Join us in celebrating our volunteers!
September is Volunteer Appreciation Month at the Coalition! Whether our volunteers are checking wildlife cameras, managing our wildlife photo database, sharing their artwork and photographs with us, or joining us on restoration projects and roadkill surveys, we appreciate their help immensely – they are an essential part of our team. We’d like to recognize a few individuals from this year in particular:
Volunteer of the Year
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
in as many varied and worthy ways as there are species in the desert.
Andres Martinez
Exceptional Desert Volunteer Award
In recognition of exceptional and outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection. Like the sunrise, we admire you with gratitude, awe, and amazement.
Harold Wood, Pat & Henry Miller, Susan Husband, Terry Minks, Margie O’Hare, Elijah Ramirez, Genevieve Bock, Joanne Devereaux. John Finkelstein, Keith Kleber, Virgil Swadley, Jane Hunter.
Fifth Season in the Desert Award
In recognition of 5 years of volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection, an achievement as welcome to desert dwellers as the monsoon season that thunders in after the hot, dry summer.
Jane “Middy” Henke
Crepuscular Bobcat Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection, exceeding 50 hours of time and skill in the last year, as active as a bobcat roaming morning, noon, and night.
Keith Kleber, Virgil Swadley, Reid Park Zoo Crew
Harris’s Hawk Teamwork Award
In recognition of seamless volunteer teamwork in service of Sonoran Desert protection, an achievement as outstanding as a group Harris’s hawks cooperatively back-standing one on top of the other.
Reid Park Zoo Crew, John & Cherry Sand, Izetta Feeny, Lois Richardson, Aimee Alvira
Carolyn Campbell Pygmy Owl Advocate Award
In recognition of exceptional volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
advocating for smart decision-making, with all the fierce bravery and passion of the desert’s biggest tiny owl.
Carolyn Campbell and Chris McVie, Leslie Epperson
Javelina Squadron Leader Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
passing on your knowledge as a mentor and instructor, like the intrepid leader of a squadron of javelina.
Diana Holmes, Frank Staub
Bighorn Sheep Pathfinder Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
traversing over rough terrain, changing elevations, and long distances off-trail to reach disparate sites and scout new locations, sometimes crossing mountain ranges like a bighorn setting off on a long journey.
Kyle Rohlfing
Innovative Coyote Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
taking initiative to offer new techniques, data, and ideas to further our conservation efforts.
Carianne Funicelli, Jane Hunter, Harold Maxwell, Christopher “Dobie” Dobrzenski, Dominika Heusinkveld
Spadefoot Patience Award
In recognition of steadfast volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
maintaining the patience of an estivating spadefoot waiting to leap into action once I finally get back to you.
Dave Barker, Andrew Gourevitch
We are holding a Volunteer Appreciation Event at Catalina State Park on September 28th, with an option to camp-out and hike the next day! For more information and to RSVP click here
Artwork by Jonni Zeman