2011 was a busy and productive year At IWF, we are always preparing the future—looking for upcoming grants, planning new projects, coordinating workshops and events. We thought it might be valuable to take a look at the last year and recount some of our favorite events and accomplishments. Take a minute to relive a few highlights from 2011.
New Executive Director (January)
The year started with a major change to IWF’s leadership. Barbara Simpson replaced former Executive Director John Goss, who was appointed Asian carp director by the Council on Environmental Quality. A co-founder of Casting Recovery Indiana, advisory board member of IUPUI’s Center for Environmental Science, and board member of Friends of Goose Pond, Barb has energized the organization since coming on nearly a year ago.
Marsh Madness (March)
An avid supporter of the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, IWF attended Marsh Madness, a yearly celebration of the spring water fowl and crane migrations to the area. Birds love Goose Pond, which has seen state high counts for a variety of species including northern pintail, great egret, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, and king rail. IWF’s Travis Stoelting works as a project advisor for the five-year adaptive management strategy for Goose Pond.
How Healthy is Indiana’s Water? workshop series (March-May)
With funding from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, IWF hit the road to give a series of workshops explaining how people interact with water and affect its quality. Marija Watson, our water resources project manager, coordinated workshops in all corners of the state. Local experts presented at each workshop, giving attendees valuable tools to improve local water quality. Nearly 150 people attended the workshops.
4 | Hoosier Conservation
At the America’s Path to Energy Progress breakfast are (from the left) Jeremy Symons, NWF; Sen. Richard Lugar; Barbara Simpson; Gene Hopkins, IWF board member; Admiral John Natham, USN (ret.)
Online kids contest and Earth Day (April)
Over 500 elementary school students participated in this year’s What’s in Your Wild Backyard? online contest. The contest leads into National Wildlife Week and Earth Day, an important time each year to highlight the importance of wildlife and conservation. We took our message to the popular Earth Day Indiana festival in Indianapolis and built bird feeders with 100 children. We expect the contest and Earth Day celebration to be even more popular next time.
Conservation Awards Banquet/ Annual Meeting (June)
An enthusiastic crowd met at Pokagon State Park late last spring to honor this year’s Conservation Award winners. With the exception of Julie Kandal, this year’s recipients live in northern Indiana and have done important work for wildlife in the area. Other winners include Lynn Burry, State Rep. Dick Dodge, Jim Lake, Little River Wetlands Project, Thom Maher, Jeanette Neagu, and Brian Salomon.
Devotion to Wildlife: Jennie DeVoe in concert (July)
Last summer we produced the first installment of Devotion to Wildlife an annual summer concert series featuring local artists. Jennie DeVoe rocked West Park in Carmel while we introduced a captive audience to the Indiana Wildlife Federation and recognized Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation for West Park’s Wildlife Friendly Certification.
NRCS partnership: Conservation Outreach Program & Healthy Rivers-WRP Project (August-ongoing)
The federal Farm Bill offers extensive funding opportunities for farmers to implement conservation projects on their land. Last summer, IWF began partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to educate landowners in key areas about managing their land for wildlife. An ongoing series of workshops gives farmers the information they need to enroll their land in these critical programs.
Meet us on the Internet