LOCAL CONSERVATIONIST WINS NATURAL LEGACY CONSERVATION AWARD
On October 12th, it was announced that Bob Hansen is the recipient of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Conservation award in Chadron, NE. Hansen is being recognized for his unparalleled volunteer work and attitude toward preserving Northeast Nebraska’s natural resources. Bob Hansen is a Nebraska Master Naturalist and volunteers with the Northeast Nebraska Prescribed Burn Program, Missouri River Outdoor Expo, and North American Bat Monitoring Project all within the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) since 2013 and volunteers with the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District for the Bow Creek Watershed Project.
Hansen has been a volunteer for NGPC for the past nine years helping with Northeast Nebraska’s prescribed burn program and has logged over an impressive 1,130 volunteer hours for the program. According to NGPC wildlife biologist, Cassidy Wessel, “There just aren’t many burns he misses—he’s usually one of the first ones there, always ready to volunteer for the smokiest toughest jobs, always one of the last ones out there mopping up, even when it’s cold and dark and everyone is ready to go home, Bob sticks around…” He has also assisted in writing burn plans and educating his neighbors about the prescribed burn procedures.
Bob has logged many hours working with the North American Bat Monitoring Project recording bat species in Northeast Nebraska. He has also volunteered to help with anything needed to make the Missouri River Outdoor Expo run as smoothly as possible.
Not only does Bob help with NGPC, he also volunteers with LCNRD’s Bow Creek Watershed Project by conducting weekly water sampling for E. Coli in the Creek. The Bow Creek Watershed Project Coordinator, Becky Ravenkamp, said “I really had no idea how much we were signing up for with weekly water quality monitoring. Thank goodness Bob read the ad for volunteers…. we couldn’t have done it without him.” Bob comes in during the summer and prepares bottles for water sampling and is in the field pulling the water samples every week.
Hansen has shown dedicated support for conservation programs in Northeast Nebraska, and he’s out there protecting and conserving natural resources. Cassidy Wessel said in his nomination for the award, “Being around him is a reminder that as we continue to strive for the preservation of species and landscapes, it’s not just about WHAT we do. It’s about the manner in which we choose to do it. And it’s about the people we welcome in, and the community we create.”
Bob expressed thanks to all the local programs that give him the opportunity to continue doing the things he loves which is protecting the natural resources of Northeast Nebraska.