AmmoLand.com

Michigan Teacher Wins 2011 NWTF Educator of the Year Award

Janine Kopera works on NWTF education box material with one of her students.

National Wild Turkey Federation

EDGEFIELD, S.C. --(Ammoland.com)- Third-grade teacher Janine Kopera was merely looking for some lesson ideas to tie in with Thanksgiving when she stumbled upon the NWTF’s web site.

Eight years later, the Melvindale, Mich., teacher is renowned for successfully teaching her suburban students about conservation through an educational unit she built around the NWTF’s Wild About Turkey Education Box.

In recognition of her efforts, the NWTF selected Kopera as the NWTF’s 2011 Educator of the Year. Kopera also won the NWTF’s Educator of the Year Award for Michigan. She is a former Wayne County Elementary Teacher of the Year.

“This whole unit has really opened the children’s eyes,” Kopera said. “They learn how people can have a positive effect on nature.”

Kopera will receive a $1,000 grant from the NWTF and will be honored at the NWTF’s annual convention in February in Nashville, Tenn. With the grant money she plans to spend to fund a conservation field trip and purchase conservation field investigation equipment to meet curriculum requirements.

“Receiving this great award is just icing on the cake,” said Kopera, who teaches at Allendale Elementary School in a school district just outside the city limits of Detroit. “I already had a reward by using the unit.”

Utilizing fun elements such as turkey feather bookmarks and rulers in the Wild About Turkey Education Box – a replica of an actual wild turkey transport box – Kopera has sparked enthusiasm and awareness among many children who had never been exposed to conservation and the outdoors. Most of the 32,000 NWTF education boxes distributed nationwide are donated by local NWTF chapters. Kopera’s box was donated by the Huron Valley Chapter, the NWTF’s first in Michigan.

Kopera also has coordinated visits by NWTF Huron Valley Chapter members, who dressed in turkey hunting clothes and gave the students the opportunity to use turkey calls and other gear.

After discovering the Wild About Turkey Education Box on the NWTF website, Kopera found another important resource in Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Superintendent of Schools Cora Kelly, an NWTF member.

“The kids really enjoy the education box, and they come home with great stories,” Kelly said. “Janine has been a fantastic teacher. She took the ball and ran with it.”

The Wild About Turkey Education Box, full of activities and educational tools correlated to national education standards for kindergarten through 12th grade, includes:

• colorful bulletin board display
• DVD of wild turkey history, communication and habitat videos
• wild turkey habitat and anatomy posters
• 30 pencils, rulers and turkey feather bookmarks for students
• multimedia CD-CD-Rom with turkey sounds and printable resources
• K-12 curriculum and activity guide
• Scaled-down trap and transfer box

More than 32,000 education boxes have been distributed nationwide, most donated by local NWTF chapters to schools, parks, visitor centers and museums as well as through educator training workshops.

Education boxes are available for $50 online, plus shipping. Refill kits cost $50, plus shipping. Boxes also can be purchased by calling (800) THE-NWTF or (803) 637-3106 and asking for the sales department.

About the NWTF:
The NWTF is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. A nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage, the NWTF and its volunteers work closely with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies and other partners.

Through these dynamic partnerships, the NWTF and its members helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $372 million to conserve 17 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin’ Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America’s wildlife history.

To become a member of the NWTF, join a committee or start a chapter, visit www.nwtf.org or call 800-THE-NWTF. The NWTF is also at www.facebook.com/theNWTF.

Filed under: Conservation News by Ammoland No Comments »

Michigan DNR’s Popular Snowshoe Making Classes Return to Ludington State Park Starting Oct. 28-29

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- Ludington State Park is offering daytime and evening snowshoe-making classes in October, November and December, the Department of Natural Resources announced today.

Participants will learn to weave a pair of traditional wooden snowshoes, similar to the ones Native Americans made for generations.

The cost for making a pair of snowshoes is $180 and includes the pre-formed wooden frames, lacing, high-quality bindings and personal instruction. Classes are designed to be fun, informative and interesting. Because this is an activity that requires concentration over long periods of time, it is suggested for ages 16 and older.

These hand-made snowshoes can be used for hiking throughout the winter, given as holiday gifts, or used as a decoration in your home. Snowshoeing is an easy, inexpensive way to get outside and burn some calories during the winter months.

All classes are held at the Ludington State Park’s Warming Shelter. The park is located at 8800 West M-116 in Ludington. Note that the Oct. 28 and 29 is one class split over two days.

Classes are scheduled for:

• Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Part 1)
• Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Part 2)
• Nov. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (All day class)
• Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (All day class)
• Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (All day class)

Class size is limited to a maximum of 10 participants, and reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call Ludington State Park at 231-843-9261 or email Alan Wernette at wernettea@michigan.gov.

A Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering the park. The Recreation Passport has replaced motor vehicle permits for entry into Michigan state parks, recreation areas and state-administered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan’s outdoor recreation opportunities also helps to preserve state forest campgrounds, trails, historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park development grants to local communities.

Michigan residents can purchase the Recreation Passport ($10 for motor vehicles; $5 for motorcycles) by checking “YES” on their license plate renewal forms, or at any state park or recreation area. Nonresident motor vehicles must still display a valid nonresident Recreation Passport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, recreation area or state-administered boating access fee site; these can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, or through the Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visitwww.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call 517-241-7275.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Filed under: Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »