Kruger Wins NWTF National Educator of the Year Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In recognition of exceptional efforts in providing educational opportunities that incorporate conservation and wildlife to her students, Angela Kruger of Lexington, South Carolina, received the National Wild Turkey Federation’s National Educator of the Year Award.
“Receiving the National Wild Turkey Federation Educator of the Year Award holds profound significance for me, as it signifies recognition for my dedication to imparting knowledge about wildlife conservation and fostering an appreciation for our hunting heritage,” Kruger said. “The NWTF's mission, centered on the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting traditions, resonates deeply with my values. It serves as a reminder that our natural resources are not only to be enjoyed but also responsibly managed for future generations. My passion for conservation education stems from a desire to instill in others a sense of responsibility toward the environment and wildlife, ensuring a sustainable future. In celebrating our hunting heritage, the NWTF not only promotes outdoor traditions but also advocates for ethical hunting practices, emphasizing the crucial role hunters play in maintaining ecological balance.”
Kruger accepted the award at the NWTF’s 48th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
Over the past two years, Kruger’s club at Beechwood Middle has been working on establishing an outdoor classroom and a nature trail. They began with a school gardening program to provide fresh vegetables for cafeteria lunches. The vegetable garden was so popular among the student body, they began to consider other outdoor learning opportunities and decided to create a true outdoor classroom using the forest on the school grounds to simulate an outdoors classroom in the form of a nature trail.
These projects are completely student-run and have provided an excellent opportunity to incorporate environmental sciences, conservation and wildlife into classroom activities and education programs. Students have even taken the knowledge and passion that they've gained and made presentations to the school board and the South Carolina Bar Association on ways to reduce waste in their cafeteria. Some of the ways that teachers at Beechwood have integrated these topics include wildlife observation and identification, native plant gardening, nature journaling and citizen science initiatives.
“Angela’s work to incorporate conservation and sustainability into her classroom, coupled with empowering her students with hands-on learning activities about conservation, is cultivating the next generation to care about our natural resources,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “We are proud to honor Angela as the 2024 Educator of the Year Award recipient.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.