Since 2017 we have been giving out awards to our members and others for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter and conservation. Below is a list of the awards, the award winners, and their contributions for 2023-2026. To view the awardees from 2017-2022, Click Here.
Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2026
1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2026
Nomination by Tony- Denise Brough and Tara Owens
A huge part of Denise’s life prior to coming to Bush Lake was a home daycare, which she ran for 33 years. She hosted parties for every celebration in her home, often allowing the kids to stay late in the evening allowing the parents to have a night out. Throughout the years, this is what the kids remembered and looked forward to most, many coming back at older ages.
Then comes Tara, Founder of Tod Pod, a non-profit organization providing social play opportunities for families with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children while helping parents and caregivers build community and connection.
Together, they created the highly successful “Seasonal Family Events” at the Chapter, which all started with Pumpkin Fest, continued with the Winter Stroll, Ring in Spring, Fun in the Sun, and again with Pumpkin Fest in the evening of October 29th this year.
Tara has been instrumental with flyers and a general encouragement of the need. Denise definitely made it spark, with her decorations, snacks, and fun old-school games all incorporating Chapter mission concepts in a playful and fun manner.
THANK YOU both and the numerous other volunteers that help to make these highly successful seasonal family events where the entire family of all agers are welcomed.
2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Chapter member and board member, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.
Nomination by Rick- Mike Dyste has been a Bush Lake Ike member for over 40 years. He served as secretary and president in his early days. His involvement waned as he raised his family, but now Mike is again working hard on the chapter’s behalf. Mike worked with Caretaker, Tony Brough, to remodel our lodge’s kitchen, as well as taking part in other chapter activities. Mike’s special concern is preserving the history around Bush Lake and especially our chapter which was founded in 1937.
Congratulations Mike. Thank you for your rekindled involvement with the Bush Lake Chapter!
3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and the environment.
Nomination by Paul E.- The Public Good Award this year goes to the City of Bloomington Park Maintenance and Natural Resources Staff- Wade Yunker, Rick Van Anken, Jacob Koopendrayer, Savino Ranallo, Mark Morrison, Dave Hanson.
Liz and I moved to Bloomington 16 years ago, when we became the caretakers here at the Chapter. The City was just starting to dip its toes into ecological restoration- converting parks, open spaces, and unused turf areas to native plants. Since then, especially in the last 5-10 years, the City has greatly accelerated these efforts, and it shows throughout Bloomington. Since we moved to “Extraordinary East Bloomington” a couple of years ago, we have time to get out a bit more, and it seems like everywhere we go, the City is busy restoring land and water and creating wildlife habitat! Central Park, Marsh Lake, Pond Dakota Mission, Tarnhill Park, and Parkers Picnic Area are just a few of the parks where City staff have been improving ecological integrity and getting things done. There’s also a huge power line corridor that runs north and south through East Bloomington- for a long time, this was just acres and acres of mowed turf. Now, for several years, the City has been converting hundreds of these acres there to prairie.
I encourage you to visit the City’s Natural Resources website for a full list of projects they have been working on, and some cool videos and other stuff. There you will find a list of over 27 parks and open spaces where this great team has been hard at work implementing ecological restoration. Even better, get out and visit some of these parks, they are amazing and a wonder to behold.
For the wildlife, for the water quality, for the people of Bloomington and beyond, the Bush Lake Chapter would like to express deep gratitude to Wade, Rick, Jacob, Savino, Mark, Dave, and the City of Bloomington for their tremendous efforts!
4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the Izaak Walton League that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.
