EDGEFIELD, SC — In recognition of orchestrating the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Wild about Turkeys workshop for educators, Lori Adams, of Boise, Idaho, received the National Wild Turkey Federation’s National Educator of the Year Award.
“I feel very fortunate that NWTF recognizes the value of teaching others about turkeys,” Adams said. “When I started learning about wild turkeys, I realized that there really isn’t a more fun animal to use as a tool to teach conservation education. We can cover life cycles, adaptations, habitat, wild and domestic, native and non-native. I appreciate that NWTF sees the value of the Idaho Fish and Game online class for teachers and I am honored to receive this award.”
Adams accepted the award at the NWTF’s 50he anniversary celebration during its 47rd NWTF annual convention and sports extravaganza, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
Wild about Turkeys is part of Project Idaho’s WILD program, an award-winning wildlife-focused conservation education program designed to help educators incorporate wildlife and conservation into their classrooms.
After attending a Project Wild National Conference, Adams attended a Wild about Turkeys session sponsored by the NWTF; she opened his eyes to the nurturing nature of wild turkeys as an educational tool. In 2008, the IDGF Wild about Turkeys Workshop was born.
Over the years, Adams and IDFG have organized six Wild about Turkeys workshops, which equates to 150 teachers sharing the enriching information with their students annually. The estimate of students who have received wild turkey lessons is in the thousands.
The workshop plan includes lessons that teach math, writing, geography, wild and domestic animals, habitat components, adaptations, and hunting. Shooting sports were also part of the workshop. All participants were able to fire a shotgun and try their hand at archery.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit, Adams helped put Wild about Turkeys into a virtual format, which received rave reviews from participants. Adams’ desire to empower teachers to share information about conservation and these unique birds in her classroom has never been stronger.
“Lori’s enthusiasm for spreading the word about conservation and wild turkeys is not only commendable, but has empowered teachers across Idaho to share the importance of the NWTF’s mission and how it intertwines with many aspects of our daily lives,” said Kurt, co-executive director of the NWTF. Dyroff said. “We are proud to honor Lori as a recipient of the 2023 Educator of the Year Award.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.
2023 is the 50th of the NWTF he anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50 he anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Find out how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.
