Kathleen Snyder, Black Hills Audubon President, and Matthew Landers, Environmental Educator Award recipient
Bonnie Wood, BHAS Volunteer of 2024, Helen Wheatley, Conservationist of 2024, and Sally Nole, BHAS Volunteer of 2024
Black Hills Audubon recently recognized some outstanding local volunteers who work for environmental causes. These wonderful people were celebrated at our Annual Picnic in Olympia’s Squaxin Park on June 23rd.
Receiving the Jack Davis Conservationist Award of 2024 was Helen Wheatley. Helen served on the Thurston County Planning Commission, where she was the principal developer of the minority report on the Shoreline Master Plan Update. This report influenced the deliberations of the Board of County Commissioners. Helen brought to the Planning Commission transparency and professional standards, as well as rigorous and responsible functioning. She also served as board president of the watchdog group Heart of America Northwest.
Matthew Landers received the Dave McNett Environmental Educator Award of 2024. Matthew is a fifth grade teacher at Pleasant Glade Elementary School in North Thurston School District. Matthew is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and to empowering children to make a difference in conservation issues. Highlights of his environmental efforts include starting a school composting program, persuading his school to use metal meal utensils instead of single use plastic ones, and sponsoring an environmental club for 4th and 5th grade students at his school. Through these and many other actions, students learn from Matthew that by working together, they can have an impact.
Also receiving recognition as our BHAS Volunteers of the Year were Sally Nole and Bonnie Wood for their many years of active volunteer participation in Black Hills Audubon. Sally organized the Audubon annual dinner for years and currently chairs the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee; Bonnie was our Field Trip coordinator for years, as well as handling BHAS incoming messages and portions of the website.
We are so fortunate to have these outstanding volunteers in our organization and in our community. Congratulations to all of them!
Photos by Rachel Hudson.
