Visit Grand Gulf Military Park

Climb an Observation Tower & Watch the MS River Flow by

Send us your photos from Grand Gulf and tell us about your experience on our Facebook page. Get outdoors and enjoy the Mississippi River.

•  Activities: Viewing, Photography, Hiking , Camping
• Activity Level: Moderate
• Geographic Region: Mississippi River Alluvial Plain/ MS Delta
• Season: Year Round
• Suggested Location: Grand Gulf Military Park
• Suggested Site: http://www.grandgulfpark.state.ms.us/

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation will host the 52nd Mississippi Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet to recognize and honor those whose achievements in natural resource conservation deserve statewide recognition. MWF’s Conservation Achievement Awards are among the most prestigious for conservation efforts. They are presented annually on behalf of MWF’s members and supporters and its statewide network of affiliated organizations.     Click HERE for details.

2011 Conservation Achievement Award Winners:

Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Balch & Bingham, LLP
Margaret Copeland
Starkville, MS

Wildlife Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Barber and Mann, Inc.
John Gruchy
Tupelo, MS

Fisheries Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Chevron
Garry Lucas
Merigold, MS

Forest Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Sunbelt Sealing, Inc.
Steve Grado
Starkville, MS

Soil, Air and Water Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Southern AgCredit
Keep the Rez Beautiful

Youth Conservationist of the Year
Sponsored by: Sunbelt Sealing, Inc.
Malika Shettar
Jackson, MS

Conservation Educators of the Year
Sponsored by: South Mississippi Electric Power Association
Dr. Jessica Tegt
Starkville, MS

Ms. Leslie Burger
Starkville, MS

Conservation Communicator of the Year
Jeff Wilson
Raymond, MS

Conservation Officer of the Year
Sponsored by: Headwaters Inc.

Master Sergeant John McFerrin
Mantachie, MS

Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor of the Year
Sponsored by: Anderson Tully Company
Glen Hickman
Saucier, MS

Special Merit Awards
Wayne Beard
Columbus, MS

Marie Mullen
Ocean Springs, MS

Vickie Vaughan
Madison, MS

Leigh Bailey and Jamie Redmond
Clinton, MS

MWF Volunteer of the Year
Kay Heller
Canton, MS

Catch-A-Dream Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by: Seth Harris Childhood Cancer Foundation
Mike Hainsey
Columbus, MS

MWF Scholarship Recipient
Robert Bishop
New Albany, MS

It’s time to register for the 2012 CLASS of the Mississippi Habitat Stewards Program!  

 Habitat Stewards is a program designed to train volunteers to understand our coastal natural areas and how to manage those resources.

Mississippi Habitat Stewards Program is a project of Mississippi Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation.  The 2012 class is sponsored by BP.   In exchange for 24 hours of training, each participant will commit 100 hours of volunteer service on partner lands: working to build nature trails, monitor existing nature trails, public relations, management and monitoring for invasive species, planting native plants and many other exciting projects.

 Mississippi Habitat Stewards Program Partners are the owners and managers of important natural areas where we work.  In 2011, the inaugural year of Habitat Stewards Program, volunteers contributed approximately 700 hours of class training and 400 hours of labor caring for Partner properties:

1.      Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Coastal Preserves Program

2.      Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge

3.      Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain

4.      USM Marine Education Center, Cedar Point

The program is now recruiting for classes to begin March 9. Click  HERE  for more information.  Check out our new website: www.mshabitatstewards.org

If you are interested in learning more or would like to sign up for this program, please call or email: Cynthia Ramseur at 228-875-1032 or cynthia@naturalcapitaldevelopment.com

2012 Mississippi Habitat Stewards Class Schedule:

• Spring Fling – Habitat Stewards and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students – volunteer work day on Pascagoula River Coastal Preserve, Indian Point Coastal unit, Gautier:  February 25, 2012
• First Five Classes will be held on Friday afternoons from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm:  March 9, March 23; April 13, April 27, May 11.
• The final class will be held with individual students to mentor on site at the work site of their choice.
• Graduation and awards celebration is scheduled for Thursday evening, June 7.

CONTACT INFORMATION for Habitat Stewards Program in Coastal Mississippi

Local contact in coastal Mississippi:       

Project coordinators – Cynthia Ramseur or Leah Bray

Natural Capital Development (NCD)

1004 Government Street

Ocean Springs, MS  39564

228.875.1032  Cynthia@naturalcapitaldevelopment.com

Mississippi Wildlife Federation

Cathy Shropshire, Executive Director

517 Cobblestone Court, Suite 2

Madison, MS  39110

601-605-1790  cshropshire@mwsf.org

National Wildlife Federation

Eliza Russell, Director of Education Programs

National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362
www.nwf.org

703-438-6439  russell@nwf.org

Our January Feature: Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area near Belzoni

Send us your photos of Sky Lake and tell us about your experience on our Facebook page. Get outdoors and discover some of the largest and oldest bald cypress trees that remain on earth.

•  Activites: Viewing, Photography
• Activity Level: Easy
• Geographic Region: Mississippi River Alluvial Plain/ Mississippi Delta
• Season: Year round
• Suggested Location: Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area
• Suggested Site: MDWFP Sky Lake WMA

2012 Youth Participation Initiative Squirrel Hunt

The Deadline is Fast Approaching…We Need More Hunters to Register!  Spread the Word and Sign Up Today!

For more information and details click HERE