Glenn Dreger and his daughter Heidi are one of DUC’s multi-generation volunteer families.

 

Family Ties – Generations of Ducks Volunteers

Glenn and Heidi Dreger

Twenty-six-year Ducks volunteer Glenn Dreger remembers the moment his daughter Heidi was struck by the wonder of Canada’s wetlands. One fall, while walking across a field following a successful duck hunt, a then teenaged-Heidi told her father she couldn’t imagine a better way to spend an afternoon.

Now, more than two decades later, Heidi and Glenn continue to be strong wetland supporters as a multi-generation Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer family. Glenn remains active by nature in B.C.’s Kamloops chapter, while Heidi lends her support to the Merritt chapter.

Those like the Dregers who make volunteering a family affair know Ducks is a great place for people of all ages to socialize, save wetlands, and feel satisfied that the work they do makes a difference.

“I think it’s safe to say that a Ducks chapter is the proverbial ‘work hard - play hard’ group,” said Glenn. “All the members are working toward the same goals and have a lot of fun doing it. Ducks is making things happen and it makes you proud to be a part of it.”

For Heidi, the fun she had that fall afternoon inspired her to participate in DUC’s Greenwing days – an event where youth take part in a variety of wetland activities like archery and canoeing. First attending as a participant, she later worked as a youth leader and became more involved with the DUC cause while working at fundraising dinners and auctions alongside her dad.

Into adulthood, volunteering with Ducks has been a means for Heidi to meet friends and enjoy her outdoor hobbies.

“When Heidi moved out on her own and was working in a new community, we encouraged her to join the local Ducks chapter as a way to meet new people with similar interests,” said Glenn.

It also proved to be an easy and rewarding way to give back to the environment.

“I think everyone should do something to volunteer,” she said. “Supporting an organization like Ducks doesn’t mean you need to give a lot of money, you can also give your time and really make a difference. That’s one of the great things about Ducks. You always feel good about what you’re doing.”

Both Glenn and Heidi agree that passing on the passion for wetland conservation and the spirit of volunteerism is key to ensuring the future of Canada’s wetlands. DUC has risen to the forefront of wetland conservation on the wings of its dedicated volunteers – families like the Dregers who have incorporated conservation into their family values and continued their tradition of having fun in support of wetland habitat.

 
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