Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards
(PAWS)
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation
2015 Chapter of the Year
Gaston Young Guns
-2023- Banquet Update
The 2023 Wildlife Benefit Banquet and Oyster Roast was once again a sell out. Support by the community, our banquet sponsors, and all of those individuals who come each and every year, we thank you.
The Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards (PAWS); A Chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, holds a banquet each year through which your support helps fund our on-going conservation efforts.
Our banquet event generally includes dinner/oyster roast/shrimp, live auction, silent auction, raffles, door prizes, & a full service bar. In addition to the floor raffles and drawings which can be experienced only by ticket holders, we will usually have a pre-banquet raffle which can be purchased and won by non-banquet attendees.
We encourage you to visit our webpage throughout the year and invite you to join us next year for the social event of the year. Pictures of our banquet can be found by clicking our Pictures tab.
-9 October 2021- Upcoming Event
Please join: Bit of Hope Ranch for their 5k Fun Run Event scheduled for 9 October 2021. Packet pick up starts at 7:30 am on race day
Race times:
Half-Pint race (age 7 and under) is from 8:30 - 8:45 am.
5K Race starts at 9:00 am. Timing supplied by Finish Well Timing.
2K walks start at 9:05 am (after runners leave)
Location: 5001 CR Wood Rd Gastonia, NC 28016
More information may be obtained via their website.
-2 October, 2021 - BANQUET UPDATE
Dear PAWS Supporter,
We hope that this correspondence finds you well. While we were optimistic that we were going to be able to put finally have our wildlife banquet, we have unfortunately made the last-minute decision to postpone the banquet due to the current situation with COVID in our area.
The current plan is to wait until March of 2022 and have the banquet in our typical time slot. I know this is frustrating as the postponements continue to mount but we feel that this is in the best interest of our guests and our committee members. We sincerely apologize for the late notice.
We appreciate your patience throughout this process and we look forward to seeing you all in the spring of 2022. All tickets that have been purchased will be good for the 2022 Wildlife Banquet.
If you have any questions feel free to contact us. Please reach out to your member contact or you can reach our President, Chuck King, at either csking86@gmail.com or (704) 747-3730.
From all of us at Gaston PAWS thanks again for your continued support and stay safe. See you soon.
Sincerely,
The Gaston County Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards
SPECIAL NOTICE: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) & PAWS Banquet
-28 March, 2020 - TO BE RESCHEDULED
The Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards (PAWS) banquet scheduled to be held March 28, 2020 will be suspended in accordance with Federal, State and Local guidelines.
While regrettable this safety action is required and is in the best interest of all our guests. Once the ban is lifted and this highly communicable virus is contained, we will issue a statement as to the rescheduled date and time of our yearly banquet.
Please hold on to your banquet tickets as they will still be valid and used for admission once the banquet is rescheduled.
Updates on the situation will be issued through our website and Facebook page. Should you require additional information feel free to contact any one of the individuals listed on your admissions ticket.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
2020 Eagle Scout Journey
-January, 2020 -
Congratulations to Austin Andrews upon completing his community project as part of his Eagle Scout journey! Austin chose a wildlife project consisting of building and installing wood duck habitat which he installed in McAdenville, NC. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of seeing wood ducks “in the wild”, they are without equals for their beauty and grace.
2020 NCWF and PAW's Event
- 11 February, 2020 -
Please join PAWS (Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards) - Gaston county's own chapter of the NCWF (North
Carolina Wildlife Federation) for a FREE informative talk and information session February 11, 2020
from 6-7pm at the Schiele Museum by guest speaker NC native Manley Fuller, Vice President of
Conservation Policy with the NCWF. With decades of experience in conservation policy and wildlife
and fisheries stewardship Mr. Fuller will discuss and explain some of the current challenges facing the wildlife and fisheries here in our great state of NC.
Topics will include:
-Let 'em Spawn legislation and its very impactful purpose in our coastal marine estuaries of NC
-Reasons for and benefits of NC marine fisheries management being shifted to
the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
-Impacts of the federal program Recovering America's Wildlife Act on NC.
-How citizens can become involved with NCWF and communicate their concerns to the appropriate
elected officials.
-State of NC public game lands acquisition and preservation.
-Concluded by an informal Question and Answer session.
Details: Feb 11°', 6:00pm, Schiele Museum. www facebook.com/GastonPAWS/
2020 PAWS Sportsman's Banquet
- 28 March, 2020 -
UPDATE: Wildlife Benefit Banquet and Oyster Roast has been sold out!
