NCAP is pleased to announce our Rachel Carson Award Winners for 2017! 

NCAP’s Rachel Carson award highlights efforts to reduce and eliminate pesticides in ways that protect community and environmental health. Join us in honoring these amazing individuals at our Healthy Harvest Celebration on October 7th in Eugene! We will also have a house party in Seattle this fall to honor our Washington awardees.

Debbie Schlenoff and Maeve Sowles, Lane County Audubon Society
Louise Shimmel, Cascades Raptor Center

Debbie Schlenoff, Maeve Sowles and Louise Shimmel worked as a team and partnered with NCAP, publishing an op-ed piece about Rozol and other rodenticides. Using rodenticides for home, farm or forest management does not justify the danger to our pets, the harm done to raptors, native fish and other wildlife or the long-term risk to our valued waterways and ecosystems. They helped inform the public and policy makers about alternatives and pushed for policy change.

"We need stronger safety measures in Oregon that include restricted use of rodenticides and better education about alternative management practices that are healthier for people, fish and wildlife, and our waterways."

Debbie Schlenoff is conservation chair and board member of the Lane County Audubon Society, a group of volunteers who provide opportunities for people to learn about and experience nature. They help community members provide comments to policy makers to help conserve and protect wildlife and their habitat. Debbie also teaches courses in animal behavior and conservation biology at the University of Oregon. Debbie enjoys watching everything from ants to ant-eating birds while hiking with her family.

Maeve Sowles is a life-long outdoor enthusiast and lover of the natural world. She has used her association with the Audubon Society to help promote the love of nature in others and to help protect nature in all its wonderful forms. Maeve has been president of Lane County Audubon Society since 2000.

Louise Shimmel founded and manages the day-to-day operations of Cascades Raptor Center. A state and federally licensed rehabilitator since 1985, Louise has substantial experience in wildlife rehabilitation. She has participated in all the Skills Seminars offered by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC), done short externships at the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine, completed the radiographic certification class required by the state, and worked closely with local veterinarians on wildlife cases.

Kerry Rappold, City of Wilsonville

Kerry Rappold is the Natural Resources Manager for the City of Wilsonville. During his 16 years with the City, he has had responsibility for program development; capital project planning and implementation; stormwater management and permitting; managing enhancement and restoration projects; and environmental education. Kerry was instrumental in starting the Wilsonville Bee Stewards program. Once the site of a prominent pesticide-caused bee die off, Wilsonville is now an official Bee City USA. Working with NCAP and other partners, Kerry helped Wilsonville create pollinator habitat on city and school district-owned property, develop a city Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan and provide education and tools for local residents to create pollinator habitat in their own yards.

Stephanie Lecovin and Rachel Koller, PTA Leaders

Stephanie Lecovin and Rachel Koller are PTA leaders and NCAP supporters whose involvement was instrumental in passing the PTA Environmental Resolution at the October 2016 PTA Legislative Assembly. Both Stephanie and Rachel worked with Program Director Megan Dunn to draft the resolution language and authored the presentation. Stephanie helped deliver the presentation and repeated it three times to three groups! Stephanie also presented how a PTA can use the resolution to improve school environmental health programs to her PTA council and to the State PTA convention.

Stephanie also helped establish her school, Peter Kirk Elementary, as a pesticide free school. She has been working with the Lake Washington School district with an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM). Stephanie has been strong advocate for children’s health.

Rachel created a green cleaning classroom kit and helped integrate healthy cleaning programs as part of school environmental health and pest management. She has been active with the Children’s Environmental Health Working group of Washington and brings an important environmental science perspective.