Nomination by Paul E. This year, the Commitment to Conservation Award goes to Steph MacPhail. I’m not sure where or when I first met Steph, maybe she just fell from the sky, like a bird, because she sure has been a huge help to me and the Chapter. Steph is our “professional birder,” our avian advocate. Her knowledge of and passion for birds is a huge asset to the Chapter and to our community. She plans and leads our bird programs throughout the year, including our Christmas Bird Count, and Fall and Spring Migratory bird days, with the Fall one coming up in a few weeks. Attendees of these events learn from Steph lot of cool things about birds and how we can help them in our homes, yards and businesses. She helps keep our bird houses and wildlife structures in tip top shape. She volunteers many hours in Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and beyond working to help birds and other wildlife, and educating others about conservation. Steph does all of this with a smile on her face and makes it fun and engaging for others.
An honorable mention for Steph’s award goes to her family, Dave, Bryce, and Josh, who, of course, assist her and share her passion for birds and nature. This award has been a long time coming, and well deserved- thank you Steph for your dedication and your Commitment to Conservation!
5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.
Nomination by Tony - Fall Owens has enjoyed spending time at our Chapter since becoming a member with her parents in 2024. In the spring of 2026, she explored the woods north of the Chapter. While she admired the large oak trees and wildlife, she began to notice the dominance of buckthorn and the lack of biodiversity it was causing. When asked if she might be interested in starting a petition to address the issue, she asked, “What is a petition?” That same evening, she researched the concept with her family and wrote an impactful letter, focused on presenting the issue to a local council or board.
At age 7, Fall presented her petition with 85 signatures to the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board and prepared a video presentation for the Three Rivers Park District Commissioners. Both presentations were received extremely positively, and her actions helped solidify plans for 10 acres of buckthorn removal around East Bay Pond—a project the Chapter has desired for years. Her efforts prove that actions, even at age 7, can make a significant difference!
Fall- Thank you for your passion, your environmental stewardship, and your friendship. Keep up the great work!
Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2025
1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2025
Gregg Thompson, Esau Underhillwood, and Paul Raymaker- Many people helped with the caretaker position transition, but these three did the most. Gregg and Esau spent countless hours fixing, repairing, and improving the cabin for the new caretakers. Paul lead our efforts for finding the new caretakers- posting the position, finding candidates, scheduling interviews, and keeping our caretaker committee on track.
These three helped the former caretakers, Paul and Liz in numerous ways over the years and with their departure as caretakers. They have also assisted Tony and Denise as they figure out the role and get familiar with the Chapter. Kudos to Gregg, Esau, and Paul for their awesome work!
2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.
Matt Jones is a neighbor of the Chapter, a long-time member, and also serves on our board of directors. Matt can always be counted on for volunteer events and is generous with his time in keeping an eye on the Chapter, especially when the caretakers are away. He’s assisted with lodge rentals, general upkeep and gives us all peace of mind with his vigilance. He also cares deeply about the lake and surrounding park lands and works to keep them great. Thanks Matt for always going the extra mile. (Matt couldn’t be with us today, but we are honored to have his wife Lisa, another great advocate for the Chapter and lake, accept the award in his honor).
3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and the environment.
Joshua J. Kerber, M.S., Research Scientist, Indoor Air Unit, Minnesota Department of Health.
Josh was integral in helping the Chapter figure out the complex radon issue in the Caretaker’s cabin. He came to the Chapter numerous times, identifying the issues and then helping to make it safe for the caretakers (and guests and members that use the guest restroom). Josh goes above and beyond in helping people understand radon and how to mitigate it. Josh also helped the Erdmanns with radon at their new home in East Bloomington. We appreciate Josh’s commitment to public service and his efforts to make the air we breathe healthier!
4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.
Jon Pletcher is the owner and manager of Wild Birds Unlimited, a wonderful wild bird store in Eden Prairie. He’s also a former member, and we hope with this award we can lure him back! Jon has assisted the Chapter through the years with various bird conservation efforts. He’s provided technical assistance with our bird habitat structures and has also donated bird houses and other related items to the Chapter and to Chapter members as give-aways and prizes. This spring, Jon donated a portion of our new purple martin house (you can see over there), something that was really needed as our old one was old- and in disrepair. Jon also helped Tony put together and install the new martin house, a not easy task.
