I have been enjoying the weather as of late. It seems to be a proper August to me thus far.

Sweltering hot and humid afternoons are coupled with foggy and humid mornings.

[View with PicLens]

“We are extremely pleased with the national scope and reach of our new education grantees,” said RBFF Education Task Force Chairman Charles Holmes. “The Education Task Force is thrilled about growing RBFF’s education grants program and getting kids and their families out on the water to experience all the wonderful hands-on opportunities that the new grant recipients are offering.”

Take Me Fishing is a national initiative to grow participation for recreational boating and fishing for youth ages 6-15.  The program as presented by NRPA and RBFF allows local agencies an opportunity to reconnect kids with the outdoors, provide education on environmental conservation and highlight the benefits of angling and boating as a lifetime sport.

Grant award winners for the ‘Take Me Fishing’ program were selected based on criteria such as past program participation, demonstrated outcomes that engage youth in outdoor programs, demonstrated ability to provide an inclusive program, and ability to deliver resources to underserved populations within the community.  Each agency that was selected will receive resources to benefit the program.

“I am very excited to introduce youth anglers to the Upper Mississippi River through fishing and canoeing,” said Heath Sershen, NEC’s eco-tourism planner. “With this grant we intend to make access to river based activity participation less difficult through community partnerships and programs.”

Sershen has previously worked as an independent trout guide in the Driftless Region and is seeking a Master’s degree in Outdoor Education from Winona State University.  He is working closely with Bucky Flores, NEC’s Associate Director of Program Development, to administer the proper use of the grant award.

“Throughout my association with Heath, I have known him to be an avid fisherperson who has a passion for sharing his vast amount of knowledge about the subject,” says Dr. Lorene Olson, Winona State University Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation Chair.  “I believe all of Heath’s professors in the Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation Department at Winona State University would concur with my assessment of Heath’s love of fishing and his desire to introduce others to this leisure pursuit. We sometimes lightheartedly joke with Heath that he can find a way to connect fishing with every class project and/or assignment. “

Sershen has developed and implemented programs that introduced hundreds of Winona State students to fly angling.  He has also been a volunteer with Project Get Outdoors, which engages at risk and underprivileged youth with the outdoors.  He says that one of his greatest accomplishments is providing canoes and paddle routes for over 100 paddlers in one day at Winona’s Prairie Island boat launch.

“What can I say?  I have a passion for the outdoors and fishing that runs deep.  I understand that there are barriers to the outdoors that limit participation to outdoors activities.  This understanding allows me to identify those barriers in the community and to find ways to engage and include participants that may have otherwise never recognized the Mississippi River as a leisure resource,” says Sershen.  “I love guiding strangers to nature based discoveries.”

Take me Fishing programs through the NEC will begin this fall.  For more information contact Heath Sershen, heath@nationaleaglecenter.org, 651-565-4989, or visit the NEC on the web, www.nationaleaglecenter.org.

The
National Eagle Center (NEC), Wabasha, Minn., has been chosen to be a recipient
of a $5000 2011 Take Me Fishing grant. 
The grant award was received through the National Recreation and Park
Association (NRPA) in partnership with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF).

“We
are extremely pleased with the national scope and reach of our new education
grantees,” said RBFF Education Task Force Chairman Charles Holmes. “The
Education Task Force is thrilled about growing RBFF’s education grants program
and getting kids and their families out on the water to experience all the
wonderful hands-on opportunities that the new grant recipients are offering.”



Take
Me Fishing is a national initiative to grow participation for recreational
boating and fishing for youth ages 6-15.  The program as presented by NRPA
and RBFF allows local agencies an opportunity to reconnect kids with the
outdoors, provide education on environmental conservation and highlight the
benefits of angling and boating as a lifetime sport.

Grant
award winners for the ‘Take Me Fishing’ program were selected based on criteria
such as past program participation, demonstrated outcomes that engage youth in
outdoor programs, demonstrated ability to provide an inclusive program, and
ability to deliver resources to underserved populations within the
community.  Each agency that was selected will receive resources to
benefit the program.

“I
am very excited to introduce youth anglers to the Upper Mississippi River
through fishing and canoeing,” said Heath Sershen, NEC’s eco-tourism planner.
“With this grant we intend to make access to river based activity participation
less difficult through community partnerships and programs.”

-font-family:”Trebuchet MS”;color:#262626″ mce_style=”mso-bidi-font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:”Trebuchet MS”;color:#262626″>Sershen
has previously worked as an independent trout guide in the Driftless Region and
is seeking a Master’s degree in Outdoor Education from Winona State University.  He is working closely with Bucky Flores,
NEC’s Associate Director of Program Development, to administer the proper use
of the grant award.

