Plymouth, Minn. — Realtree has joined the effort to increase the available wood duck nesting footprint as sponsor of Outdoor News, Inc.'s annual Wood Duck Challenge.
For the past 27 years, youth groups including 4-H, Scout troops, and school classes have participated in the program, geared toward constructing and installing wood duck nesting boxes by youths. The program encourages youths under the age of 18 to build a nesting box according to an approved plan, and then install the boxes by following directions found in Outdoor News' publications in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
"Realtree is enthusiastic to support the 2017 Wood Duck Challenge," said Ray Lynch, vice president of marketing and advertising for Realtree. "The nature of this program not only offers tremendous benefits to young people through encouraging greater awareness of their role in supporting long-term habitat and conservation efforts for waterfowl, it also is a direct benefit to our feathered friends. I cannot think of another program that joins these components as well as the Outdoor News Wood Duck Challenge does."
With Realtree's support, participating youths who submit a photo will appear in Outdoor News and receive a commemorative Wood Duck Challenge patch. In addition, youths receive Realtree logo decals and habitat information from Outdoor News, Realtree, and select waterfowl-related organizations. Partnerships with the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, the Wood Duck Society, the Michigan Duck Hunters Association, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, the National and Illinois chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and the Ohio Waterfowl Association provide additional resources for youths such as junior memberships.
"Connecting youth to our mission is a long-term benefit toward providing high-quality wetland habitat for ducks," Jim King, Central Illinois senior regional director for Ducks Unlimited, said in renewing the organization's commitment for another year with the Challenge.
Realtree is the world's leading camouflage designer, marketer, and licensor, with more than 2,000 licensees utilizing the Realtree camouflage brand. Thousands of outdoor and lifestyle products are available in Realtree camouflage patterns. In addition, Realtree is committed to supporting individuals and groups that work to ensure our outdoor heritage, the conservation of natural places, and the wildlife that resides there. Realtree promotes its products and relationships widely on television, as well as through Realtree.com and many other outlets.
For more information on the Outdoor News Wood Duck Challenge, go to http://www.outdoornews.com/2013/03/20/the-wood-duck-challenge/.
