On Tuesday May 10th, at the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge (FMNWR) May Board of Directors meeting, the 2022 David Ross Palmer (DRP) Environmental Hero Award was presented to Katelyn Cadoret. Katelyn was a past President and is currently Vice President of the FMNWR, and the outgoing Assistant Conservation Agent for the Town of Mashpee. The FMNWR initiated the DRP Award in honor of David Ross Palmer in 2013 to community leaders who demonstrate outstanding dedication and excellent Stewardship & Conservation work within the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge.
Glenn Davis, current President of the FMNWR, was given the honor of presenting the award to Katelyn for her many achievements and contributions to the Friends organization, the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and Mashpee conservation lands. Along with other DRP recipients, a tree will be planted in Katelyn’s honor and her name will be on a permanent plaque placed in the future Refuge Visitor Center.
Katelyn is leaving Cape Cod to live and work in Seward Alaska. In Alaska, Katelyn will be a Seasonal Avian Husbandry/interpretation Assistant for the Alaska Sealife Center – the only aquarium, research and rehabilitation facility in the state.
After the meeting and presentation of the award, an informal outdoor reception followed at the home of MaryKay Fox, FMNWR Treasurer. The event was attended by FMNWR Officers and Directors, Refuge Partners, friends and family. It was the first in-person FMNWR Board meeting since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and was an emotional gathering. Katelyn was overwhelmed and touched by the outpouring of gratitude conveyed by the group. In a later email interview, she expressed how honored she felt to be among the esteemed environmentalists who have received the DLP award. “It is fueling the fire I am bringing to Alaska to continue furthering environmental awareness and improvement in another special unique ecosystem,” she stated. She also expressed how her involvement in the Friends group has offered her the support to grow and flourish in the field and added, “I am better for having known and being able to work with such a great group of folks.”
Katelyn joined the Friends in 2015 as liaison to the Mashpee Conservation Department and served as its President from 2019 to 2022. She has been instrumental in outreach to the local community, speaking and advocating on behalf of the Refuge, and attracting new FMNWR members and Board members. She coordinated volunteers and hosted interns and AmeriCorps members on various projects
Katelyn has been instrumental in developing and maintaining pollinator gardens in the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and has done much to improve and maintain the extensive trail network throughout Mashpee’s conservation lands. Her accomplishments include securing funding to purchase the Chop Chaque Bog off Santuit Pond through the Town’s Community Preservation Act, and subsequently secured funding through the MA Dept of Fish and Game and ArmyCorps of Engineers In-Lieu Fee Program to perform wetland restoration on the abandoned bogs with goals of improving wetland/wildlife habitats and water quality.
Katelyn was especially proud of the Mashpee Land Stewards program. She noted that “several large parcels were left ungated for many years leading to excessive dumping, and this collaboration created a clean, safe place for people to enjoy many of the natural habitats Mashpee has to offer. The experience demonstrated the importance of collaboration on projects such as this, and I will be forever grateful to all who helped make that day possible.”
FMNWR resources published during her tenure include a 37-page booklet, The History of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, updated RefugeTrail Maps, a pamphlet on Creating and Maintaining Habitat for the New England Cottontail, and a new Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Brochure. Katelyn assisted with printing, distribution and promotion of these publications.
Katelyn described how “collaborating with the various partners in the Refuge and with environmentally conscientious individuals from the Town are the best ways to learn and expand upon the many past, present and future initiatives to improve awareness of our special Refuge, including the unique habitats and wildlife that flourish here. “
Katelyn expressed her hope “to continue to make key connections on ways to improve education and awareness of our natural world, no matter where you are geographically. We all share the world and must learn to live more harmoniously and respectfully.”
The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge are extremely grateful to Katelyn for everything she has accomplished. We will miss her presence and, though thousands of miles may separate us, we hope she will remain connected to the group and continue to serve its interests. We know she will work hard to benefit Alaska’s wildlife, and the Pacific Northwest has gained a worthy steward of their natural environment!