Georgian Bay Get Outdoors celebrates ‘youth conservation club of the year’

OFAH File: 842
February 23, 2006

For Immediate Release

Georgian Bay Get Outdoors celebrates ‘youth conservation club of the year’

Kids and parents from the Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club leapt from their seats last Friday when Natural Resources Minister, David Ramsay, announced them as the winner of the M.N.R. Junior Conservation Award. The provincial honor was presented at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Annual Wildlife Conference in Toronto.

“Congratulations to the mentors and youth members of the Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader. “This club, and its supporters, have demonstrated how volunteers can make O.F.A.H. Get Outdoors work in their community. Keep up the great work.”

The Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club is one of dozens of O.F.A.H. inspired youth conservation clubs in Ontario. This local award-winning club is proudly hosted by the Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers, a founding O.F.A.H. member club, located in Midland.

In the past five years, Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club’s youth membership has grown significantly, drawing community interest as well as partnerships with the Wye Marsh Wildlife Center and Town of Wyevale/Tiny Township. In 2005, the Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club held 13 events of which five were directly related to conservation work.

“I think the Georgian Bay Get Outdoors Club is great,” said 14 year old Patrick Smith, of Victoria Harbour. “Our Get Outdoors club gets together almost monthly. We have planted trees, removed purple loosestrife, and cleaned up garbage at a community center. Our club also organizes camping trips, fishing derbies, archery and shooting events,” he said.

Given the success of this local youth conservation program, it is perhaps, no surprise that its adult club mentors, Steve Scott and Kevin Vardy, of Midland, won with the prestigious Larry Wallace Memorial Award, recognizing them as O.F.A.H. volunteers of the year.

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