A special thanks to all of our supporters as this yearly social event is once again a sell out made possible by advance ticket sales.
The 2020 Wildlife Benefit Banquet and Oyster Roast will once again be held at Wood Duck Farm, 1687 Robinson Road, Gastonia, North Carolina.
Wildlife Benefit Banquet and Oyster Roast Gaston County Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards (PAWS); A Chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, presents a Fund Raising Event for the benefit of Gaston County Wildlife and Wildlife Associated Activities:
Date: March 28, 2020
Time: 6 P.M.
Place: Wood Duck Farm 1687 Robinson Road Gastonia, N.C. 28056
Event will include dinner/oyster roast/shrimp, live auction, silent auction, raffles, door prizes, & a full service bar.
Ticket Availability:
Please mark your calendars for this event. This yearly social event is generally a sell out by advance ticket sales. Once the event sales out, no admissions can be allowed at the door.
Please continue to monitor this website as more information will be provided once ticket sales commence.
Gaston County PAWS and Bit of Hope Ranch.
- 10 September, 2019 -
The Gaston County Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards lends a helping hand.
The PAWS was able to meet an unusual request from the Bit of Hope Ranch, Inc. located in Gastonia, NC. Bit of Hope Ranch provides Outdoor Nature Programs as well as Equine Assisted Therapies for counseling, physical therapy and leadership/educational programs.
The center wanted to add some stations to their riding arena which would inspire and create a new dimension which would help entice individuals to "get out of their comfort zone and interact with others more openly" plus give the kids a new way of looking at "finishing a task or solving simple tasks". The idea requires riders to move around the arena on horseback, stop at a select station and remove an item from the box. In theory that item could contain any number of ideas, requests, or something as simple as a "treat". All of which is intended to get kids to express themselves more openly thereby helping them to more effectively communicate and articulate any topic or idea.
Meg Vanderbilt, Executive Director of the facility, also wanted to add some boxes to the riding trails. Rising to the need, the Gaston County PAWS group built special wooden, fake (looks like) bird houses which were installed in the riding arena and the trail system. These types of partnerships are another way in which the PAWS can partner with and enhance our environment, community, and kids.
2019 PAW's Youth Day Event
- 28 September, 2019 -
The 2019 PAW's Youth Day Event has been set for 28 September, 2019. This years event will again be held at the Iron Gate Farm, Bowling Springs, SC which is just off Ridge Road on Bellegray Road. This beautiful track of land is just minutes from the Wood Duck Farm which served us for many years. This pristine and tranquil setting will be an ideal place for kids to experience the outdoors. Plan to attend by reserving this date now on your calendar!
2019 Annual Youth Day Event - Ages 6 to 16 - This is a Free Event
Date: September 28, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Iron Gate Farm, 649 Bellegray Road, Clover, SC 29710
Enjoy an outdoor event with your child. Various outdoor activities will be provided, including a meal of Hotdogs and Hamburgers:
Rock Climbing Wall Bow & Arrow Shooting Fishing
Skeet Shooting Horseback Riding Bounce House
Fire Truck Demos Sling Shot Shooting
Groups of 10 or more - PLEASE RSVP by calling Larry Capps 704-914-7177
“Your notification to us of large groups allows for better managing our food purchases.”
North Carolina Wildlife Federation holds annual awards banquet.
- 7 September, 2019 -
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation announced the winners of the 56th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards. This year’s winners are exceedingly notable conservation devotees who work for wildlife, habitat, and those who cherish natural resources. They are land stewardship champions, water advocates, and leaders in the preservation of unique ecosystems. The award winners include agency professionals, elected officials, dedicated volunteers and organizations rising to the challenge.
The Gaston County Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards was honored through the selection of their Chapter President, Mr. Larry Capps, as this year's recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award.
"Wildlife Volunteer – Larry Capps (Gastonia) – An avid sportsman and wildlife enthusiast, Capps leaves his conservation mark wherever he goes. He has transformed hundreds of acres into wildlife sanctuary, has led the charge in installing wood duck boxes, osprey platforms, pollinator gardens and fish attractors to promote healthy wildlife and habitat, in Gaston County and beyond. Capps is tireless in his efforts to promote conservation and getting youth and others involved in the outdoors."
Please click on the below link and read the full story:
https://ncwf.org/governors-conservation-achievement-award-winners-announced/