MWF Connections

May Feature: Go Hiking!

Mel — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:21:18 +0000

It’s time to get outdoors. The Mississippi Wildlife Federation says it’s time to:

Go Hiking in the Land of 50 Waterfalls!

- Activities: Hiking and photography
- Activity level: Medium to Strenuous
- Season: Year around
- Georgraphic Region: Bluff Hills
- Suggested Location: Clark Creek Natural Area
- Suggested site: http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx

We Need Your Help!

Mel — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:23:12 +0000

We Need Your Help!
Calling All Volunteers!

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation will host Katfishin’ Kids on June 2, 2012 at Turcotte Lab off Highway 43 at the Ross Barnett Reservoir from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

We are in desperate need of volunteers! We need about 120+ volunteers to run this event properly. To date, it looks as if we will be considerably shorthanded. If you can help or know of a group who can, please contact mstarnes@mswf.org ASAP. Click here to see all volunteer opportunities. Volunteer hours are approximately 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

I also need one more t-shirt sponsor in the amount of $600. Another company has agreed to pick up the other half. The Mississippi Wildlife Federation and other organizations run this event on a shoestring budget and t-shirts have always been sponsored. Without a t-shirt sponsor we will be unable to print event t-shirts for attendees.

Please keep in mind this is a FREE EVENT to teach our youth all about fishing.

It’s Time To Get Outdoors! April Feature

Mel — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:39:24 +0000

It’s time to get outdoors. The Mississippi Wildlife Federation says it’s time to:

Go Biking on Burning Sunshine Trail

Geographic Region: Blackland Prairie
Suggested Location: Burning Sunshine Trail – Elvis Presley Lake
Activities: Biking, Hiking,Camping, Fishing and water sports
Activity level: Medium
Season: Year around
Suggested site:
http://www.mdwfp.com/media/51224/elvis_presley.pdf
http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/trails-mississippi/trail/elvis-presley-lake/prd_168744_4558crx.aspx

Look At the Deer We Scored Today!

Mel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:14:16 +0000

Boone and Crockett Non-Typical

195 4/8 ‘s Taken by Calvin Alderson

Congratulations Calvin Alderson! The deer won first place in the US 96.3′s Big Buck Bounty and will be displayed at the upcoming 2012 MS Wildlife Extravaganza in August. Watch for it!

Outdoor Photography Contest Enter Online Today!

Mel — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:59:59 +0000

New Contest – Now Online!

Deadline June 1, 2012! – NEW CONTEST!

In an effort to make this contest better and more accessible to all, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation is happy to announce we are now accepting entries electronically! Please follow the instructions online to upload your photos.

Youth ages 10 – 18 and adults are invited to submit photographs for entry no later than June 1, 2012. Participants must submit entries electronically. Overall winners will be announced Sunday, August 5, 2012 during the 26th Annual Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza at the Trade Mart in Jackson, MS.

The Craft of Photography Workshop

Mel — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:50:33 +0000

The Craft of Photography Workshop with Joe and Mary Ann McDonald

Saturday, April 28, 2012 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
MS Museum of Natural Science Rotwein Theater
Workshop Fee: $95 per person

Click Here for More Information

Please bring your own sack lunch. Drinks, coffee and snacks will be provided.

Click here to download the registration form.

If you are interested in receiving information on future photography workshops please email mstarnes@mswf.org with your complete mailing address and we will add you to the notification list.

25 Years in Africa Photography Presentation

Mel — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:30:45 +0000

Joe and Mary Ann McDonald
25 Years in Africa

Join Us

Friday, April 27, 2012 6:00 p.m.
MS Museum of Natural Science Rotwein Theater
Free to the Public

The presentation will start at 6:00 p.m. and is open to the public free of charge. Please R.S.V.P. via email to mstarnes@mswf.org if you plan to attend so that we will know how many to expect. Non-photographers and nature lovers are encouraged to attend this presentation. Click Here for more information.

For more information on Joe and Mary Ann McDonald visit their website at www.hoothollow.com.

February Feature

Mel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:43:39 +0000

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/

Congratulations 2011 Conservation Achievement Award Winners!

Mel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:55:51 +0000

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

Mel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:03:19 +0000

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