From the Helm | Boating Broadcast with Wildlife Forever

Welcome to From the Helm with MarineMax, where hosts Lisa and Kelley connect with boating industry leaders for weekly Boating Broadcasts. In this episode, Dane Huinker, Conservation Program Manager and Julia Luger, Education and Communications Director for Wildlife Forever, sit down with us to discuss their three main programs: State-Fish ART, Prairie City USA (habitat restoration), and the Clean Drain Dry initiative (invasive species prevention).

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From the Helm | Boating Broadcast

Wildlife Forever

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Since 1987, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation works in all 50 states and Canada with over 1,500 projects throughout North America. Their mission is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife.

Previous Boating Broadcasts

^{Notes and Talking Points}

^{INTRO – 3 Min}
- ^{Welcome to From the Helm Boating Broadcast}
- ^{We’re your Hosts Lisa and Kelley}
- ^{Interact with us in the comments section and if you like what you see, please share this with your friends! The more the merrier.}
- ^{For audio only listeners, thank you for joining us!}
- ^{QUESTION OF THE DAY: What is a Zebra Mussel?}
^{COMING UP on Today's Boating Broadcast…}
- ^{HEADLINES: Boating Acts of Congress (new bills passing to make boating better!), Resources for new boaters, and the Aquila 36 Cruiser.}
- ^{SOCIAL UPDATE: Adorable first mates}
- ^GUEST:
  - ^{Julia Luger, Education and Communications Director}
  - ^{Dane (HEEN-KER) Huinker, Conservation Program Manager for Wildlife Forever}
^{GUEST: 20-30 minute interview}
- ^{(2 MINUTES) Overview of Wildlife Forever’s mission}
  - ^{Website: https://www.wildlifeforever.org/home/about/}
  - ^{National organization, member based, any amount donated adds you to the membership; around for 32 years}
  - ^{They focus on all types of projects from elk habitat restoration to Artificial reefs of the coast of FL}
  - ^{3 main programs: State fish ART, habitat restoration (prairie city USA), clean drain dry initiative (invasive species prevention)}
- ^{(7:40 MINUTES) The Clean, Drain, Dry initiative:}
  - ^{VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=MOgPuCm3HYk&feature=emb_logo}
  - ^{What is a Zebra Mussel?}
    - ^{Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. Their name comes from the dark, zig-zagged stripes on each shell. Zebra mussels probably arrived in the Great Lakes in the 1980s via ballast water that was discharged by large ships from Europe.}
    - ^{DEFINITION: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-zebra-mussels-and-why-should-we-care-about-them}
  - ^{Talk more about invasive species and the importance of conservation}
    - ^{Invasive species are Introduced from other areas, usually brought in by ballast tanks from vessels outside of the location}
    - ^{They’re dangerous because they out produce native species, killing them off}
  - ^{Partnered with MarineMax Minnesota stores on a campaign to prevent the spread of invasive species between lakes. Shout out to the teams!}
  - ^{Wild spotter is a citizen scientist program app to allow volunteers to report new infestations}
  - ^{(15:30 minutes) “Habitatitude” - Program about humans setting pets loose, that then become an invasive species or dangerous to the surrounding habitat}
  - ^{(19 MINUTES) Starry stone wart is a newer invasive algae that grows at the surface, clogging waterways. Also a danger to boat propellers.}
  - ^{“AN ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”}
- ^{(26:30 MINUTES) The STATE-FISH ART project}
  - ^{VIDEO: State-Fish Art Short Intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=wkJDnehg7ig&feature=emb_logo}
    - ^{The program was started by a young woman’s art project to encourage learning about fishing, the state fish, etc. Open to anyone in K-12 and the artwork is phenomenal!}
    - ^{Various categories for art winner - Invader crusader award, Fish migration award, even a saltwater division sponsored by the Guy harvey ocean foundation}
  - ^{Show 2020 winners: https://www.wildlifeforever.org/home/state-fish-art/winners/}
    - ^{Over 5000 entries from 33 countries,}
  - ^{Talk more about how kids can enter for the 2021 contest}
    - ^{www.statefishart.org - for more info}
  - ^{What is your state fish for MN? The walleye}
- ^{GUEST SOCIAL/WEBSITES:}
  - ^{Website | https://www.wildlifeforever.org/}

^{Facebook| https://www.facebook.com/Wildlifeforever/}
^{Twitter| https://twitter.com/wildlifeforever}
^{Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifeforever/}
^{YouTube| https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQPN7-o8FN8lTKMHMtKDHg}

^{(32 MINUTES) Wrap up}
^{Reminder - You can see MORE episodes of Boating Broadcast on the MarineMax Blog - accessible on the web or through the MarineMax app.}

^{HEADLINES - 10 MIN}
- ^{(35 MINUTES) Historic Boating Access and Conservation Bill Approved by Congress (NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association press release on 7/23/2020)}
  - ^{https://www.nmma.org/press/article/23350}
  - ^{The Great American Outdoors Act addresses two long-standing priorities of the outdoor recreation community. First, it fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a go-to program for conserving and maximizing outdoor recreation access. Second, the bill tackles the maintenance backlog on our public lands and waters by investing in boating infrastructure like docks, ramps and parking facilities.}
- ^{Aquila 36 Cruiser}
  - ^{https://www.aquilaboats.com/models/sport-power-catamaran/36}
  - ^{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXqQ0EpIWrI}
  - ^{Featuring a full aft sliding door which can be locked into place, the cruiser package allows you the ability to close off the entire salon and galley for increased privacy, security, and relaxation.}
  - ^{Below you'll find two comfortable cabins with private heads.}
- ^{(40 MINUTES) New to Boating Pages on MarineMax.com https://www.marinemax.com/boats-and-yachts/new-to-boating}
  - ^{https://www.marinemax.com/boats-and-yachts/new-to-boating/fishing-boats}
  - ^{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-dw4L55RI0}
^{SOCIAL UPDATE (Landen) - 10 MIN}
- ^{(45 MINUTES) Here’s a look at what’s going on in the social media world!}
  - ^{#MMXPETS IT DOESNT GET ANY CUTER ITS PAWFECT}
  - ^{SmugMug Gallery}
  - ^{What’s your official state boat?}
- ^{Reminder: Subscribe, Follow and Tag us to keep up to date on Boating News and share your boating stories}
  - ^{Facebook – @MarineMaxLeisure}
  - ^{Instagram & YouTube – @MarineMaxOnline}
  - ^{Twitter - @MarineMax}
- ^{(50 minutes) Podcast shout out Spotify and Apple}
  - ^{Boating Broadcast}
  - ^{Boating Tips LIVE}
^{EXIT (LISA) - 5 MIN}
- ^{Thank you to our guest:}
  - ^{Julia Luger, Education and Communications Director}
  - ^{Dane (HEEN-KER) Huinker, Conservation Program Manager for Wildlife Forever}
- ^{(52 minutes) We hope you enjoyed today's Boating Broadcast, as always, Stay healthy, boat happy!}