After receiving nominations from fellow volunteer hunter education instructors, Stuart Kenewell of Gregory has been honored as the recipient of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 2023 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.
Managed by Michigan’s DNR, the Hunter Education program helps the next generation of hunters—an average of 15,000 students per year—learn how to enjoy safe, responsible hunting and understand the importance of wildlife management by teaching lifelong skills such as firearm safety, basic first aid, and how to use a map and compass.
“Volunteer instructors are the foundation of our recreational safety programs,” said Lieutenant Tom Wanless, who serves as the DNR recreational safety, education, and enforcement supervisor, in a recent press release.
Since becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor in 1986, Stuart Kenewell has served as the lead hunter education instructor at the Chelsea Rod and Gun club. During his 38 years of volunteering, Kenewell has been credited for certifying thousands of students and for creating community programs to support hunter education and hunting while positively representing hunting and outdoor recreation.
“[Kenewell] is a positive mentor of those programs and is crucial in recruiting and teaching new youth and adults how to safely and respectfully enjoy the outdoors,” said Wanless.
Kenewell’s long list of community accomplishments includes his role in developing a public archery program and target course, which has operated for more than 30 years. He is also credited with establishing a relationship with Chelsea and Stockbridge public schools to promote hunter education within their community education programs.
To register or learn more about recreational safety education programs, visit Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety.
