Accomplishments

• Maintains a membership base of over 9000 conservation officers throughout North America
• Is governed by a Constitution and a Code of Ethics and is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the United States and Canada.
• Has an elected Board of Directors and Executive Officers from both the United States and Canada.
• Holds an annual training conference that attracts up to 500 field officers from 60 different agencies throughout North America. Conferences are hosted by various states and provinces giving more officers an opportunity to attend in any given year.
• Additional regional training seminar opportunities are sponsored throughout various parts of North America.
• Administers the NAWEOA Fallen Officer Fund that financially aids the families of Conservation Officers killed in the line of duty.
• Provides peer support to officers across the continent in matters surrounding officer safety and benefits, including but not limited to: sidearm and other personal safety equipment, pension issues and layoffs. Support provided in the form of organized letter writing campaigns.
• Works as an advocate, with agencies and other organizations, such as North American Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, on such projects as the Wildlife Violator Compact, baiting regulations, CWD regulations, best management practices for trapping, and many others..
• Owns and publishes the International Game Warden Magazine – the only magazine in the world written by game wardens for game wardens with over 4500 subscribers worldwide.
• Publishes a bi-annual newsletter to provide a forum for communication within the membership.
• Maintains a website www.naweoa.org which contains useful information for game wardens as well as information for the general public.
• Provides recognition for members of the profession through an annual award program. Awards include “Officer of the Year”, “Torch Award” (recognition of “up and coming” young officers in each region), “Valor” and “Life Saving” awards, as well as the “Loyal Partner” (K9 and handler) and “Muddy Boots” (recognition of outstanding jurisdictional representative) awards. Special recognition awards are also given when appropriate.
• Sponsors an Annual Officer Exchange Program whereby one officer from the United States and one officer from Canada are chosen each year to visit another jurisdiction in the adjoining country to see firsthand the operation of that country’s fish and wildlife law enforcement.
• Is one of the founding contributors to the North American Game Warden Museum and Educational Center at the International Peace Garden.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS NAWEOA HAS GROWN TO BECOME A RECOGNIZED SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAME WARDEN PROFESSION FOR ALL TYPES OF MEDIA, FROM TV NEWS TO RADIO, MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS. IT HAS BECOME A REPOSITORY FOR INFORMATION REGARDING FISH AND WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PROFESSION