June 10, 2024
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies proudly shares the news that Courtney Hallacher, Statewide Wildlife Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, is recognized as this year’s Project WILD Outstanding Coordinator of the Year. Each year the Association honors one Project WILD coordinator with this award at the annual Project WILD Coordinators’ Conference.
“Courtney has done a lot of great work and is widely respected in her field. She has a positive attitude and passion to connect youth and adults with the outdoors,” stated Elena Takaki, Director of Professional Development and Conservation Education at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Hallacher was introduced to Project WILD during a professional development workshop while teaching 7th grade Life Science. This was just the start of her journey with environmental education, especially with getting students outside. Courtney has worked for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and been a Project WILD coordinator for 3 years. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism are an asset not only to educators in Virginia, but across the country as she shares her ideas and demonstrates her leadership at the national level.
“Having the Project WILD curriculum felt like having a mentor helping me merge the required state standards of learning with my increasing desire to have my students learning hands-on and outside,” said Courtney Hallacher, Statewide Wildlife Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. “Project WILD continued with me as I transitioned to teaching high school environmental science and ecology classes to undergraduate Inquiry in the Natural Sciences courses for pre-service teachers. When the Virginia Project WILD Coordinator position at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) was posted, I jumped at the opportunity to bring this beloved program to educators across the state. I am honored and humbled by this award and thankful to be a part of the Project WILD team!”
Project WILD joined the Association in 2017. Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program that focuses on wildlife and habitat. The goal of Project WILD is to develop awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment resulting in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment. To learn more about Project WILD, go to www.projectwild.org.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.