Education and Outreach: NWTF Staff Spotlight Series

Through programs like JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen, the NWTF provides a positive impact on hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts. Within the vast network of individuals dedicated to this movement, Mandy Harling and Morgan Register are essential members of the NWTF Outreach and Education team. The NWTF team has paved the way for countless individuals to embark on transformative journeys in hunting and the outdoors.

Mandy Harling—National Director of Education and Outreach

Mandy Harling, the National Director of Education and Outreach at the NWTF leads the integration of recruitment, retention and reactivation, and is responsible for the organization’s national education and outreach efforts.

“During my 20 years at NWTF I've worked to train and empower a network of grassroots volunteers to work with state and federal agencies and partners across the country to pass on the traditions of safe, ethical hunting and to teach conservation principles,” Harling said. “I represent NWTF on national workgroups including the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports assessment group review team.”

Harling’s connection to hunting, fishing, and conservation wasn't inherited through familial traditions; instead, it blossomed through love and shared experiences with her husband. Their adventures ignited a passion that would shape her life profoundly. Her fervor for nature led her to make a remarkable career shift, leaving behind a role in human resources to embrace a position as the JAKES program coordinator at the NWTF. Here, she found her calling fostering a love for nature in youth, providing them opportunities to experience the outdoors. Harling’s role has now expanded, with her outreach now encompassing diverse audiences.

“I've served in various roles at NWTF over the years, always within the Outreach and Education umbrella,” Harling said. “The thing I love the most is working with our volunteers who continue to inspire me. I'm so thankful my husband invited me to go hunting and shooting with him, I've literally made a career out of that invitation. That's why it’s so important that we each pass on our hunting heritage, you never know how it will impact someone. We are in the business of changing lives!”

Harling’s path wasn't devoid of obstacles. In a field historically dominated by men, she often found herself as the lone female voice, navigating rooms where she was the youngest and sometimes the only woman present. Despite moments of intimidation, she embraced each experience as an opportunity for growth, embodying resilience and a thirst for knowledge.

Crucial to her journey was the mentorship she received, notably under the guidance of leaders like Becky Humphries, whose mentorship nurtured Harling’s leadership skills and instilled in her the ethos of servant leadership. Today, Harling carries forward this legacy, extending support and guidance to women carving their paths in conservation.

“My advice to other women who are interested in a career in conservation or the outdoors is to show up, listen, learn, be courageous, do things that scare you and push you out of your comfort zone, and most importantly, find a mentor,” Harling said. “The natural world is too good to keep to yourself, find a career that you are passionate about, you won't regret it!”

As hunting traditions and the outdoors have become integral parts of Harling's life, she looks forward to contributing to a vibrant future in conservation. Alongside her husband, they aim to instill a love for nature in their children as they grow up immersed in outdoor experiences.

“My aspirations are for NWTF and our partners to work together to make a broader impact on the future as it pertains to preserving our hunting heritage and conserving our natural resources,” Harling said. “I want hunters and non-hunters alike to support hunting and shooting sports because they are truly life-changing. Twenty years from now, I hope I'm in the woods looking for tracks and hunting with my grandchildren. How cool would that be?”

Morgan Register—National R3 and Relevancy Coordinator

As the R3 and Relevancy Coordinator for the NWTF, Morgan Register aids in organizational-wide efforts toward the recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) for hunting and shooting sports. Additionally, her role encompasses aligning research and needs in R3 efforts with organizational objectives, as well as facilitating communication and resource development for volunteers and staff.

Register’s journey into conservation and outdoor education was rooted in the rural landscapes of central North Carolina, where spending time outdoors was not just a pastime, but a way of life. Surrounded by individuals who emphasized the importance of stewarding the land for conservation, Register’s passion for preserving the natural world became a forefront priority as she navigated her career path.

“My passion really came from the recognized need for education in the importance of conservation on our landscapes, public and private lands, and the impact our growing population has on the lands we love so much,” Register said. “Seeing a lot of the lands I grew up enjoying begin to see the urban sprawl effects lead me to asking a lot of questions of where is the balance or next steps for wildlife in these situations? Through these questions I learned the impact and contributions hunting and shooting sports have on funding conservation.”

Throughout her career, Register has faced the challenge of navigating the variability of position types and locations within the conservation field. However, her willingness to embrace new opportunities and explore unfamiliar territories has led her to discover a new sense of home, fostering a passion for both professional and personal exploration.

“Positions are available in the areas where the conservation work needs to be done, not necessarily where I lived when I was starting my career,” Register said. “Leaving family to take a leap of faith was not easy by any means, but it opened doors to new opportunities that eventually led me to finding 'home' to be far beyond one geographical location and find a passion for exploring new places for a living and personally more than I ever imagined!”

Looking ahead, Register aspires to see a shift in the interest and understanding of individual contributions to conservation. For anyone aspiring to make a difference in conservation and outdoor advocacy, she offers advice: seek mentorship, embrace challenges and remain steadfast in your pursuit of passion.

‘We each have unique giftings and skillsets to impact conservation efforts,” Register said. “Whether that be awareness, funding or making the conservation work come to life — we all can contribute.”