URBAN CONSERVATION AWARD 2007
Ray Knoll
Ray Knoll owns 115 acres 32 of which are tillable, 2 houses sit on 4 acres and the rest is in woods. Ray is an advocate of green space preserved for quality of life and is actively working on preserving his 115 acres at this time.
As a young boy Ray’s dad taught him to hunt & fish; under his guidance he worked his way up to hunting by cleaning the rabbits his dad brought home and in 1941 he acquired his first rifle. His hunting dog, a beagle, is his pet. During this time period in his life (70 years) any one or two hour period he had free he would be squirrel hunting. Ray feels the vanishing wildlife habitat in Vanderburgh is astonishing and he wants to do his part to sustain the quality of life in his little part of the world. He loves wildlife and now feels it is time to give back by providing them a place to live and green space for the environment and humanity.
Ray started practicing law in November 1956 and actively practiced for 50 years. He started with a large firm and then went on his own. Ray’s dad attended school at the Evansville High School and was proud of Ray when he was the first one to attend college and went on to become a lawyer.
Ray has a daughter Laura and son-in-law Aaron Lamb who share his deep passion for wildlife . He wants them to be able to live on his property as long as they wish and then his dream would be for it to be permanent green space for the public to enjoy. He is a past member of Ducks Unlimited and presently a member of the National Wildlife Federation.
CONGRATULATIONS RAY!
Urban Conservation Award 2006
Wesselman Nature Society provides environmental education and outdoor recreation experiences designed to awaken the senses and enrich the lives of area residents and visitors. The Wesselman Nature Society is a 501c(3) not-for-profit, environmental organization. We were founded in 1973 for the purpose of protecting the nearly 200 acre tract in Evansville, Indiana now known as Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Today, the Society is responsible for the management and daily operations of Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, as well as our west side property the Howell Wetlands, and our the newest program, Canoe Evansville.
Canoe Evansville has become one of the leading experiential education programs in Vanderburgh County, teaching the public about the human impact on our local waterways. Because the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve relies heavily upon the biodiversity from the Pigeon Creek Wildlife Corridor, preserving these buffer zones and ensuring healthy wildlife in and out of the Nature Preserve is crucial.
The program has focused on several areas of waterway education including water quality, erosion control / soil conservation, economical / ecological history of Evansville through Pigeon Creek, and of course preservation of wildlife through habitat restoration. Unlike many of the programs of the Wesselman Nature Society, Canoe Evansville can focus on a different demographic reaching high school, general public, citizen groups, and a variation of socioeconomic groups that may not always get the same opportunities of environmental education as those who participate at Wesselman Nature Preserve or the Howell Wetlands.
In 2006, 8,398 people were reached about the Wesselman Nature Societies mission and education programs through Canoe Evansville event participation or volunteers. At least 965 participants experienced the on-water education programs (including 10 schools) and 325 of those were on Pigeon Creek, 241 were inner city water quality programs through the FOP camp – free to those children. At least 1500 people participated in our Pickin’ on the Pigeon trails day event that focuses on environmental education and local conservation efforts.
Canoe Evansville also organizes regular clean ups along Pigeon Creek and involves public citizens as well as local corporations. In one clean up this year, sponsored by Alcoa, just a few volunteers pulled out 780 lbs of recyclable metal and 800lbs of non recyclable trash, as well as donated $1,800.00 for waterway education program materials. We hope to triple that amount this year with the help of Living, Lands, and Waters as well as other local civic groups.
Not-for-profit organizations can not sustain their mission without passionate volunteers. Canoe Evansville can boast some of the most dedicated, hard working volunteers in the city. For those who are mesmerized by the living beauty of the Pigeon Creek and devoted to the ongoing renewal of health for generations to come, this organization brings those people together. You can contact Wesselman Nature Society to find out more about this program and the many other wonderful things that they have to offer. CONGRATULATIONS WESSELMAN NATURE SOCIETY, CANOE EVANSVILLE!