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Family Ties – Generations of Ducks Volunteers
The Oyen Chapter
Ducks volunteers in Oyen, Alta. know that to save Canada’s wetlands you need a succession plan. That’s why many of the chapter’s past and present volunteers have introduced their children and kin to the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) cause and made wetland conservation a family affair.
Call it what you like – passing the torch, following footsteps or simply carrying on traditions. But, for this small agricultural community in the heart of the province’s rolling prairies, picking up where one generation left off is what’s kept it alive and thriving throughout the years. Taking over family farms and growing local businesses is a winning practise for young people here. And, when it comes to supporting Ducks, the intergenerational pattern is no different.
“The Oyen chapter is a great example of how Ducks volunteers truly are active by nature,” said Perry McCormick, DUC’s National Manager of Events. “It’s great to see how wetland appreciation gets passed on when families enjoy nature together.”
The Oyen chapter is chock full of volunteer families, having several father-son, uncle-nephew and cousin pairs on the meeting roll call over the years. Here, long-time committee members are handing over the reins and watching their family members become the next generation of generous DUC donors, event organizers and all-round wetland conservationists.
And, just like those who came before them, this new batch of volunteers is doing so with their eyes firmly set on the future.
“Oyen’s first generation of volunteers established the chapter because they wanted to ensure their families had a healthy environment to live in and enjoy,” said McCormick. “Now, their children are doing the same. They know carrying on special outdoor family traditions are only possible if they work to protect the wetlands that support them.”
McCormick says looking to family is the best way Ducks chapters across Canada can boost their volunteer base and ensure conservation efforts continue well into the future. It’s also a great way to have fun and make lasting memories together.
“Traditions alone aren’t the reason up-and-comers are eager to join the ranks of those who came before. Regardless of age or years of service, Ducks volunteers overwhelming agree it’s the good times that keep them coming back.”
Whether it’s organizing a fundraising dinner, participating in clay shooting events or discussing conservation issues at chapter meetings, volunteers enjoy a strong sense of camaraderie and a shared mission.
Having ignited the passion for wetland conservation in their families, Oyen chapter volunteers can step down from their duties knowing that a new generation is ready and able to step up to the challenge of protecting wetlands.
