Volunteers

Sharing a love of nature with the next generation

Travis Brenton named Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer of the Year

By Linda Browne April 23, 2025

Travis Brenton, Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer of the Year

From fishing and berry picking to hunting, hiking and any number of outdoor pursuits, Newfoundland and Labrador is a nature lover’s paradise. For Travis Brenton of Grand Falls-Windsor in central Newfoundland, it’s a landscape that he’s passionate about protecting – not only for the people in his community today, but for future generations. That’s why we’re proud to name Brenton as Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer of the Year.

As an avid outdoorsman who enjoys “hunting, fishing – pretty much any reason to get out in the woods,” Brenton laughs, and with a background in natural resources technology, when Brenton and a friend were looking for volunteer opportunities in the community 16 years ago, DUC seemed a perfect fit.

“We both started volunteering then and we’ve pretty much been involved ever since,” Brenton says.

Since then, Brenton has focused his volunteer efforts on helping with the Exploits Valley chapter’s fundraising dinner and auction, which has long been a successful event with enthusiastic participants – until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“After that, a lot of people went their own separate ways,” Brenton says.

Not one to back away from a challenge, Brenton got in touch with Jamie Young, DUC’s manager of volunteer and corporate fundraising in Atlantic Canada, to figure out the necessary steps to revive the Exploits Valley event. Taking on the role of chair, Brenton spent about a year rounding up the volunteer committee and was successful in not only bringing back past members but recruiting new ones as well.

Last March, the Exploits Valley chapter hosted their first fundraising dinner and auction since the pandemic and had their most successful event in 30 years with a sold-out crowd of 130 attendees, raising just over $40,000.

^“

I was really happy with our committee last year, because that was the top dinner that we've had in the Grand Falls region. It was one of the best turnouts that we've had, especially for our first year back.

Travis Brenton

Besides his work with his local chapter, Brenton has attended other DUC events throughout the years to show his support (including fundraising dinners in Corner Brook and Stephenville, as well as conservation events in St. John’s). Holding the values of community close to heart, he has also collaborated with other local organizations to further conservation efforts in the area. This summer, for instance, DUC’s Exploits Valley chapter is working with the Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association (a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Corduroy Brook and building and maintaining a network of accessible nature trails along its course) to get more kids involved.

“We came up with the idea to do nature walks and things like that. We’ll be there on behalf of Ducks Unlimited and try to get some more involvement. We’re just looking for different things that we can do to increase involvement within our community,” Brenton says.

Engaging youth and helping them develop a love and appreciation of nature is top of mind for Brenton. His nine-year-old daughter, he says, has just started accompanying him on hunting trips and he’s looking forward to creating many cherished memories.

“She actually did her very first grouse hunt this year and was successful. She just loved it outside. So that’s a big part of why I do what I do, because I just want to make sure that that’s there for them,” he says.

For those considering volunteering their time with DUC or looking to get their feet wet in the area of conservation, Brenton says don’t hesitate.

^“

If nature and conserving wildlife is your passion, just go for it and get involved.

Travis Brenton

“There’s always stuff that we can do to help increase the population of some of our game birds…and there’s always things that we can do to help preserve our natural resources.”

There are approximately 270 DUC volunteers in Newfoundland and Labrador and 3,030 across Canada. DUC is proud to recognize each of them—including outstanding leaders like Travis Brenton—as volunteer champions and conservationists who make waves and together, create ripples of change by serving with generosity, passion and dedication.

Inspired by Travis’s story?

Join our passionate flock of volunteers and make a difference for wetlands and wildlife in your community.

Become a volunteer

Read These Stories Next

Bettylou Christenson, British Columbia Volunteer of the Year

Volunteers

Sharing a love of nature with the next generation

Travis Brenton named Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer of the Year

Inspired by Travis’s story?

Read These Stories Next

Bettylou Christenson, British Columbia Volunteer of the Year

Layton Ford, New Brunswick Volunteer of the Year

Eric Shaw, Prince Edward Island Volunteers of the Year