A "jack of all trades," the 59-year-old Noyes serves as a volunteer naturalist at the refuge and has contributed more than 10,000 hours of service in the refuge’s National Wildlife Visitor Center and North Tract. Noyes has also photographed much of the flora and fauna on the refuge as well as the day-to-day activities of staff and visitors, managed the Friends of Patuxent’s Wildlife Images Bookstore, produced the monthly newsletter for the refuge volunteers and actively recruited others into the volunteer program.

"We are blessed to have such energetic and dedicated volunteers as Steve," said Brad Knudsen, the refuge’s manager. "He is ‘ageless’ and it just goes to show that volunteering keeps a person young," Knudsen said.

"This is a special year for the National Wildlife Refuge System, because we are celebrating its centennial anniversary," said Steve Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We should all recognize that the contributions of volunteers like Steve Noyes makes it possible for us to conserve these wonderful places and provide opportunities for the public to enjoy them."

The only system of federal lands devoted specifically to wildlife, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of diverse and strategically located habitats. The system teems with millions of migratory birds, serves as a haven for hundreds of endangered species, and hosts an enormous variety of other plants and animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

-FWS-