Volunteer Recognition 2024

Volunteers are Celebrated at the Annual Dinner

The volunteer dinner was held September 12 at the Community Center in Detroit Lakes and was catered by Lakeview Catering. The theme was "Into the Woods We Go!"

Most attendees wore plaid shirts or camp clothes for that "Northwoods" look.

Volunteers Steve Amell, Nancy McDaniel, Claudine Anderson, Carol Sweet-Johnson and Wayne Johnson (with refuge manager Kent Sundseth in white plaid shirt)  are recognized for reaching 300 hours. 

Volunteers were recognized for reaching key milestones.

Nancy McDaniel and Shirley Strand each reached 500 hours.

Bill Henke and Kay Lohman received awards for surpassing the 1000-hour mark.

Ken Mattson surpassed the 2500-hour mark, donating most of his hours to the biological program since 2008. His award was presented by refuge biologist Wayne Brininger.

Refuge biologist Wayne Brininger speaks about Ken Mattson's significant contributions to the biology program.

Mari Bell was awarded the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Thanks to all 137 volunteers who donated 7600 hours in 2024. We have a great team! Below are those volunteers who reached key milestone hours in 2024:

25 hours

Steve Guenther

Hillary Jacobson

Diane Midthune

Stan Richter

Becky Schaffer

Stacy Davis

Teddy Davis

Cora Amundson

50 hours

Brenda Alfs

Gary Christensen

Justin Clemenson

Paul Lakin

Jan Hoganson

Sel Jenkins

Emily Lehr

Dawn Kessler

Laura Olson (25, 50)

100 hours

Larry Anderson

Sue Borstad

Carol McCarthy Fischer (50,100)

Steve Fode

Vicki Gjersvig

Emma King

Janine Schneider

Michelle Snyder

200 hours

Mary Amundson

Roxann Lindquist

Greg Post

Doug Safar

Tovin Sannes Venhuizen

Wally Sizer

Diane Becker

300 hrs

Carol Sweet Johnson (RV)

Wayne Johnson (RV)

Steve Amell (200)

Claudine Anderson

400 hours

Leslie Holen

Carol Nord

Jim Snyder

Caroline Pekarek

500 hours

Shirley Strand

Nancy McDaniel (300,400)

600 hours

Mari Bell (400, 500)

Chuck Becker

900 hours

Valerie Alland (600, 700, 800)

1000 hours

Bill Henke

Kay Lohman

2500 hours

Ken Mattson

National Recreation Pass Award

Valerie Alland

Mari Bell

Connie Carlson

Steve Amell

Claudine Anderson

RoxAnn Lindquist

Doug Safar

Sue Sonnenberg

Dave Schneider

Carol Sweet-Johnson

Wayne Johnson

Greg Post

Karen Stenberg

Tamarac’s Volunteer of the Year, Mari Bell

Mari began volunteering in the summer of 2022 as a Wild Wednesday assistant and leader. Since the beginning, Mari stood out for her spirited teaching and attention to detail. The little ones just loved her. She then became part of the Environmental Education team. Mari has taught many subjects including pollinators, decomposers, preparing for winter, and winter adaptations. But she is probably best known as flying with preschoolers as monarch butterflies and strumming her guitar! She certainly has made a big impact on children of all ages. She’s been a great mentor to new volunteers as well. In the last year, she was deeply involved in improving the Environmental Education program by managing the No Child Left Inside grant which provided the team with the tools and knowledge to be inclusive of all students who come to the refuge. She spent many hours planning and attending meetings with local conservation organizations, teachers, and volunteers. She also helped organize training opportunities for volunteers and staff while accounting for all hours and dollars associated with the grant. It was a huge workload. Mari donated 320 hours for all her endeavors this past year. Thank you, Mari, for your dedication to the refuge and children in our community.