Local author receives awards.

Joan Young

Michigan Outdoor Writers Association recently presented writer Joan H. Young of Amber Township with three awards for excellence in writing craft for 2018. The recognition was made at the MOWA annual conference in June 2019.

Young received a James H Hall award which includes stories highlighting “non-consumptive” activities, those whose intent is not to take something from the outdoors (such as hiking, boating, camping skills, bird watching, lake studies, wilderness first aid, kayaking, nature studies, habitat development, etc.). Young’s two-part series in her “Get Off The Couch” freelance column in the Ludington Daily News, from September and October 2018, concerning her hike of the Midland to Mackinac Trail received third place.

In addition, she placed third in the Charlie Welch photography contest, with an image of Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills of Ohio.

She also was recognized with third place in overall best outdoor column in the state of Michigan, for the monthly column. The James A.O. Crowe award is given for the best regularly appearing, signed column for which the writer is paid.

The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA) is a non-profit organization comprised of outdoor communicators, including: writers, photographers, editors, cartoonists for print and, Internet, as well as video, lecturers and public relations specialists, radio and television broadcast journalists with passions for communicating about the outdoors. MOWA also provides the public with Memorial Markers of people, places and events that have been significant to the state’s outdoor heritage. See www.miowa.net