At his store, Jon helps countless customers make sure they are doing the right thing, the right way, for our avian friends. We thank Jon for his Commitment to Conservation!
5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.
Catelin Barnwell is extremely passionate and has a strong sense of affection towards our Chapter and Bush Lake. This is revealing through her actions of coming an hour early before her guests to make sure the grounds look great. Interacting with her, you immediately see enthusiastic engagement on what she loves about this Chapter, and she participates in more than just the minimum volunteer events throughout the years. She even jumped right away into the frigid lake early this Spring to get one aluminum can sitting around 5 ft deep. Catelin definitely has an obsession, in a healthy sense, of kayaking and exploring our favorite lake. Keep up the great work Catelin!
Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2024
1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2024
Krissy Anderson is a new member and in just a few short months she has become one of our best! At new member orientation, Krissy heard about Paul’s plans for a new turtle raft to be put in the pond, something he has been wanting to do, but hasn’t been able to find the time. Krissy offered to take this on, and with the help from her husband Dave and a couple of other Chapter volunteers, a new turtle/wildlife raft was out on East Bay Pond in short order! Krissy has also helped manage invasive plants at the Chapter, and recently helped clean up after storm damage. Krissy enjoys taking the trail around the Chapter and sharing her nature observations. An honorable mention goes to Dave, Krissy’s husband. Dave also helped with the turtle raft, and Dave and Krissy volunteered at the UMN Starry Trek event in August, where they went out to look for starry stonewort and other Aquatic Invasive Species. Members that are always quick and willing to lend a hand, that what makes for a strong Izaak Walton League Chapter. Thank you, Krissy!
2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.
Lee Ann Landstrom is a long-time member that is always sure to fulfill her Chapter volunteer requirements but is also involved with the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC), where she currently serves as a Director at Large, and Environmental Action & Conservation Chair. Lee Ann can’t always make it to our volunteer events, but she is sure to reach out to Paul and ask how she can help out. For several years this was pulling abundant sweet clover around the lake, and, this year, she sat and watched for chimney swifts coming and going from our chimney swift tower to get photo documentation, which she got! At MRVAC, she wears many hats, but a big one is managing their grant program, giving grants to non-profits, schools and governmental organizations for projects that benefit wildlife and promote environmental awareness, education, and advocacy. One such fortunate recipient of a MRVAC grant was the Jefferson High School Earth Corps, where grant funds were used for native plants for their Unity Garden. And of course, Lee Ann volunteered and helped with the garden. This year’s Gordy Bratsch Award goes to Lee Ann Landstrom!
3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and/or the environment.
A) City of Bloomington Solid Waste Program - This award is to recognize the solid waste Bloomington staff for the amazing progress in reducing landfill contributions and putting programs in place that incentivize residents to reduce their footprint. Their efforts started with organized collection- reducing the number of trucks moving through our neighborhoods, making them safer and less polluted, saving wear and tear on roads, and more. Next, they implemented organics drop off sites, and soon after, Bloomington residents were able to have curbside organics recycling. Soon after this, the City and Solid Waste Program studied our “dump all your junk on the curb once a year”- also known as curbside clean up, and found that more than 1/3 of these items put on the curb could be recycled or reused. Their solution- a multifaceted program that combined the previous and popular curbside pickup program with a series of new initiatives aimed at reusing items previously thrown in the landfill. Our City is leading the way in Minnesota on solid waste, and the city now has a goal of recycling or composting 75% of the waste generated in the city by 2030. The City Solid Waste Program is led by Laura Horner- special kudos to her! One of this year’s Public Good Awards goes to the City of Bloomington Solid Waste Program.
B) A member of our chapter, Representative Steve Elkins has worked since the mid-1990’s creating safe, sustainable, efficient transportation solutions: so that everyday people (schoolchildren, workers, disabled, elders, economically disadvantaged, everybody) can get where they need to go safely and efficiently while reducing their carbon footprint through active modes of transportation (walking, cycling).
