Ed Wytovich (Conservation Award), Sandy Pochapin (Reed), Dennis Scharadin (Youth Mentor Award), David Kreiger, Scott Neely, Bob Herman, Shawn Murphy- Bassmasters (Humanitarian Award)

In commemoration of the 50^th Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show this week in Harrisburg, the sponsors of the show began a new tradition of honoring the unsung heroes who have made a difference in the outdoors during the last year.

Three awards were presented at a special awards dinner Friday:

· Dennis Scharadin received the Youth Mentor

· Ed Wytovich, Schuylkill County received the Conservation Award

· Capital City Bassmasters Club received the Humanitarian Award

Here’s a description of each of their accomplishments.

Dennis Scharadin, of Auburn, PA, (Schuylkill County) has been awarded the 2005 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Youth Mentor Award for his more 35 years of educating young people about the outdoors.

This first Youth Mentor Award is presented in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Show to an individual or organization in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to using their knowledge of the outdoors and outdoor sports to educate and help young people.

In 1970, Scharadin started an Outdoors Club for students at Blue Mountain Middle School, using outdoor-related projects to teach club members about the nature and conservation.

Scharadin was the liaison and instructor for a pilot BB gun program at Blue Mountain Middle School. He taught every seventh grade student to safely handle firearms and how to shoot BB gun rifles.

Scharadin also developed a program in which seventh grade students chose an outdoor education subject from a list of nine mini-courses including: Bass Fishing, Big Game Hunting and Management, Camping, Hiking, Small Game Hunting and Management, Trapping, Trout Fishing, Wildlife ID, and Introduction to the Outdoors.

In 1979, because of his work with youth, Scharadin was appointed to the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth Advisory Committee by then Pennsylvania Fish Commission Executive Director, Ralph Abele.

Scharadin was responsible for starting the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association’s Norm Thornburg Youth Conservation Camp, This three-day, two-night camp instructed young people in all aspects of the outdoors. He was also instrumental in starting the Schuylkill County Youth Field Day. He developed the activities and the programs for both the camp and youth field day.

Ed Wytovich, of Schuylkill County, has received the 2005 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Conservation Award for his work in cleaning up Schuylkill County’s waterways.

The Award for Conservation is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to protecting and improving our outdoor resources and animal habitats.

Wytovich, an environmental science teacher in Upper Dauphin School District, was the driving force behind organizing the Schuylkill Headwaters Association and the Schuylkill River Sojourn.

The Schuylkill Headwaters Association’s mission is to promote the environmental integrity, of the tributaries and watershed of the Schuylkill River.

The Schuylkill River Sojourn is an environmental awareness canoe trip from the headwaters of the Schuylkill River to its confluence of the river with the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

In addition, Wytovich single handedly formed 10 watershed associations in Schuylkill County to preserve the natural beauty and resources of the Catawissa, Mahanoy, Swatara and Wiconisco creeks.

Currently, Wytovich is working with the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association to place a passive treatment system on the Catawissa Creek to treat the high volume, acidic Audenreid Tunnel discharge. When completed, it is expected that 41.5 miles of the Catawissa Creek will have been improved.

Wytovich’s efforts to improve the water quality in Schuylkill County have resulted in the improved water quality of the headwaters in Schuylkill County--resulting in improved water quality in both the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers.

Wytovich also received other honors for his work, including the Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship in 2001.

Capital City Bassmasters has received the 2005 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Humanitarian Award for its Youth activities.

The Award recognizes an individual or organization in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to using outdoors sports and events to benefit others

Capital City Bassmasters conducts and participates in several Youth activities each year including the Casting Kids Program, Leukemia Society and Four Diamonds Fund Fishing Derby, and the City of Harrisburg Get Hooked on Fishing fishing derby. The Casting Kids Program is designed to teach children the fundamentals of fishing such as casting, pitching and flipping.

Capital City Bassmasters sponsors an annual Leukemia Society and Four Diamonds Fund fishing derby. The outing, held at Lakeside Marine in Harrisburg, provides chronically ill kids from the Leukemia Society and the Four Diamonds Fund of Hershey Medical Center and their families with an enjoyable day of fishing and instruction.Approximately 125 children and parents attended this year’s event.

Each year, Capital City Bassmasters participates in the City of Harrisburg, Department of Parks and Recreations annual Hooked on Fishing Derby. The event takes place at the Jackson Lick Municipal swimming Pool. Capital City Bassmasters organizes a basic casting demonstration, hands on instructional assistance and the conducting of a casting competition.

This year’s first Capital City Bassmasters Leukemia and Lymphoma Benefit Bass Tournament raised $4,500.

The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is owned and operated by Reed Exhibitions. Reed Exhibitions is the world leader in creating high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business.

2/4/2005