The Volunteer of the Year Award was established to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of volunteers in the operation and management of the Refuge System. The award is presented to volunteers who demonstrate dedication to the goals and objectives of the Refuge System, superior organizational skills, innovation in handling refuge assignments, effectiveness in dealing with the public and dependability.
Mudderman has been volunteering at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge since 2005 and has donated more than 7000 hours of service. He has contributed to the refuge in many ways. He designed and launched the Friends of Tamarac website and was coordinator of the Joint Refuge and Friends nationally recognized newsletter. The Friends of Tamarac is a non-profit organization which supports the mission and purpose of the refuge. He has researched, developed and presented refuge history tours and other interpretive programs including "Photo Safaris” which connects families with nature through digital photography. He especially enjoys leading environmental education activities for elementary school students emphasizing technology by using digital photography and GPS. He also co-chairs the Tamarac NWR Photo Contest planning committee, conducts wildlife surveys and serves as refuge photographer at special events. Most recently through a Nature of Learning Grant which he wrote on behalf of the Friends, Denis researched, purchased the needed equipment and worked with refuge staff to install a camera into an active beaver lodge.
Mudderman not only donates his time and talents to Tamarac, but is just winding up a third winter at Brazoria NWR and San Bernard NWR (part of the Texas Mid-Coast Complex NWR) leading environmental education programs, hosting the Brazoria Discovery Center, assisting with their Migration Celebration Festival , and organizing their photography contest among many other assignments. He has accumulated nearly 3000 hours in Texas.
According to Denis, “the motivation for volunteering is working as part of a community towards a greater goal with Friends, volunteers and staff working as colleagues; it is seeing results from one’s effort, it is using one’s skills and satisfying interests and it is being out and experiencing nature.”
The award was presented on March 17, 2011 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director's Reception at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