Here are four points essential to understanding the problem that Steve has worked so long to address and the success he has had which are good for all of us.
1. Climate change mitigation starts with reducing carbon emissions.
2. In Minnesota, any realistic effort to reduce carbon emissions must place transportation front and center. According to MnDOT: “Transportation is the top source of carbon pollution in Minnesota and the United States. Land use patterns and unsafe, inconvenient alternatives make driving alone the most convenient choice for many Minnesotans. Cars in Minnesota are mostly powered by fossil fuels, which emit carbon pollution and other air pollutants.”
3. The personal automobile is the least sustainable--but most popular--mode of transportation in Minnesota. The automobile not only produces emissions—from the tailpipe or, in the case of e-cars, at the powerhouse—but it also requires large swaths of our landscape be paved thereby producing runoff and urban heat island, encourages urban sprawl, creates barriers and risks the personal safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
4. One of the biggest obstacles keeping people from switching from their automobiles to sustainable, active modes of transportation—walking, cycling—is safety. Quite frankly, automobiles preclude the emergence of other modes of transportation by their limiting their access and threatening their safety. In order to get people to choose sustainable climate-friendly modes of transportation, the safety issue must be addressed.
One of Steve’s recent legislative successes is the Bill Dooley Bicycle Safety Act, named after a Black Minnesotan who dedicated much of his life to making cycling accessible to diverse communities. This bill, carried by Steve, put Minnesota at the leading edge of bicycle, and pedestrian safety—especially for children and their safe routes to school. Signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, now we have:
- Bicycle safety programs in schools
- Two new bike routes added to the state network
- A revived citizens advisory board for non-motorized transportation
- Federal transportation funds directed specifically to non-motorized transportation and to the safe routes to school program
- The “Idaho stop” which allows cyclists to proceed through stop signs without the requirement to come to a complete stop.
- Rules establishing the space motorists must yield to cyclists on roadways.
By making “active” transportation safer with the Bill Dooley Bicycle Safety Act, Steve is helping Minnesotans (especially our youngest) make the sustainable choice to switch to active modes of transportation. In addition to the immediate mitigation of carbon emissions, this legislation makes neighborhoods safer, the air and water cleaner, the natural areas quieter, and make it safer for all of us to enjoy outdoor activities. Thank you, Steve. Keep up the good work!
4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.
Julia Bohnen serves as a researcher at the Restoration Ecology & Invasion Biology Department at the Larkin Lab at the University of Minnesota. She manages the Ecological Restoration training program and invasive Phragmites surveillance, control, and research efforts. The University’s Invasive Phragmites program is likely our state’s most successful invasive species Early Detection and Rapid Response Program, taking invasive phragmites head on, finding and removing populations of this species before it becomes widespread. Non-native phragmites is a very large, aggressive grass that has taken over many square miles of shoreland and wetland in other areas of the world. If only we had a program like this for all of our invasive species! The Ecological Restoration training program has trained hundreds of practitioners who are now out in the field restoring land and water and protecting our states biodiversity for years to come. This year’s Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award goes to Julia Bohnen, and we thank her for her dedication and excellent work protecting our natural resources.
5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.
Felix Malcolm-Manzoni is a remarkable young leader whose passion for environmental stewardship and community education is truly inspiring. At just 13 years old, Felix has made significant strides in promoting soil health and ecological awareness. He began this journey at the age of 9 as a volunteer on the Linden Hills abandoned trolley path healthy soil demonstration site, not only helping regenerate the land but also educating others about the importance of healthy soil and mycorrhizal fungi as a keynote speaker at numerous youth workshops and community events.
