Friend of Nature: Wallaceburg photographer snaps up conservation award

WALLACEBURG – If you see Herman Giethoorn in a nature area there’s a good chance he will have a camera or two.

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The 79-year-old Wallaceburg resident has taken tens of thousands of nature photos, including birds, animals and insects as a Sydenham Field Naturalists volunteer.

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In fact, Giethoorn said he’s photographed SFN activities almost since the day he joined the non-profit group dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of nature in the Sydenham and Thames watershed.

Nearly 40 years ago, a friend with Chatham Camera Club — Giethoorn is still a member after more than 50 years — tipped him to a new nature club forming in Wallaceburg.

“The Sydenham Field Naturalists that’s exactly in line with what I like to do, so I joined,” he said.

“We do a lot of conservation work,” Giethoorn said, adding, “I’ve helped plant hundreds of native wildflowers, shrubs and trees over the years.”

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Giethoorn, a founding member of SFN in 1985, recently received the club’s Friend of Nature award.

“Herman holds the distinction of being the longest-serving board member in SFN’s history,” a club release said.

Though Giethoorn recently retired from the board, “I will continue to be active in the club,” he said, including helping with restorative efforts and planting native species.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Herman for his unwavering commitment to nature and his instrumental role in laying the foundation of SFN,” the club said. “His dedication and passion for conservation have been truly inspiring, and we are honored to have him as part of our community.”

Giethoorn said the award came as a “complete surprise.”

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The annual award typically goes to landowners who have done a lot of restoration work on their property or individuals who have made a major contribution to conservation efforts.

“It feels good to be honored,” he said.

Still being involved with the SFN after nearly four decades is not something Giethoorn pondered.

“I really didn’t think that much about the future, not the way I do these days,” he laughed. “When you’re young, you think you’re going to live forever.”

But nature plays a major role in keeping him healthy.

Giethoorn spent time in Lake Superior Provincial Park last summer and had no trouble going on eight- to 10-kilometer hikes on rugged trails.

And he’s not slowing the pace of adding to the hundreds of thousands of photos in his collection.

Just this week, he was at Rondeau Provincial Park and Hillman Marsh Conservation Area near Leamington photographing birds and turtles.

“I’ve always been physically active and that makes a big difference,” Giethoorn said.

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