CLEARFIELD – Reps from the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship presented a DuBois man with his 2021 Champion of the PA Wilds Award at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioners’ meeting.
The awards are typically given at the PA Wilds Center’s annual dinner, but this year’s in-person dinner, originally planned for Nov. 4, was cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 risks and concerns.
Instead, this year’s Champion Awards are being distributed to winners in small groups and celebrated online to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19.
“Each year, we recognize outstanding individuals who exemplify the great work being done across our region,” LaKeshia Knarr, entrepreneurial ecosystem director, PA Wilds Center, said.
Their work develops nature tourism and the outdoor recreation economy in a way that creates jobs, diversifies local economies, inspires stewardship and improves quality of life, she said.
Among this year’s Champions of the PA Wilds was Don Schmidt of DuBois, Clearfield County, and the recipient of the center’s Conservation Stewardship Award.
A retired mechanical engineer, Schmidt is a long-time volunteer for conservation organizations, such as Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat and others.
His work ranges from spending a day in the Quehanna Wilds with a small group replacing and cleaning wood duck and bluebird boxes on frozen marshes to participating in highway litter cleanups.
Schmidt also maintains an American Chestnut planting site that was done in 2014. Twice a year, he trims the overgrowth within the 1-1/4-acre site that has 525 original trees.
The site is maintained entirely by weed trimmer as the terrain is far too rough to trim by any other means. He personally supplies the fuel for the trimmers and pays for all the other supplies.
“We’re not just here to recognize your accomplishments, but also the devotion with which you carry them out,” said Nick Hoffman, PA Wilds Center board member.
“It’s not just something you’re good at and love – the environment. It’s the essence of citizenship and making a difference. We’re so very appreciative and grateful for that.”
Schmidt was also presented with citations of recognition from the offices of State Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. and State Rep. Mike Armanini.
Schmidt accepted his awards with honor, “not necessarily as an individual but as a small link in the chain of a whole group of volunteers.”
He said there’s still a lot more environmental conservation work to be done in the area and volunteers are greatly needed to carry out this important work.