Felix's commitment extends beyond his local community. For the past three years he has represented the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) at the Department of Agriculture’s “Dig It” exhibit, putting in long hours and captivating audiences with his knowledge and enthusiasm. In the winter of 2023, he showcased regenerative landscaping and native plants at the Minnesota Science Museum. His role as a Southwest community education instructor during the pandemic, his musical performance at the Linden Hills Festival presenting the song he wrote about healthy soil when he was 10 years old, and his efforts in transitioning gardens to support pollinators highlight his innovative approach to environmental advocacy. With upcoming roles in the world premiere of "Seniorita Mariposa" that opens September 19th about the journey of a Monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico and continued work as a youth environmentalist such as visiting the Boundary Waters each summer and speaking to elementary school classes, Felix exemplifies the spirit of ecological leadership and dedication. This year’s Bush Lake Youth Conservation Award goes to Felix Malcolm Manzoni. Felix, thank you- and keep up the great work!
Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2023
1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2023
This year’s Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Glenn Corliss- John Crampton stole/recruited Glenn from the Minnesota Valley Chapter. We don’t think Glenn has missed a volunteer event in the 3 years he’s been a member. He has a can-do attitude, is quick to lend a hand, and is a great guy to work with. We know that Glenn stays busy with other volunteering too, so we appreciate his dedication to the Ikes and our Chapter. Thanks Glenn!
2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.
It is fitting that we give this year’s Gordy Bratsch award to Steve Dale, as Steve was also neighbors with Gordy, and could probably share some stories! Steve is our neighbor up the road and has been for many years. Steve always donates food and drink for our events that help sustain our volunteers. He can always be counted on to support our mission and our conservation programs. Steve is also a great neighbor of the lake and has a very large native prairie and shoreline buffer that is maintained, so it can thrive and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, while protecting water quality in the lake. Steve is kept busy with his two young grandsons that live next door to him, along with his daughter Katie and her husband Patrick. Thanks for being a great member and neighbor, Steve!
3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and the environment.
This year’s Public Good Award goes to the Friends of Minnetonka Parks. This is recently formed group has already done tremendous work restoring public parks in Minnetonka and advocating for wildlife habitat and conservation, and educating the public on these important topics. They have been able to build community support and engage many volunteers in restoring public land in Minnetonka. I encourage you to check out their cool website where they restoration resources, volunteer events, and more. The Bush Lake Chapter would like to thank the Friends of Minnetonka Parks for their incredible efforts in restoring and preserving public lands for people and wildlife alike.
4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.
This year’s Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award goes to Dan Shaw. Dan is the go to guy for all things restoration ecology in Minnesota. Many of the practices and restoration methods we have used on our Chapter property, Dan had something to do with.
For the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the State of Minnesota, Dan is the Senior Ecologist and Vegetation Specialist. He also teaches ecology courses at the University of Minnesota. He has written and illustrated several ecology-focused publications. He has helped to create and coordinate numerous conservation programs, focusing on native vegetation, invasive species management, pollinator habitat, habitat-friendly solar, water management and climate resiliency. He has taught many students who you can now find working as professionals in the field, restoring land and water throughout the state. One of Dan’s most recent and most successful programs is Lawns to Legumes, which encourages Minnesotans to provide pollinator habitat in their own backyards. Dan is a legend in the conservation and botany world in Minnesota. We are all better off, and our cherished natural resources are much better off, thanks to Dan, his hard work, and his commitment to conservation.
5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.
This year’s Youth Conservation Award goes to Camille Morton. Camille is a freshman at Purdue University. She is the founding President of the Minnesota River Valley’s Green Crew. She currently serves on the Minnesota Valley’s Board of Directors. She co- chaired a committee for the Minnesota Division and was appointed as Minnesota Valley Chapter’s representative to the Minnesota Division Board.
Camille was one of three Green Crew members who attended this summer’s national convention in Nebraska. In her presentation, she challenged attendees to add youth to their chapter, state and national leadership teams.
For outstanding character, dedication and volunteer leadership, Camille truly deserves the 2023 Bush Lake Izaak Walton League Youth Conservation Award.
