton High School juniors and seniors in Tammie Rettig and Ryan Wiechman’s science classes experienced a field trip at the Ohio State University Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island on Sept. 29.

Students rode the Jet Express to Put-in-Bay where they caught an OSU Transport boat to Gibraltar. Upon arrival, students were immersed in several hands-on activities at the freshwater biological field station.

Some of the activities included using microscopes to observe plankton that live in Lake Erie, taking a tour of the island and learning about its rich history. Students dissected a fish together and learned how to use a dichotomous key to classify species. Stone lab scientists helped students learn about herpetology and they had the opportunity to hold a snake and a turtle.

During the field trip students learned about the science of Lake Erie and how to protect this important natural resource. Funding from the Ottawa County Community Foundation made this incredible field trip possible. More pictures and video are available at www.pccsd.net.

CMP to present up to $335,000 in scholarships in 2024

PORT CLINTON - To continue its efforts in supporting young marksmen and women across the nation in their future endeavors, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) announced it will award up to $335,000 for the 2024-2025 school year.

Through this year’s Scholarship Program, the CMP will be providing $300,000 toward graduating senior athletes, with the Garand Collectors Association providing a $30,000 donation and the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama contributing an additional $5,000 to be distributed amongst recipients.

Each year, high school student-athletes involved in marksmanship programs are encouraged to apply for CMP Scholarships —– a program that lends economic support to young marksmen and women who have shown dedication on and off the firing line. These scholarships may be used to pursue post-secondary or vocational programs, community colleges or university educations as well as trade schools to cover a variety of interests.

Since 2005, the CMP Scholarship Program has presented $1,000 one-year scholarships to high school seniors based on merit, humanitarian efforts, extracurricular activities and marksmanship participation. In 2020, the CMP added one $5,000 scholarship, the Carolyn Hines Memorial Scholarship — awarded to the top applicant who best embodied the values of Dr. Hines, who was instrumental in shaping the program.

Last year, the CMP added four $20,000 scholarships awarded to the top applicants ($5,000 over four years to each recipient). These scholarships honor past notable CMP Board members Judith Legerski, Jon Bengston, Harry Sieben and the late Dr. Carolyn Hines, who were all devoted to sustaining youth activities. Winners will be decided by the Scholarship Committee after carefully reviewing each application.

The News-Messenger/News Herald

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Community Roundup: Friends of wildlife refuge receive national honor