The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists held their Annual State Conference at Camp Oty'okwa near Old Man's Cave on Saturday, April 25th. Recognition awards are issued each year at the conference to acknowledge outstanding contributions of individual OCVNs, Chapters and partners of the OCVN Program. Lynn Huston from the Hocking Hills Region Chapter served as Awards Chair for this year.
Congratulations and Thanks to all of the 2015 OCVN Award Winners!
2015 OCVN Awards
Category I: OCVN Alumni Awards recognizing individual volunteers for their service
Scholarship Project of the Year Award - based on evidence of advancing natural resource knowledge to others by an individual
Mike Schumacher, SW RiverLands Chapter – (one project: expansion of OCVN website)
Nominated by David Woehr, Rick Kneisel SW RiverLands OCVN
Continuing Excellence as an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist- based on quantity and quality of service to the OCVN program
John Johnston, SW RiverLands Chapter- (Nature Center host, Wild School Site Land
Nominated by Sarah Blair SW RiverLands OCVN
Category II: OCVN Collaborative Awards honoring partners & partnerships
Friend of OCVN Program - Someone who has given time and talent to promote the mission of the OCVN program
Jeff Johnson, SE District Preserve Manger, DNAP – (Class instructor, Conference presenter)
Nominated by Lorraine Fosnaugh, Hocking Hills Chapter
Teacher of the Year - recognition of an outstanding teacher and curriculum developer
Robert L. Henn, author, educator, curator, Lebanon – (Conference guest speaker, class trainer)
Nominated by Dave Woehr, SW Riverlands Chapter
Outstanding OCVN Mentor - recognition of an outstanding OCVN mentor and supportive coach and role mode
Kim High, Naturalist, Metroparks Toledo – (started an Adult Field Study program)
Nominated by Chris and Randy Haar, Lucas County
Category III: OCVN Chapter Awards recognizing stewardship and scholarship efforts
Stewardship Project of the Year- based on evidence of chapter involvement to protect or enhance Ohio’s natural resources.
Southwest RiverLands Chapter -(initiated the SWRL Grant Program)
Nominated by Mike Schumacher
Scholarship Project of the Year- based on evidence of chapter involvement to advance natural resource knowledge to others
Southwest RiverLands Chapter - (created The Caesar Creek Wild School Site)
Nominated by Mike Schumacher