CAMBRIDGE — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized volunteers at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge at their annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on May 8. Held under the pavilion at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park, volunteers were recognized for the remarkable contributions they have made to the refuge during 2023.

Volunteers at Blackwater NWR are involved in everything from staffing the Visitor Center and maintaining the butterfly garden, to leading birding tours, surveying winter waterfowl, monitoring nest boxes, and building accessible hunt blinds. During 2023, 145 volunteers contributed 9,219 hours of volunteer service to the refuge. 

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Ellie Ludvigsen of Cambridge. Ms. Ludvigsen was instrumental in getting the Roving Refuge Volunteer program up and running, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience on the refuge.

These ambassadors answer questions, share information about refuge wildlife, rules and regulations, and the Friends of Blackwater. Every month these ambassadors engage with hundreds of visitors on the refuge, improving the visitor experience. In addition, Ms. Ludvigsen leads environmental education programs, staffs the front desk, and assists with special events throughout the year.

Awards were also presented to volunteers reaching key milestones in their service to Blackwater NWR. Volunteers reaching milestones in the number of hours contributed to the refuge since they began volunteering include: Royce Ball, Maureen Long, Joe Opalski, Eddie Robinson, Greg Schenk, and David Stevens (50 hours); Jane Bowers, Marybeth Daniels, Steve Huettner, Mark Jenkins, Bob Long, Sr., Jake Peregrim, Kert Scheele, Julie Schoch, Lauren Taylor and Robin Weaver (100 hours); Wade Bradford, Phyllis Como, Rachel Dawson, Bob Long, Karl Trentler, Kim Trentler, and Scott Warner (250 hours); Ruth Jensen, John Morgan, Bob Quinn, Kathy Slaughter and Peter Smithson (500 hours); Jim Van Ness (750 hours); Terry Allen, Art Smith, and Steve Funderburk (1,000 hours); Ellie Ludvigsen and June Middleton (1,500 hours); Mary-Beth Goll and Karl McGovern (2,000 hours); Lynda Hicken and Ron Ketter (2,500 hours); and Harry Heckathorn (3,000 hours).

Special recognition was also given to volunteers reaching milestones in the number of years they have been volunteering at Blackwater NWR. Those volunteers include: Herb Floyd, Martha Foulon-Tonat, Steve Funderburk, Sharon Guenther, Doug Irvin, Charles Maguire, Bill Maiden, Rita Mhley, Kathy Ogle, Bob Quinn, Julie Schoch, Merrill Schuetz, Kim Trentler, Karl Trentler, Daniel Trentler, and Hanna Whitbeck (5 years); and Janet Kerr, Jane Sebring, and Joseph Soares (10 years). 

Terry Allen was recognized for leading birding tours at Blackwater NWR for 40 years.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering at Blackwater NWR, please call 410-228-2677.