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Balzac Teen Wins Outdoor Ducks Unlimited Canada Adventure in Manitoba 
Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba, August 8, 2002 -When students returning to school are asked how they spent their summer holidays, only Russell Shuttleworth of Balzac, south of Airdrie, will be able to say he travelled to Manitoba to band ducks and songbirds, catch monster catfish and ride an airboat. Shuttleworth is this year's provincial participant in the Ducks Unlimited Canada Great Greenwing Adventure.
Greenwing is Ducks Unlimited Canada's environmental education program for youth. The annual Great Greenwing Adventure, August 10 to 16, first started in 1995 to reward keen, young naturalists with hands-on learning experiences that solidify commitments to wetland conservation. This year, 10 young Canadians are participating in the adventure. It's a chance of a lifetime for 13-year-old Shuttleworth.
"I heard about if from the Crossfield Five Village Weekly. My mom was browsing through it and she thought I mike like it," Shuttleworth said. "I've always liked birds."
To win the contest, Shuttleworth had to write why he should be selected to participate. He stated: "When I was five years old, my parents gave me my first bird book, Birds of North America - a guide to field identification and I pretty much know it inside out."
After a follow up interview and a check of references, Shuttleworth became one of this year's flock of ecoadventurers. Once he arrives in Winnipeg, he'll travel 20 minutes north of the city to Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, previously recognized as the country's best outdoor site by Attractions Canada. The marsh will serve as home base for the adventurers while they travel to activities that include canoeing, archery, wilderness survival, radio telemetry and orienteering.
"I'd really like to do the bird banding," Shuttleworth said. Soon to enter Airdrie Ecole Middle, his favorite classes are science and outdoor education. He's aspiring to be a crop duster or, after visiting DUC's Web site, possibly a waterfowl biologist.
According to Rick Wishart, DUC's education manager, Shuttleworth is about to embark on an influential experience that will provide life long memories.
"Many of our past winners said they had the best time of their lives at our camp," Wishart said. "For some, it has sparked an interest in pursuing advanced studies and careers in biology and conservation. Participants learn about wetlands first hand, experiencing wetlands as biologists, researchers and outdoorspeople would. We hope that in addition to having a lot of fun, they take away a greater appreciation for the values that wetlands offer wildlife and people."
Ducks Unlimited Canada's Greenwing youth education program has been running for over 20 years. Almost 2,200 youths in Alberta are enrolled in the program that has a national membership of 24,300 children up to age 17.
