Volunteer Awards

In May 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized Refuge volunteers for the outstanding contributions they have made during the previous year. The Friends of Blackwater sponsored the awards dinner held outdoors under the pavilion at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. During 2024, 134 volunteers contributed 9,180 hours of volunteer service to the Refuge! Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Lynda Hicken and Vicki Zobel. Lynda and Vicki have been volunteering at the Refuge since 2015, staffing the front desk in the Visitor Center, participating in the Mid-winter Eagle Survey, and promoting the Refuge at off-site events - including Earth Day at the Salisbury Zoo, the Dorchester Showcase, Waterfowl Festival, the Native American Festival, and others. Both also volunteer at the Eagle Festival every year. For the past eight years, together, they have been counting entrance fees for the Refuge - all those little orange envelopes that visitors stuff into our iron ranger, filled with ones, and fives, and pennies and quarters. Together, Lynda and Vicki have contributed nearly 5,000 hours of volunteer service to the Refuge, with Lynda accumulating 2,871 hours, and Vicki, 1,977 hours. Lynda and Vicki have made Blackwater an important part of their lives and have worked hard to improve the visitor experience. We can't thank them enough for all they do for the refuge and congratulate them on this well-deserved award! See our newsletter (PDF, 4.8MB) for more information on all the volunteer awards.

Congratulations to all the volunteers who received recognition for their contributions to Blackwater NWR!

Volunteers play a critical role in helping Blackwater NWR fulfill its mission. Please contact Michele Whitbeck at 443-737-7701 or Michele_Whitbeck@fws.gov to learn how you can volunteer.