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.