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Cedar Bog Manager Honored with Award

Terry Jaworski, resident and site manager of Cedar Bog Nature Preserve for the past 26 years and employed by the Ohio Historical Society, owner of the Bog, was recently given an award by the Environmental Education Council of Ohio.

The Outstanding Environmental Educator in the Field of Nonformal Education Award is given to a "nonformal educator for outstanding contributions to environmental education in Ohio."

It was presented at EECO's annual conference on March 29, 2003 at the Maumee Bay State Park Resort and Conference Center, located on Lake Erie near Toledo.

In nominating Jaworski for this honor, naturalist Bob Glotzhober of the OHS, wrote, "Terry has dedicated 27 or 28 years to interpreting Cedar Bog to Oio citizens of all ages. His knowledge of the preserve, his obvious love for it and his great ability to build rapport with students and stimulate their imaginations has been a great asset to environmental education at the preserve.

Jaworski graduated from California Luthern University, did graduate study at Hamma School of Theology and studied biology at Urbana University with Dr. Clara Mae Frederick.

He joined forces with several others to found the Cedar Bog Associationand participated in the "Improve U.S. 68 Committee," ultimately helping to work out a ploan for an environmentally acceptable relocation of the proposed U.S. Route 68 by-pass.

He is vice chairman of the Urbana Wellhead Protection Environmental Committee and chairman of the education subcommittee.

He has assisted 18 Boy Scouts in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout by working on a project in Cedar Bog.

The Beavercreek Wetlands Association constructed its plastic boardwalk with Jaworski's advice. He has given papers at two International Symposia on the Conservation of the Massasauga Rattlesnake, a species found in the Bog.

Jaworski has authored papers on check lists of amphibians and reptiles in the Bog, teaches zoology, botany and local flora for Urbana University and is a lecturer and speaker.

He's known as the Toad Master of Ohio, as "his toads sing louder and longer that anyone else's toads."

His daughter, Anna, is a student at Urbana University.