The Waccamaw (Myrtle Beach, SC), West Volusia (DeLeon Springs, FL), and Central Basin (Moses Lake, WA) Audubon chapters each have received one of the three, first NAS Rachel Carson awards ever bestowed. The NAS Rachel Carson Advocate, Chapter of the Year, and Next Generation awards recognize outstanding efforts among chapters involved in Audubon's National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Campaign, launched in October, 1996. More than 50 chapters nationwide currently participate in the Campaign's Audubon Refuge Keepers (ARK) program; members provide volunteer work, advocacy and environmental education in support of refuges. The awards were presented at this year's biennial NAS Convention (July) in Colorado.

Waccamaw Audubon (SC) was awarded the Rachel Carson Advocate Award for the tremendous effort its members mounted on behalf of the Waccamaw NWR and its fragile Winyah Bay ecosystem. NAS President John Flicker noted, "Their...efforts did nothing less than help create a national wildlife refuge."

West Volusia Audubon (FL) received Chapter of the Year for the wooden wildlife observation tower it built last fall at the Lake Woodruff NWR near DeLeon Springs. Chapter members decided on the project in early May, '97. Incredibly, they raised more than $13,000 between late May and mid-September; the tower opened in December, '97. Self-focusing binoculars (360-degree pivot) were mounted on the platform this past April.

Central Basin Audubon (WA) received this year's Rachel Carson Next Generation Award for its environmental education efforts at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Chapter members designed and implemented a refuge field trip program for third graders. Over 500 students from the Othello and Moses Lake School Districts participated. Each student received an educational kit (designed by chapter member Jane Grant) upon arrival at the refuge.

Photo Caption: Central Basin AS (Moses Lake, WA) member James Clark and West Volusia AS (DeLeon Springs, FL) member Kathy Barnard stand with NAS President John Flicker (center), as the two accept Rachel Carson awards on behalf of their chapters at the NAS Convention in July. Photo Credit: Evan Hirsche

For More Info, Contact: Lora Wondolowski, NAS-DC.