 “Throughout my association
with Heath, I have known him to be an avid fisherperson who has a passion for
sharing his vast amount of knowledge about the subject,” says Dr. Lorene Olson,
Winona State University Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation
Chair.  “I believe all of Heath’s
professors in the Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation Department at
Winona State University would concur with my assessment of Heath’s love of
fishing and his desire to introduce others to this leisure pursuit. We sometimes
lightheartedly joke with Heath that he can find a way to connect fishing with
every class project and/or assignment. “

Sershen has developed and
implemented programs that introduced hundreds of Winona State students to fly
angling.  He has also been a volunteer
with Project Get Outdoors, which engages at risk and underprivileged youth with
the outdoors.  He says that one of
his greatest accomplishments is providing canoes and paddle routes for over 100
paddlers in one day at Winona’s Prairie Island boat launch.

“What can I say?  I have a passion for the outdoors and
fishing that runs deep.  I
understand that there are barriers to the outdoors that limit participation to
outdoors activities.  This
understanding allows me to identify those barriers in the community and to find
ways to engage and include participants that may have otherwise never
recognized the Mississippi River as a leisure resource,” says Sershen.  “I love guiding strangers to nature
based discoveries.”

Take me Fishing programs
through the NEC will begin this fall. 
For more information contact Heath Sershen, heath@nationaleaglecenter.org, 651-565-4989, or visit
the NEC on the web, www.nationaleaglecenter.org.

Bucky with Wasaka, photo courtesy PostBulletin.com

Harriet and Angel had a busy week 7/5-7/11. On Wednesday Harriet spent the evening in support and honor of Patrick Zeigler, his fiance Jessica, their friends and family. Patrick continues his recovery from the Ft. Hood shooting and they wanted to thank the community for support shown to them. Talk about humility, a wounded soldier saying thanks. The thanks is to you Patrick, Jessica. It was an emotional night as Jessica thanked the supporters including the parents of LCPL Curtis Swenson, KIA April 2010. Jessica and Curtis both graduated from Mayo high school. Senator David Senjem read a letter from Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and several organizations including the Rochester Elks Lodge, the Canadian Honker, Patriot Guard and other veteran groups were on hand. It was a powerful evening. Harriet was proud to show her support for these individuals and their families. Thanks to all who made this event possible.To learn more about Patrick and Jessica visit Jessica’s blog http://patrickjessica.blogspot.com/ .

Harriet’s support of active military and veterans continued in Mazzeppa on Thursday 7/8 in support of the Mazzeppa Honor Guards field of flags honoring ceremony. It was a beautiful sight for Harriet to see. Several hundred supporters gathered and over two hundred flags were displayed waving proudly before her. Awesome! The Mazzeppa Honor Guard should be proud of their efforts and the NEC is proud to have worked with them over the years. Last March during Soar With The Eagles several members spent the day at the NEC. Thanks for all that you do Mazeppa Honor Guard.

On Saturday 7/10 Angel got to do her part to support and honor Warren Throndson. Warren served as part of the “Greatest Generation” as a Merchant Marine in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Angel demonstrated respect throughout the ceremony seeming to sense the significance of the event. Angel was honored to show her support to Warren and the Throndson family who carry the values Warren instilled in them through their generosity and unending community support. Family and friends were words used throughout the service and Angel was honored to support the Throndson family. Warren Throndson obituary

On June 26th, Was’aka got his chance to show his support for Veterans at the 10th Anniversary of the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial located in Rochester, Minnesota. To learn more about this wonderful memorial visit them at www.soldiersfieldmemorial.org At the memorial was also the traveling tomb of the unknown soldier. A good crowd was in attendance and Was’aka got to spread his wings in support of our nations veterans and to celebrate the anniversary of the memorial. To see Was’aka at work visit www.postbulletin.com/entertainment/photo_gallery/image.asp?id=48&imageid=101636

CulturalCorner: Eagle lands at SDSP;Addressing Juvenile DMC issue Cultural Corner: Eagle lands at SDSP; Addressing Juvenile DMC issue
American Bald Eagle makes visit to South Dakota State Penitentiary American Bald Eagle makes visit to South Dakota State Penitentiary
Staff and inmates at the South Dakota State Pen- itentiary got up close and personal with the national bird June 21st.
Angel, an American Bald Eagle, and two handlers from the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN were taken around the prison housing units in the Jameson Annex and the Penitentiary as well as the recreation yard.
Staff and inmates were allowed to take pictures with Angel.
This was the first time that Angel had visited a prison.
Angel was found injured in Wisconsin and brought to the NEC prior to age 1.
Tribal Liaisons List Tribal Liaisons List
The list of Tribal Liaisons working with the DOC as of May 2010:
Shirley Crane-Lower Brule
Robin Lebeau Turning Heart- Cheyenne River
Belinda Joe-Crow Creek
Michelle Red Earth- Flandreau Santee
Michelle Tyon-Oglala Sioux
Ricky Grey Grass-Oglala Sioux
Mattie High Pipe-Rosebud
Jake & Myrna Thompson- Sisseton Wahpeton
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Yankton Sioux Tribe do not currently have Tribal Liaisons assigned.