Welder Wildlife Foundation by Carolyn M. Appleton

Conservation Education for Future Generations

Education Facility Campaign Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation Mission: “To further the education of the people of Texas and elsewhere in wildlife conservation …. to afford students and others interested in wildlife … a place for research and an opportunity for the study thereof … and to develop scientific methods of increasing the wildlife populations of the state and nation for the benefit of future generations … who may not have the opportunity to know and appreciate our wildlife …. For these purposes I here create a foundation to be known as the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation.” > Rob H. Welder, 1953

Highlights • Welder Wildlife Refuge is a 7,800 acre field station that is accessible by the public • Research and conservation education are the Foundation‟s focus

• The Refuge incorporates wildlife research in the midst of working cattle and other traditional land use activities

• The Refuge contains 16 vegetative communities, and is home to 55 mammal species, and 55 reptile and amphibian species

• In addition, more than 380 bird species have been recorded

• The research fellowship program was initiated in 1956, and 320 graduate students called “Welder Fellows” have been funded since then, hailing from 62 different universities

Welder Fellows: Where are They Now? • Thad Box, Ph.D., Dean, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University (retired), and former Gerald Thomas Professor of Sustainable Systems, New Mexico State University • Stephanie Brown Fabritius, Ph.D., Vice President, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky • Louis A. Harveson, Ph.D., Director, Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University

Welder Fellows: Legacy of Excellence • Winifred B. Kessler, Ph.D., Director of Wildlife, Fisheries, Ecology and Watershed, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Alaska • John Rappole, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.

Welder Fellows: Legacy of Excellence • Allen Rasmussen, Ph.D., Dean, Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Texas A&M University-Kingsville • Michael E. Tewes, Ph.D., Frank Daniel Yturria Chair in Wild Cat Research and Regent‟s Professor, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Other Foundation Activities • The Foundation offers scienceand place-based educational programs for all ages • Annual number of visitors approaches 4,900

• Activities for youth are diverse, and include the popular annual Welder Youth Hunt

What Do Teachers Say?

What Do Teachers Say? “We come back from field trips more aware of nature. [The students] are learning about wetlands and why they are important to humans. To a lot of them, that is really an eye-opener. How could something that was once considered swampland … „useless‟ land … why is it so important? They have become aware this is an environmental issue. The hope is, that as adults they will be cognizant of the importance of wetlands, and learn to protect that part of the environment in the future.”

> Christine Latkovich, Sinton High School

What Do Teachers Say? “Surprisingly, we have had kids who had not been out in the country and seen deer and turkey. I take that for granted, because I grew up seeing these things, but some of the kids I‟ve taken out to the Welder Wildlife Refuge have not.” > Kathy Westerman, Ray High School, Corpus Christi

What Do Teachers Say? “One of the things the students found particularly interesting was going to the Welder library. They keep a copy of every thesis done at the Refuge, and the kids were amazed at some of the research, and impressed by the kinds of studies that have gone on over the years.”

“We always try to get one of the field researchers to come talk to us after dinner. The kids have said that was a real highlight … where they see what the research is like and what is being done.” > Alice Kagi, David Martin, and Priscilla Scott, St. John‟s School, Houston

“I like it because it is more hands-on, and the students get to do things at their own pace.”

> Jessica Elam, ABC Homeschoolers, Robstown

Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation K-12 Classes • ABC Homeschoolers, Corpus Christi • Alamo Middle School • Alice High School • Annapolis Christian Academy, Corpus Christi • Baytown Junior High School • Blanche Moore Elementary, Corpus Christi • Blaschke Sheldon Elementary, Ingleside • Halletsville High School • Harker Heights AP Biology • Homeschoolers of South Texas, Corpus Christi • Ingleside Independent School District

• Keystone School, San Antonio • Killeen High School • Lamar Intermediate School, Sinton • Learning Resource Center, Beeville • Odem Elementary • Ray High School, Corpus Christi • Robstown High School • Seashore Learning Center, Corpus Christi • Sinton High School • Spanish and Science Club, Port Aransas • St. John‟s School, Houston • Texas State Aquarium Home School Group, Corpus Christi • Travis Middle School, Port Lavaca • Yorktown Homeschoolers, Corpus Christi

Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation Colleges and Universities • Eastfield College, Mesquite • McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevu, Quebec • Southwestern Adventist University, Keene • Texas A&M University-College Station • Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi • Texas A&M University-Kingsville • Tarleton State University, Stephenville • Texas State University-San Marcos • University of Nevada, Reno • University of Vermont, Burlington • Wharton Junior College, Wharton

Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Workshops and Field Days • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Agriculture Teachers Workshop • Area 10 Range Contest • National Archery in the Schools Training • Birding Field Day • Conservation Across Boundaries, Welder Wildlife Foundation (Texas) and Boone & Crockett Club (Montana) • Feral Hog Workshop • Herpetofauna Workshop • Mid-Coast Master Naturalists, Aransas Pass • Texas A&M University Burn Day

• Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Teaching, Corpus Christi • Wild Turkey Workshop • Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Dinner, Welder Wildlife Foundation • Volunteer Workshop, Welder Wildlife Foundation • Welder Wildlife Foundation Student Symposium • Welder Wildlife Foundation Youth Hunt • Wildlife Conservation Camp, Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society • Wildflower Workshop • Wildlife Alliance

Education Facility Campaign

Hidden Treasures of the Welder Wildlife Foundation

Donald Bowman Bird Collection • The collection contains 305 beautifully-preserved bird specimens, some over 100 years old, including two extinct birds and four authentic reconstructions Passenger pigeon by Donald Bowman

Donald Bowman Bird Collection • Donald Bowman is one of America‟s foremost taxidermists • Today, visitors can only see a fraction of this outstanding collection Peregrine falcons by Donald Bowman

Donald Bowman Bird Collection

Common goldeneyes by Donald Bowman

Donald Bowman Bird Collection

Great curassow by Donald Bowman

• The new building will allow the public to see the collection in its entirety at long last

Francis Lee Jaques Collection of Wildlife Art • Commissioned in 1956 by Welder Foundation Director Clarence Cottam • Jaques is well known for his work for the American Museum of Natural History, New York • Included are 6 highly realistic paintings of wildlife

Francis Lee Jaques Collection of Wildlife Art • Also included are three painted, threedimensional dioramas of Welder habitats • Conservation of the art is included in the campaign

Roy W. Quillin Egg Collection • Donated in the early 1970s, the collection includes 2,200 clutches of bird eggs • 10,000 individual eggs • Eggs collected prior to widespread pesticide use, and hence, the collection provides important research opportunities

Other Study Collections In Storage Amphibians Bird skins  Herbarium  Insects  Mammals  Reptiles

Classroom and Storage Needs