Feb 17, 2018 5 min read

A small group of outdoorsmen and women recently took on a project that would give an award to some local youngster that showed a caring attitude toward hunting, fishing and most importantly conservation. It would be called the George H. Block Conservation Scholarship. Since we had never tackled such a project, we weren’t sure just what to expect. After all, we might receive five applications or 50. And how difficult would it be to collect donations? Just getting the information and application to the public proved to be more difficult than we had thought.

I decided this week’s article should be devoted to the recipient, and those who helped me, as we really haven’t told that tale.

No worthwhile project can go without funding and I was surprised at the willingness of some to give money for this one. One donor even chased me down so as to help the cause. I feel that each one should be mentioned and thanked:

• Henry Arms – Lesleh Precision
• Sandy Roberts Taxidermy- Jimmy and Sandy Roberts
• Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsman’s Club
• Johnson’s Sporting Goods
• Lombardi Auto Body
• Raccoon Valley Sportsman’s Club
• James Dray
• Indian Springs Rod & Gun Club

Last week, I mentioned that we had a number of great entries, all of which made me think there is hope for our environment. There can be no losers in such an endeavor. One résumé stood out and that young lady, Elska Hoelsken, from Clinton and attends Burgettstown High School, was our recipient. Hats off to her parents and Holly Riley, who sponsored her from Burgettstown High School Guidance.

I thought that this week’s column should include some of Hoelsken’s entry as it was received by the committee.

“Throughout my life, I have had a passion for conservation of nature. Being the youngest member of the Chartiers Nature Conservancy at six months old, I was raised in a family that promoted environmental conscientiousness. During the summer of 2016, I volunteered at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, maintaining the grounds and learning about different plants along the way. This was just the beginning of the work I would do. This past spring, I volunteered at local Raccoon Creek State Park. There, I completed trail maintenance at the Wildflower Reserve and Frankfort Mineral Springs. During my junior year of high school, I was awarded the Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award for my initi ative, aim to conserve and exemplary science and writing grades. But the most considerable experience I had was my 2017 summer job.

“I worked for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the Student Conservation Association (SCA) Pittsburgh Outdoor Corps Crew. This job was heavily focused on environmental education. As an SCA crew member, I traveled to state parks up to an hour outside the Pittsburgh area where I worked on numerous projects. These projects included building a bridge at Jennings State Park; widening four miles of trail at Raccoon Creek State Park; inventorying over 1,500 trees in New Kensington and installing natural erosion control at Moraine State Park. Many of the skills these projects required, I did not initially have. Through hands-on-teaching, I learned how to lessen damage to the environment by conforming human wants or needs to liaise with nature. For example, I used already fallen trees to install a natural method of erosion control on trails and built a bridge around land formations instead of bulldozing through them. This exemplified the need for humans to compromise with nature instead of disregarding or destroying it.”

Elska goes on to tell us how she worked and learned throughout her SCA experience. I think, for me, it was her ending paragraph that really blew me away and told me this was my recipient.

“I believe you should look for a career in what you are passionate about, so work never feels like a chore,” she wrote.

“I always knew I would somehow be involved with conserving the environment or just living green in general, but it wasn’t until after the SCA, that I knew without a doubt I would be an environmental scientist. I have been accepted to Pennsylvania University’s College of Agricultural Science in which I will enroll at the University Park campus this fall. I am ecstatic for what my future holds and hope to continue conservation work for as long as I can.”

Her picture was with last week’s article but I felt we needed to go back and cover what it was that led her to that moment on that stage with all of us. For all those who submitted applications this year, if your age falls into the guidelines of under 18, and in Washington or Greene County, take on another task to add to your application for this year and re-enter. All others interested, entries are available through most of the area schools or contact Mike Weber 724-945-6707.

Win or lose, taking on a project in the field of conservation means the natural world around us wins. Isn’t that what it is all about?