OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 26, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited will honor its young members in Nebraska for their commitment to the ducks during two simultaneous dedication ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Saturday August 29. Two restoration projects in Nebraska were made possible by contributions from legacy Greenwing members. These projects will have lasting value to migrating waterfowl as will the gifts from these young members.
“These young people are the future of waterfowling in Nebraska,” said Steve Wilson, DU regional director in Nebraska. “They are establishing their commitment to conservation at a young age, and we hope they will carry those values with them as they grow up and continue to pass waterfowl traditions on to subsequent generations.”
DU Greenwing members in Nebraska, age 17 or younger, who have contributed $200 or more to DU since 2003 will have their names engraved on a bronze plaque. During the dedication ceremonies, DU volunteers and staff will unveil the plaques that will remain on the project sites as a reminder of who helped restore the wetlands. Speakers will discuss the importance of waterfowl habitat across the state and the significance of the youngsters’ gifts.
The restoration projects were conducted on Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area near Ogallala and Boyer Chutes National Wildlife Refuge near Fort Calhoun. Dedications will be held at both project sites simultaneously beginning at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the ceremony. Families are asked to pick a location nearest them to attend.
Contact Steve Wilson for information about the Boyer Chutes NWR dedication at swilson@ducks.org; 402-499-5515. Contact Pat Baughman for information about the Clear Creek WMA dedication at pbaughman@ducks.org; 308-380-1711. Or visit www.ducks.org/nebraska and click on “Local Events” for directions to the dedication sites.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization and has conserved more than 12 million acres. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands – nature’s most productive ecosystem – and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.
