Chester Village News Article

Thomas Dale graduate to manage conservation program

By Chesterfield | Jul 27, 2011

Marcus Gray, a 2002 graduate of Thomas Dale High School, recently accepted a position with the Safari Club International (SCI) Foundation in Washington D.C. as their coordinator of conservation and research programs. Gray has Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation from Unity College in Maine and a master’s degree in Wildlife Science from South Dakota State University; and, with his new job which officially began Monday, July 11, will travel and work internationally.
For the past two years, he served as the wildlife disease biologist for the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services. In his new job, Marcus will be responsible for coordination of the SCI Foundation’s international wildlife conservation programs. Core wildlife conservation programs are located in Africa, Asia, North America and South America. He will also manage an international conservation grant program, maintain databases, research present-day conservation issues, communicate current project reports to various audiences, assist in annual budget development, coordinate program-related events and provide support to the SCI membership.
Marcus is the son of Chester residents Charles and Dana Gray.

http://www.villagenewsonline.com/node/5659

 

Settling into new job

Just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten about the blog! I am settling into my new job in DC and still going through the moving process up to the new house in Albemarle County, VA.

I am working on several exciting projects, leading to the conservation of large mammals all over the globe. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to have a hand in international wildlife conservation! Some examples of species I am currently working on are African Lion, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Elephants, Asiatic Sheep and a whole lot more.

So far, I have a couple trips scheduled, one to Tucson and one to Omaha for meetings. Those should be good times. More exotic locations down the road. Also, keep an eye out for articles I have written recently about elk in Montana and human-wildlife conflict management.


STAY TUNED....MORE TO COME!

Gardening after the storm

So... we had some crazy winds and rain here last week. We were really worried about our garden but it is doing better then we thought. Our watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe and tomatoes are coming along really well, but the wind really damaged our squash and zucchini. Our corn is a bit crooked, but seems to still be growing.

Tomato.

Watermelon.

Cantaloupe.

Cucumber.

Corn.

What is left of the Squash and Zucchini after the storm.

Hiking the Maryland Section of the Appalachain Trail

This is the video we created from our trip. We had a really good time until I (Marc) sprained my ankle, had to hike about 25 miles on it. We saw some really cool monuments, met some interesting people and enjoyed being outside for 4 days together.

Safari Club International Foundation

From the website (accessed 7/1/2011): http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/

"About the Safari Club International Foundation

Since 2000, SCI Foundation (SCIF) has provided $47 million to conservation, wildlife education, and humanitarian programs around the world. Growth of SCIF has continued to gain momentum through charitable donations from SCI members and direct grants from local chapters and the SCI organization. A recent effort that just completed its fund-raising drive is the Hunter Legacy Fund which is a dedicated funding source for wildlife conservation . This endowment was created by one hundred individuals and corporations, dedicating a pledge of $100,000 to create a $10 million endowment to ensure conservation programs of SCIF will continue long into the future. A similar effort kicked off in 2008 to create an endowment for conservation education.

With recent expenditures exceeding $5 million annually, SCI Foundation has continued to promote science–based conservation through wildlife research, capacity building in governments, youth and teacher education, and humanitarian programs which show the importance of the hunting community in society. A project nearing completion, called the “White Book”, will showcase nearly 150 conservation projects where SCIF has made major contributions to the world of wildlife management.

This year, the Conservation Department facilitated nine African nations to sit down together and discuss conservation of the African lion, including the issue of human-lion conflict. SCIF continues to strengthen our emphasis on North American conservation, with major support for two predator-prey projects and involvement in several projects throughout the continent. Our Eurasian efforts feature a ground breaking field study of snow leopards in Siberia as well as significant contributions to the management of several species across that continent.

Nestled in the beautiful Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson, Wyoming, SCIF’s American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) provides the perfect atmosphere for the accredited educational programs. Established in 1976 with the vision of providing educators with a useful hands-on experience that they can use in the classroom, AWLS has provided a credited wildlife management program more than 5,000 teachers who reach more than a million students annually, and fun, challenging experiences for 1273 high school students. The AWLS program has expanded to provide conservation education opportunities in 4 other locations in the United States. SCIF has also provided scholarships to nearly 100 college students who have enrolled in natural resource management or conservation education fields.


SCIF Humanitarian Services programs have also experienced significant growth in recent years. Since 2003, the SCIF Sportsmen Against Hunger^TM program has donated more than 2.2 million pounds of wild game meat to those in need.  SCI members delivered 1,114 SafariCare^TM “Blue Bags” filled with humanitarian supplies to needy villagers, schools, clinics and orphanages around the world since 2005.  In the same time period, more than 1,000 disabled hunters were given an assisted hunting experience through the Disabled Hunter^TM program, and 224 youngsters with terminal or life-threatening illnesses had their hunting dreams fulfilled through our SafariWish^TM program.  Each year, via our Sensory Safari^TM program, SCI member volunteers assist between 60,000 and 70,000 children and adults through a maze of mobile touch displays, describing the animal’s size, sounds, habitats and behaviors to give the visually impaired a unique opportunity to “see” wildlife through the sense of touch.  Through its annual Pathfinder award, a part of our Disabled Hunter^TM program, the Foundation sponsors and coordinates world-class hunting safaris for one or two deserving recipients each year.

The International Wildlife Museum is dedicated to increasing knowledge of, and appreciation for, the diverse wildlife of the world as well as explaining the role of wildlife management in conservation. Founded in 1988, the museum has over 400 kinds of insects, mammals and birds from all over the globe, provides visitors the opportunity to see animals up close, and to gain a better understanding of their size and adaptive characteristics. At the museum, visitors are also exposed to the role of hunting in wildlife management and the role SCI and SCIF play in promoting wildlife management. In 2008, nearly 70,000 visitors from all over the world (almost 40% of them children) experienced the exhibits and were exposed to SCI’s message.
These are just a few of the accomplishments of Safari Club International and Safari Club International Foundation.

Throughout the world, our approximately 190 chapters contribute time, talent and financial support to local, national, and international conservation projects. While economic times may be trying, the passion for conservation remains strong with SCI Foundation. Please join us in membership or partnership as we continue to ensure that wildlife remains abundant for future generations. SCI and SCIF have earned the coveted Charity Navigator 4-star rating, your contribution will be used in an effective manner.

Safari Club International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization."