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Mifflinburg science teacher Joe Southerton received the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy Service Award at the organization’s annual dinner banquet on Wednesday, May 2nd at Shade Mountain Winery in Snyder County. Mr. Southerton was honored for his many years of service to the Conservancy and his advocacy for conservation of our local natural treasures. Southerton award is a hand-carved kestrel created by artist Jeff Keiffer. “His commitment to the Conservancy’s mission began in the early 90s with the development of the Conservancy's land trust agreement on the Koons property at the Hassenplug Covered Bridge in Mifflinburg,” says Education Committee Chair Pat Arduini, who presented the award. “Mr. Southerton designed the popular Koons walking trail, involving his middle school students in its development. He authored a descriptive guide for the trail and served as chief steward and monitor for the property.” He also served on the Conservancy's Site/ Stewardship committee assisting with the evaluation of other properties under consideration for land trust agreements. Mr. Southerton’s interests include astronomy, birding, and most everything in the natural world. A number of years ago he built his very own high powered telescope from scratch and often he invites family, friends and neighbors to his home for stargazing. He contributes time to the local chapter of Audubon, participating annually in the Christmas Bird Count and the May "birdathon," a fund-raiser in which volunteer bird watchers try to observe 100 or more species in one day. His passion and concern for the environment follow him into the classroom. He has been a dedicated teacher in the Mifflinburg Area School District for more than 30 years and has provided conservation and environmental education to hundreds of youth throughout his career. For a number of years his 6th grade students have had the privilege to participate in the Trout in the Classroom program which he has arranged through the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. Months are spent in monitoring water conditions in a classroom aquarium where the brook trout are raised from eggs to fingerlings. Each spring Mr. Southerton and his students release approximately 200 brook trout into the local streams. He also contributes significantly to the Mifflinburg 5th grade outdoor education program. The Linn Conservancy, which seeks to protect and preserve land and waterways in Union, Snyder and upper Northumberland Counties, is a non-profit organization supported by membership dollars and the work of many volunteers. It was founded in 1988 to honor the memory of local attorney and outdoorsman Merrill Linn. To learn more about the Conservancy visit www.linnconservancy.org or visit the Conservancy on Facebook. © Copyright 2012 by Mifflinburg Telegraph Weekly Newspaper Top of Page |
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