By Heather Eaton, Youth Leadership Council, Iowa
Reprinted from Winter 2010 Upland Tales magazine.
Brooks and Heather Eaton, author of this article, made Rudy buttons at the 2008 Pheasant Fest. Brooks is now Vice Chair of the Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever National Youth Leadership Council (PF & QF NYLC).
Can we teach everyone about habitat and conservation? Can we get all kids enjoying the outdoors? Can we show legislators the importance of outdoor education, habitat and conservation? I know one person who has certainly made an outstanding effort to make all of this possible. A fellow Pheasants Forever National Youth Leadership Council member and, proudly, friend of mine, Brooks VanDerBeek has incredible passion and drive to get things done.
Recently, during its state convention, the Izaak Walton League awarded Brooks with its “Iowa Youth Conservationist of the Year” award. There isn’t a more deserving person than Brooks to receive this honor. He doesn’t just get involved himself, but because of his passion for conservation, makes others want to get involved as well.
I met Brooks at my first Pheasant Fest. He was very easy to get along with and immediately bonded with everyone in the group. He was only 12-years-old at that time, but no one would have guessed it because he was involved in, and more knowledgeable about, habitat and conservation than many adults. What Brooks has done for the National Leadership Council (NYLC) is priceless. If he wasn’t educating youth in the Youth Village at Pheasant Fest, he was giving presentations on habitat, running the technology or making volunteer schedules. He has written numerous articles for Upland Tales magazine (and its predecessor Ringnecks) as well as articles for the Pheasants Forever website www.uplandtales.org. Brooks also helps in organizing the NYLC’s summer meetings. He has done a great job as the council’s public relations specialist and will continue to do a great job as the new vice-chair.
Working on a Local, State and National Level
Brooks has worked on various conservation issues on both a national and state level. He created a pamphlet on sustainable habitat funding that was distributed to all Iowa lawmakers. He then met with the legislators to discuss the importance of sustainable funding. Brooks has made presentations at Pheasants Forever’s “Focus on Forever” events as well as to the national “No Child Left Indoors” leadership team. He also helped lobby for Iowa’s “Child Bill of Rights for Outdoor Education.”
I am sure you are thinking that with all the time spent on these state and national issues that Brooks doesn’t have time for what is happening around him locally. Brooks is just as involved locally, if not more. He is a member of the Oskaloosa Scholastic Shooting Team and Student Council. Brooks is also the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Chapter’s youth education chair and volunteers on the Mahaska County Conservation Board.
Brooks is a charter member of an organization called the Conservation Teens of Mahaska County. This is an incredible organization for teenagers who want to learn about and get others involved in conservation. One of their recent activities was a river clean up, which was a great success.
Brooks is an incredible leader, and when he gets going, there’s no stopping him. He helped organize and participated in four fall youth field events. These field events gave youth a chance to get out and enjoy all kinds of outdoor events. It was not just a way to get children outdoors, but also a way to get families outdoors and involved.
Helped a Special Person
Last year, one youth field event was held in Urbandale, Iowa. All of the Iowa NYLC members came out to help. My family, including my somewhat shy brother, came with me. I tried my hardest to find something fun for him, but he wasn’t having any part of it. So, I left to go walk Rudy the Rooster (PF’s mascot) around, and when I came back, I was amazed. There was my brother sitting with Brooks VanDerBeek making fishing lures! They were talking and laughing and having a great time. Brooks then showed my brother other fun things to do throughout the day. I don’t know how Brooks got through to my brother, and I don’t care because I was so excited that he was involved.
My brother has learned a lot from Brooks, but I think I have learned a lot more from him too. He has shown me that one person can really make a difference.
On October 12, Brooks addressed the Oskaloosa Community School District School Board to present the idea for a high school Pheasants Forever Chapter, the first of its kind in the country. Brooks convinced the school board to support a PF Chapter/Conservation Club in the local high school and will soon be signing the charter agreement for that new chapter.
I have now gone off to college to pursue a conservation and environmental biology major and have thus stepped down as vice-chair of the NYLC. I don’t believe there is a more deserving or perfect person to step into the position than Brooks. His dedication and passion for conservation will make a big impact.
Brooks is what conservation and the future are all about. He is so enthusiastic about conservation and does what it takes to get a job done. He gives of his time in endless ways, but what makes Brooks so special is that he gets out there in a way that inspires others to want to be involved in conservation. Congratulations, Brooks.
Heather is a freshman at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Thanks too for your leadership on the National Youth Leadership Council, Heather!
