The Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center has similar centers across the county "green" with envy. Since its opening last fall, the refuge has had a 600% increase in environmental education programming and received thousands of verbal and written accolades from visitors. The Center has also received the following distinguished awards for its environment friendly, sustainable design and exhibit excellence:

2004 - White House Closing the Circle Award, National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Leadership Award, Refuge of the Year Environmental Award, Virginia Environmental Stewardship Award, and the Facilities and Asset Management Award

2003 - Federal Energy Saver Showcase Award, Federal Energy and Water Management Award, Gold Award for Excellence in Architecture from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

The awards are a testament to what visitors, the community and state partners, and many individuals across this nation and around the world have known for years. "We were not building a center hoping they would come, we were building a center to accommodate existing visitation," said John Schroer, Refuge Manager.

Within a workday's access to 37 million people, the refuge has been one of the most-visited in the country, hosting more than 1.5 million visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 different countries in 2003 alone.

"This refuge provides unprecedented opportunities for people to learn about the importance, of sustaining and safeguarding wild living resources in their own backyards," said Schroer. "On behalf of all our partners who made the center a reality, we are honored to receive all the awards and are pleased that our message is being broadcast around the nation: "'Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Where People and Wildlife Meet.'"