Outdoor News, Inc., Awards Minnesota Waterfowl Association the 2014 Outdoor Leaders Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2014

(Plymouth, Minn.) — Outdoor News, Inc., publisher of locally written fishing and hunting outdoor newspapers in seven Great Lake states, has named the Minnesota Waterfowl Association its recipient for the 2014 Outdoor Leaders Award. The award announcement occurred at Game Fair in Ramsey, Minn., on Saturday, August 9^th. Game Fair is the largest annual gathering of sportsmen, outdoors organization, and hunting-related businesses in Minnesota.

In presenting the award to MWA President Mark McNamara, Outdoor News Associate Editor Joe Albert cited the organization’s 26-year legacy of encouraging youth ages 13-15 to participate in a week-long waterfowling experience called Woodie Camp. “Outdoor News recognizes the level of access and depth of experience that youth are exposed to through Woodie Camp,” Albert said. McNamara elaborated by telling the audience, “Woodie campers learn valuable lessons about conservation, wetland restoration, waterfowl protection, duck and goose calling, decoy care and placement, and ethical hunting skills.”

The Minnesota Waterfowl Association coordinates and sponsors the participating youth involved in the week-long summer camp. Brad Nylin, a Woodie Camp staff member and executive director of the MWA, related the mission behind this youth-orientated program when he said, “The name of the game is to introduce young people to waterfowling. When they leave camp each year, you see that we’ve created duck hunters.”

The success of Woodie Camp, and a second course for camp alumni called Advanced Woodie Camp (an application of skills learned in an actual hunting scenario) has served as a model for other states looking to bring waterfowling experiences to young people, according to Nylin. Organizations from Michigan to South Carolina have visited Woodie Camp to try and emulate the program in their own states.

In addition to a plaque, Woodie Camp received a $500 donation from Minnesota Outdoor News. Read complete coverage of the award and the MWA programs in the August 15, 2014, edition (pages 28 and 29) of Minnesota Outdoor News.

About Outdoor News, Inc.: Outdoor News provides in-depth coverage of hunting and shooting sports, fishing, archery, conservation and outdoor activities including analysis of state and national outdoor agencies, local lake maps and fishing reports, expert tips and relevant gear profiles. Robert A. Drieslein is the president of the privately held company established in 1968. With regional editors, columnists and sales representatives in seven states, Outdoor News Inc. publishes newspapers in Minnesota 52 times a year and in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York 26 times a year. Outdoor News Inc. newspapers are subscription based mail periodicals with a verified circulation of over a quarter million including newsstand copies. New York Outdoors News is available through digital subscription as well. For more information about Outdoor News, Inc, visit www.outdoornews.com  or call (800) 535-5191