National News

12th Annual Leopold Education Project National Workshop – Huge Success!

From June 21st to the 24th, 105 participants enjoyed the Leopold Education Project’s 12th Annual National Workshop at the new Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, WI.

A portion of this record number of participants was supported by 75 scholarships—also a new record—received from 35 local chapters of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever (another new record), the Missouri Department of Conservation, the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society, the Ben Plucknett Charitable Trust and the Wisconsin LEP State Coordinator.

Thursday’s special workshops focusing on the Leopold Education Project, Teaching Outdoors and Creative Writing/Journaling were filled to capacity and all received high marks for the hands-on learning that took place.

The new center, which opened on Earth Day 2007, embodied this year’s workshop theme, Striving for Sustainability, and proved to be a wonderfully comfortable place to hold the workshop. Our first set of keynote speakers, Wayne Reckard from Kubala Washatko Architects and Steve Swenson from the Aldo Leopold Foundation, provided the background and details on the planning, design, and construction that led to this extraordinary building.

Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong from the University of Wisconsin inspired attendees to look for ways to improve school grounds as places to learn. Rich Wissink, Pheasants Forever’s youth program specialist, encouraged participants to engage youth in Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever programs and special events that would link them to the natural world.

Nina Leopold Bradley highlighted our banquet with a presentation that drew a standing ovation and gave us encouragement to keep working with youth as a critical part of achieving a sustainable future. Our fundraising silent auction, raffles and merchandise sales raised over $6,000 towards scholarships for next year’s workshop.

Dr. Richard Jurin from the University of Northern Colorado energized the audience when he presented the second annual Art Hawkins Memorial Land Ethic Lecture entitled, “The Land Ethic as a basis for a Sustainable Future.” Jeannine Richards from the Aldo Leopold Foundation provoked the audience to additional thinking with her presentation, “Climate Change: A Challenge, and an Opportunity.”

Tours of the famous Leopold “Shack” and the new Aldo Leopold Legacy Center gave everyone insights into the land ethic history and its future.

Did you miss the LEP National Workshop? View the 2007 National Workshop Photo Gallery.

Watch for more comprehensive coverage in the upcoming issue of Strides.

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Pheasants Forever Receives $25,000 Grant for Education

Saint Paul, Minn. - January 16, 2007 - Pheasants Forever (PF) is proud to announce a new partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) worth almost $25,000 in grant funds over the next two years. PF will use the funds to enhance education efforts through the organization's Leopold Education Project (LEP).

The majority of the grant dollars will be targeted at developing new education materials for non-formal educators. Grant funds will also be used to conduct workshops, evaluate and produce final materials, and increase training opportunities for educators, naturalists and park rangers. With the grant, PF expects the Leopold Education Project to be able to reach a wider, more diverse audience.

"We train over 1,000 educators a year. This grant will allow us to train more non-formal educators who work with youth through nature centers, parks, zoos, 4-H, scouts, and our chapters," reported Cheryl Riley, PF's vice president of education and outreach. "This excellent partnership not only promotes conservation, but provides financial assistance to support more hands-on education activities based on Aldo Leopold's land ethics."

This grant also allows PF to hire a project manager to oversee the development of LEP activities. Duties of the new project manger will include holding writing workshops for educators and piloting new education materials and activities.

This is a unique partnership in LEP's 11-year history. "This partnership and grant funds are going to take the Leopold Education Project to new levels," added Riley. "It provides us additional tools to help connect people to the land and instill conservation ethics. It combines our mission with that of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."

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