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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service (WHS) was recently awarded a $10,000 educational grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). The grant is one of the largest ever by the RMEF for a state that does not have a native population of elk and is the largest project to date funded by RMEF in Maryland.
The grant money will be used to fund outdoor skills programs across the state with the goal of introducing and encouraging participation in outdoor activities such as hunting and shooting sports.
"The volunteer leaders and members of the Maryland RMEF have successfully raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for land conservation and improvement projects that benefit elk and the many other species that live in these wide open spaces across the United States, with the closest free ranging elk herd located in Elk County, Pennsylvania," said Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto. “This donation represents a significant contribution to Maryland's conservation mission by providing critical funding toward youth and women outdoor skills programs.”
"The grant funds will directly support three primary outdoor education and shooting sports projects, including: the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program, National Archery in the Schools and Junior Hunter Day,” added Karina Blizzard, Associate Director for the Wildlife and Heritage Service.
Information on these programs is available online at www.dnr.maryland.gov or by calling Ms. Blizzard at 410-260-8559.
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