The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded long-time hunter safety instructor Darwin Roosa of Albany County with DEC’s Wayne W. Jones Award of Excellence. The award recognizes Roosa’s outstanding contribution as a volunteer instructor with DEC’s Hunter Safety Program.
“Darwin has dedicated his professional and personal life to teaching people about the natural world and fostering a conservation ethic,” DEC Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Jacqueline Lendrum said. “Not only has he taught safety and ethics to hundreds of new hunters, but there is also a generation of hunter education instructors that got their start in one of Darwin’s courses or were positively influenced by having the chance to work with him. DEC is thrilled to announce Darwin as the recipient of the Wayne W. Jones Award of Excellence.”
All first-time hunters, bowhunters, and trappers must pass one or more courses before receiving a hunting license in New York State. Trained instructors certified by DEC teach safe and responsible outdoors practices while stressing the important role of hunters and trappers in conservation. Volunteer instructors provide invaluable support to New York State’s Hunter Education Program (HEP).
Raised in Northville, Fulton County, Roosa was always passionate about outdoor activities. As an accomplished shooting sports athlete, he won multiple medals in the biathlon at the Empire State Games and continues to be involved in the sport into his 70s.
Roosa is lead instructor for courses taught at Helderberg Rod and Gun Club and certified hundreds of new hunters during several decades in this role. He made recruiting and retaining instructors a primary focus of his involvement in the HEP. He recruits a diverse group of instructors in each in-person course, ensuring that students receive outstanding training in safety, ethics, and conservation, and experience the diversity of values and perspectives of mentors in the hunting community. In addition, Roosa strives to bring in apprentices or newly certified instructors to each course to help them develop the skills and experience necessary for the program to evolve.
Roosa is involved in public and environmental education in both his professional and personal life. He enjoyed many summers as a DEC environmental camp counselor and taught earth science and biology in New York State schools before holding several environmental education positions with DEC. He went on to work in communications and training at the New York State Office of Employee Relations and continued involvement with education and training in his retirement through the HEP, Albany Pine Bush Preserve, and other ventures.
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