WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 8, 2021) –
The National Wildlife Refuge Association’s annual Refuge Awards will be presented by the host and producer of the award-winning program: Urban American Outdoors, Mr. Wayne Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard is an active member of the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s board of directors.
Mr. Hubbard is the host and producer of Urban American Outdoors, which is the first multicultural outdoor TV show in the country, which has been on air weekly since 2003. Growing up in a family of active outdoorsmen; Wayne quickly came to appreciate wildlife and outdoor adventures. Over half of the outdoor shows, he watched on TV took him on adventures he could only be a part of from his television chair. The lavish excursions and extravagant safaris depicted by most shows would be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for him and the average viewer. Wayne found it hard to identify with the 500 plus outdoor sporting shows now airing nationally. Hubbard believed the average urban sportsman should have a show he could relate to; one that depicted urban sportsmen experiencing the excitement of affordable outdoor recreation from a different perspective. With his program, he could help connect others like him back to nature with images that had never been seen in broadcast or print. He believes being in nature heals mind, body & soul.
All of the 2021 National Wildlife Refuge Association Refuge Awards winners will be celebrated at a reception and dinner on November 16th, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The event will also be streamed live on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube allowing everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of the awardees.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Refuge Awards, presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association. This year’s award recipients are:
Paul Kroegel Refuge Manager of the Year: Steve Berendzen, Arctic NWR (AK)
Refuge Employee of the Year: Natalie Fath, National Elk Refuge (WY)
Molly Krival Refuge Friends Group of the Year: Friends of St Marks Wildlife Refuge (FL)
Refuge Volunteer of the Year: Mary Weiler and Kevin Weiler, Merritt Island NWR (FL)
Refuge Advocate of the Year: Jose Witt, Shaaron Netherton, Friends of Nevada Wilderness (NV)
Since 1994, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has honored the outstanding accomplishments by refuge managers, refuge employees, volunteers, Friends groups, and refuge advocates through our Refuge System Awards program. The National Wildlife Refuge System depends on the dedication of individuals and groups like this year’s award winners to manage, protect, promote, and enhance the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation.
For more information about https://www.refugeassociation.org/awards.
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As the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to protect, promote and enhance America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries.
For more information, visit www.refugeassociation.org or contact Courtney Lewis, National Wildlife Refuge Association, 202-577-3200.