Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has hired Erin Brown as its first full-time Director of Education in nearly two decades. She will lead the organization's strategic work to build education programming to a leadership level, including to provide the highest quality public and school programs and resources and to encourage educators from all areas and backgrounds to use raptors and raptor migration as a focus for learning.

"This new position expands our education staff, and with our capital vision and newly-opened Irma Broun-Kahn Education building," sanctuary president Jerry Regan said. "Now we can expand our educational outreach and connect even more people of all ages to the mountain and the migration."Board member Scott Weidensaul led the national search, which began in late autumn of 2013 and attracted more than 100 qualified candidates stretching from Florida to Utah to New York. Brown is a resident of Berks County, a former 20-year resident of Schuylkill County and a long-time member of the sanctuary.Brown brings to the position experience in both the public school system where she worked as a life science teacher at the Parkland Area School District, as well as the state park system, where she held positions as an environmental educator and volunteer coordinator. Her broad-based experience includes leading teacher workshops, developing science-based curriculum, directing eco camps, and work within the school system to develop new science curriculums and create STEMM-related activities.A major goal of the new position is to fully integrate science and education into the Hawk Mountain experience, and to boost education materials, activities and curricula that combine real science with teacher needs. Brown brings a variety of outdoor teaching certifications that include the Project WILD, Project WET and WOW!, the Project WILD Aquatic, the Pa Songbirds, the WWF Pa Biodiversity curriculums, as well as 10 years of hands-on experience in handling and caring for live raptors and using them as tools for learning.A long-time education volunteer and member of the Carbon County Environmental Center, Brown is also a senior Girl Scout leader in Douglassville, and has received awards for professional excellence from the Carbon County Conservation District, the Schuylkill County Visitor's Bureau, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Kutztown University College of Education. She and her husband Eric and their three children live in Birdsboro.**********A Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Basic Boating Course instructed by PFBC personnel will be held at Beltzville State Park, Sunday May 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge for the course, but participants must preregister by calling the park at 610-377-0045.Designed to supply boaters with practical information so they can make better informed decisions on the water, Basic Boating Course instructors will provide students with information via a classroom setting to help them reduce the risk of injury and conflict on the water. Students who successfully complete the course may apply for a $10 Boating Safety Education Certificate, which is required of all operators of personal watercraft or anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, who operate a motorboat of more than 25 horsepower.More information can be found by visiting

www.fishandboat.com.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features National Rifle Association Firearms Museum curator and co-host of the television program "Gun Gurus" Phil Schreier.**********Gerald Schott Sr. of Jonestown recently pleaded guilty to illegally killing a 13-point trophy class whitetail deer on New Year's Eve. Pennsylvania Game Commission Southeast Region wildlife conservation officer Brian Sheetz filed the charges, which resulted in fines and replacement costs totaling $9,700 for Schott Sr. ($7,100); Gerald Schott Jr., Lebanon ($1,600) and Emial Miller, Lebanon ($1,000).Sheetz received a call regarding a deer that was killed New Year's Eve in the area behind the Green Point Fire Company, Union Township, and after investigating obtained search warrants for the residences of the Schotts. Schott Sr. had killed the deer, Miller and Schott Jr. assisted with dragging the illegal deer and transporting it to a butcher shop and taxidermist. Through the investigation, it was learned that during the firearms deer season Schott Sr. had also killed a 6-point buck and that Schott Jr. had killed a doe, but neither deer was tagged.**********A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.**********On-site registration for the "Family Fun Fishing Event," is available Sunday, May 4, at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove. Tagged fish may be redeemed through Monday, Sept. 1.**********Registration is underway for Schuylkill County Youth Field Day, Saturday, May 17, beginning 8 a.m., at Friedensburg Fish and Game. Youth between the ages of 10-15, regardless of their residence and who must be accompanied by an adult, can participate in the event that will introduce or refine a variety of outdoor skills.Sponsored by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association and Schuylkill Conservation District with the cooperation of various state and local conservation agencies, the day-long event is free and open to both boys and girls. Qualified instructors will teach activities such as fishing, canoeing, trap shooting, archery, muzzleloader shooting, air rifle, forestry and trapping with participation in any event being voluntary.Lunch and refreshments are provided to participants and their adult chaperons, and this year's each child will receive a baseball-style cap courtesy of Cabela's Hamburg. For required preregistration and information contact "Porcupine Pat" McKinney at 570-622-4124, ext. 113, or by email:

porcupinepat@yahoo.com.**********"Paddle Against Cancer," to benefit Team Mason K, a 14-year-old boy who is one of only four persons in the United States diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called at/rt, will be held Saturday, May 24, at Island Park, Schuylkill Haven, at 8 a.m., for kayaks and canoes and proceed to the Landingville Dam, where return transportation is available. For information, registration and donations, call Roger Krause 570-449-9002 or Joie Beekley at 570-570-449-1992.**********A hike of the Crow and Lake View Trails will be held Wednesday, May 7, beginning at 1 p.m., Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville, and a bird walk will be held, Saturday, May 10, beginning at 7:30 a.m., at Locust Lake State Park, Barnesville. For information call Robin Tracey at (570) 467-2506.