Southern Maryland Audubon has honored four of its most active volunteers with it’s “President’s Award” for exceptional service to birds and our chapter.
The award recipients are (from left in photo): Barbara Hill, chapter secretary and program chair; Annette Cook, education and scholarship chair; Kaelyn Stewart, nature journaling leader; and Dean Newman, raptor and grassland birds conservation co-chair.
The awards were presented at Southern Maryland Audubon’s annual meeting and potluck picnic at Maxwell Hall in Hughesville, MD on Sunday, June 9.
“These four leaders are helping Southern Maryland Audubon improve and expand our outreach in every one of our bird protection and education outreach missions,” said Molly Moore, president of Southern Maryland Audubon. “They are taking us new places and leading us into the future.”
In addition to maintaining the historical records of the chapter, Barbara Hill coordinates the popular monthly Zoom bird and nature lectures hosted by the chapter. She already has an exciting line-up of guest speakers scheduled for our 2024-25 season that begins in September. She is also a Charles County Master Gardener and brings her broad gardening knowledge to our Audubon flock.
Annette Cook coordinate’s the chapter’s annual competition for three scholarships to National Audubon’s nature camp at Hog Island, Maine. Due to Annette’s outreach, the chapter received more applications for the camps this year than ever—making the selection even more difficult! Annette also organizes the chapter’s many outreach and education events and especially enjoys teaching the love of birds and nature to youngsters.
Kaelyn Stewart, a recent graduate of North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry in Waldorf, launched our very popular nature journaling workshops after returning from the Hog Island camp last summer where she was our teen scholarship winner. Kaelyn will be attending Cornell University on a full scholarship in the fall to study animal science. Congratulations Kaelyn!
Dean Newman heads our program teaching farmers how best to manage their land to support vulnerable grasslands birds including the Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow. Dean also is one of our most active bird trip leaders and specializes in launching new and first-time birders into the birding world with skill, patience and humor. He is also a professional photographer who travels the world photographing wildlife and recounting hilarious stories about his adventures.
(Photo by Molly Moore)