Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009 - 23

Chapter of the NWTF for “Thrills and Timber Ghosts,” published in the March 2007 issue. The PGC resumed, after a 7-year hiatus, with big game measuring sessions, holding scoring sessions in all six regions of the state in June. Hunters who took the top trophies during the recent scoring session period were recognized at an awards banquet in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writer’s Association’s fall conference in September. Game News staff coordinate Pennsylvania’s Big Game Scoring Program. In addition to the magazine, a host of other brochures and publications, including the annual regulation digest, are produced by Game News staff. The Game Commission continues to offer a wide variety of news releases and features stories about wildlife, hunting and trapping to the news media and public. In January 2007, the Game Commission began offering TV news stations weekly 1-minute programs called “Pennsylvania Wildlife Moments.” These segments covered a range of topics from a variety of wildlife found in our state to hunting safety tips to wildlife habitat programs. In June 2008, the agency launched a partnership with Radio PA to offer daily (Monday through Friday) radio segments called “Outdoors PA with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.” Internet sales transactions of Game Commission products amounted to 8,745 during the 2007-08 fiscal year, and counter sales totaled 42,149. Total sales during the fiscal year were $400,235 ($476,580 during the 2006-07 fiscal year). In addition, sales recorded at the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show amounted to $26,557. Donations to the agency, after creating a section on the website to do so four years ago, amounted to $18,900 during the fiscal year, and contributions continue to grow. Starting this February, orders will be taken for the third year of the 5-year turkey call series and upland game bird knife series, with patches and prints. The first and second years of these items were a huge success. New items include: the Birds of PA guide book, written by Franklin Haas and Roger Burrows; a poster, “Connect with Wildlife;” and bumper stickers, “Proud to be a PA Hunter,” and “Proud Parent of a New Hunter.” All VHS cooking videos are now available on two separate DVDs; each DVD has three cooking series. Conservation education continues to develop new resources and opportunities for teachers and students to explore the diversity of wildlife in Pennsylvania. The Commission is pleased to announce the completion of “Pennsylvania Biodiversity,” a curriculum supplement for middle and high school teachers. Pennsylvania Biodiversity offers background information and hands-on activities designed to help teachers and students discover the diversity of wild species in our state, explore interconnections among wildlife, culture, economics and the environment, and examine local and global issues relating to biodiversity. Pennsylvania Biodiversity helps address state standards and is available through workshops or direct purchase. Wildlife Education Specialists and Supervisors, along with Information and Education Specialists and WCOs, continue to offer teacher training workshops and student programming throughout the state. Student programs vary with grade level and classroom curriculum. Programs are designed to complement classroom activities and to help teachers address Pennsylvania’s Environment and Ecology Standards. In addition to classroom programming, the Commission continues to develop and conduct the wildlife station at the county and state Envirothons. This year, the state Envirothon was held at the Ag Progress Days Complex at Penn State University in State College. Project WILD, a national conservation education program sponsored by the PGC, remains strong in our state. This year more than 1,600 educators participated in basic JANUARY 2009 23

Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2009