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Rod MacVicar has been challenging the minds of young students to
explore the oceans for more than 30 years. Milton McClaren,
Emeritus Professor of Education, Simon Fraser University summed
it up at a recent award presentation when he said that Rod is “one
of the top five science teachers in B.C.” Many former
students agree and credit their success to Rod’s enthusiasm to
learn more about marine life in the Pacific. But his enthusiasm
goes far beyond teaching science. Rod and his teaching partner
Ruth Foster established the Mossom Creek Salmon Hatchery in Port
Moody nearly three decades ago. He also took hundreds of
students to the ocean in his own boats, an activity he continues
today. He has been active in the North American Marine
Educators Association, developed an on-line marine education
newspaper, and he has been active in local environmental issues
in Port Moody and Coquitlam.
In 2001 along Dave Harris owner of Reed Point Marina, Rod opened
the Reed Point Marine Education Centre. The Centre provides
hands-on learning of marine life using touch pools, observation
tanks, viewing chambers & microscopes. The Centre provides
programs for elementary school to university level students and
also serves as the office for the Pacific WildLife Foundation.
The centre also runs an awareness program for Reed Point boat
owners on safe oil disposal, low emission four-stroke engines
and best practices for boat maintenance.
Among his numerous awards, Rod has received
the Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Education in
Aquatic Science; the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in
Teaching Science, Technology & Mathematics; Kees Vermeer Award;
the Salmonid Enhancement Task Group's Award of Excellence and
the City of Port Moody Environmental Achievement Award.
Rod is also a Master Mariner.
For
Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Baldwin,
Director of Education
Roger
Tory Peterson Institute
311
Curtis Street
Jamestown, NY 14701
716-665-2473, ext. 228
www.rtpi.org
MacVicar
Honored by Roger Tory Peterson Institute

JAMESTOWN, NY - Rod MacVicar of
Port Moody, British Columbia, has been selected as one of three
recipients of the 2010 Blanche Hornbeck Award for Excellence in
Nature Education, given by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of
Natural History to honor those who exemplify the life mission
and work of the great nature educator, artist, writer and
photographer Roger Tory Peterson (1908-1996).
Starting in 1934 Peterson
introduced the world to simple, user-friendly handbooks - "field
guides" - for identifying birds and other natural subjects. The
millions of birdwatchers and other naturalists Peterson trained
through his books formed the backbone of the environmental
movement. His Field Guide to Birds is widely recognized
as one of the most important books of the 20th century.
Miss Blanche Hornbeck was
Peterson's seventh grade science teacher whom Peterson credited
with sparking his lifelong fascination with birds at the age of
11. The Institute's key role of providing nature education-based
professional development to teachers is based on Peterson's
belief in the power of teachers to influence the lives of
others.
The nature education work of
recipients of the Blanche Hornbeck Award must be place based,
fostering knowledge of and responsibility for the natural world
where teacher and/or students live, as well as outdoor based,
innovative, and current.
MacVicar is Director of Reed
Point Marine Education Centre and the Pacific WildLife
Foundation and was the co-founder of Mossom Creek Hatchery. He
is a 40-year veteran environmental educator and leader of
research projects involving fish and marine mammals, and
stewardship projects in which volunteers help restore habitat in
British Columbia's coastal marine environment, particularly
Vancouver Harbour. As a master mariner and teacher, MacVicar has
shared his love of the natural world directly with generations
of young people and also with teachers interested in sharing
nature with children.
In addition to MacVicar, the
Peterson Institute is honoring two other outstanding nature
educators with its Blanche Hornbeck Award: Rebecca Nystrom of
Jamestown, New York, who has shared her love of nature and
natural science with hundreds of college students and community
members through her courses and public programs for over three
decades; and Scott Pankratz of Missoula, Montana, co-founder and
director of Ecology Project International, a unique program that
partners local youth with research scientists working to protect
endangered species and ecosystems.
For more information about the
Peterson Institute's Nature Educator Recognition Program, or to
nominate someone for its 2011 awards, contact the Director of
Education, 716-665-2473, ext. 228 or mbaldwin@rtpi.org. |