May 31 will be a sad day for “Ding” Darling, Sanibel Island, friends of the refuge, and
the hundreds of staffers, volunteers, students, and folks from here to Russia whose lives Supervisor Refuge Ranger Toni Westland has touched and bettered.
Westland has accepted the federal government’s offer for early retirement, part of the current restructuring of conservation lands and their agencies. After 23 years with “Ding” Darling, “Ranger Toni” has become the face of the refuge, a cherished part of what it stands for. She retires from 27 years with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on May 31.
Hired in 2002 as an education specialist at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Westland continued to weave her love for bringing the conservation message to kids of
all ages, even when promoted to her current administrative position in 2009.
She has created countless new programs at the local, regional, and national level and received awards and tokens of appreciation from around the world. In 2012, Westland traveled to Russia after International Affairs in Washington, D.C., selected her to assist the staff of Baikalsky Reserve with redesigning two visitor centers on the shores of Lake Baikal, based on her experience overseeing visitor services at “Ding.” She also helped develop environmental education and interpretation programs while there.
In recent years, Westland has led the charge to spread the “Ding” Darling mission and message to the greater Lee County community with initiatives ranging from building pollinator gardens in Title-1 schools to visiting schools too far from the refuge and with too few resources to come visit the refuge itself via the WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) mobile classroom she helped design. She also recently led the design and creation of the Roving Ranger mobile visitor center.
“Engaging urban populations in wildlife conservation on and off public lands helps protect our natural heritage,” said Westland.
“It’s impossible to even scratch the surface of the contributions Toni has made to ‘Ding’ Darling and conservation in a global sense,” said DDWS executive director Ann-Marie Wildman. “We wish her luck as she follows her passion for nature-inspired art. She forever changed the refuge, and the refuge will never be the same without her energy, spirit, and spunk to inspire us daily.”
“While I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other interests, a part of me will always cling to ‘Ding’ Darling – to the wonderful volunteers, our incredible supporters at ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society, and all the teachers, students, fellow workers, and community partners I’ve met and worked with along the way,” said Westland. “’Ding’ is an amazing family, and I’m honored to be a part of it and very sad to say good-bye.”
ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org or Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991 or [email protected].
