PAEE Awards

2016 PAEE AWARD WINNERS

The annual awards are an important means for the community of environmental educators in Pennsylvania to recognize one another, and celebrate the great work that is happening throughout the state. The awards are presented at the annual PAEE conference. Please consider nominating excellent educators, programs and partners for the 2017 PAEE awards next year.

Keystone Award
Roger L. Spotts, Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center

This prestigious award recognizes an educator who has dedicated their life to advancing the quality and opportunity for environmental education in Pennsylvania. Recipients of this award should display uncommon and exceptional understanding, passion, and commitment to environmental education, and serve as an inspiration to other environmental educators. Roger was nominated by his long-time colleague, Karen Boyle, of the Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center.

As the Environmental Education Coordinator, Roger has been a driving force for environmental education in Monroe County and throughout the state, and has been a mentor to thousands of educators at conservation districts and other organizations throughout the state. In her nomination, Ms. Boyle described Roger as having a ‘passion for educating people of all ages, which inspires, motivates, and energizes those who interact with him no matter the context.’

Outstanding Environmental Education Program
Family Nature Night, Briarbush Nature Center

This award recognizes an exemplary or innovative environmental education program which could serve as a model of excellence for educators throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Family Nature Night was nominated for the Outstanding Environmental Education Program award for their use of innovative practices to reach diverse and underserved audiences, specifically individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program shows a strong commitment to working within a community to identify needs and to deliver a high quality experience to connect people with nature.

Outstanding Environmental Educator
Kathy Uglow, Crawford County Conservation District

This award recognizes an educator who has made a significant impact and contribution to the environmental education field in a formal or non-formal setting through innovative or inspiring teaching practices. Kathy was nominated by Wendy Kedzierski, Project Director at Creek Connections of Allegheny College. In her nomination, Wendy noted the diversity of Kathy’s programs and an exceptional passion that she brings to her work. Kathy is highly valued as partner and collaborator in her community, with a strong commitment to working with other educators and organizations.

Daisy S. Klinedinst Memorial Award
Melissa Eldridge, Briarbush Nature Center

The award recognizes an educator with fewer than five years of experience who shows dedication to expanding their involvement with environmental education. Melissa was nominated by Greta Brunschwyler, Executive Director of the Briar Bush Nature Center. Through her work as an educator and program coordinator, Melissa has shown great dedication to the programs she develops, to the audiences she serves, and to her own learning.

PAEE AWARD CATEGORIES

The Keystone Award

Daisy S. Klinedinst Memorial Award

The award recognizes an educator with fewer than five years of experience who shows dedication to expanding their involvement with environmental education.

Outstanding Environmental Educator

Outstanding Environmental Education Program

This award recognizes an exemplary or innovative environmental education program which could serve as a model of excellence for educators throughout the Commonwealth of PA.

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education

This award is presented to someone who has contributed to environmental education in a non-teaching area, such as publishing or research.

Business Partner Award

This award recognizes a company, corporation or member of the business community that has made significant contributions that promote environmental education within the Commonwealth of PA.

Government Partner Award

This award recognizes a government official who serves on a local, state or national level and has demonstrated significant support for environmental education within the Commonwealth of PA.

2015 PAEE AWARD WINNERS

Daisy S. Klinedinst Memorial Award
Jason Childs, Potter County Conservation District

Jason Childs is the Watershed Specialist/Nutrient Technician for the Potter County Conservation District. His many lessons include hands on training, as the county watershed specialist, in monitoring ecology and water chemistry as indicators of stream quality. Each introductory stream ecology session, is followed with an in-stream session where individuals have a hands on opportunity to collect samples and perform identification of indicator species. Jason has developed programs to achieve restoration and protection goals based on stream quality, land use, and input from cooperating agencies, organizations, individuals and governing agencies. He facilitates the transfer of technical information among local, state, federal resource agencies, watershed groups and land managers.

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education
Stacy Kehoe, University of Pittsburgh

During the 2013-2014 academic year, Stacy Kehoe of the University of Pittsburgh worked closely with educators at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to study the landscape of environmental education opportunities in Pittsburgh, and the diversity of the audiences being served. To do this, Kehoe surveyed twenty organizations that offer environmental education programs in Pittsburgh to learn more about about the recruitment models, cost, time frame, class size, learner demographics, and content of their programs. Her research framed the city as a 'learning ecosystem' where students should be able move between organizations and programs that interest them.

Kehoe found that within the Pittsburgh ecosystem, the majority of partnerships (particularly those that enroll students from underserved neighborhoods) hinged on the efforts of individual teachers, who require additional support. She also recommended that program information be made more accessible to the public, and that environmental education organizations share information to allow them to understand the landscape of opportunities available to students.

Click here to read an article from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education Magazine.

Outstanding Environmental Education Program
Leaf Pack Network & Stream Schools, Stroud Water Research Center

The Leaf Pack Network and Stream School programs use a ‘watershed approach’ to education involving hands-on, ‘boots in the water’ experiences with the goal to not only excite students about streams and rivers, but teach them how to be responsible stewards of freshwater resources in and around their communities. Through the innovative use of technology that allows students and citizen scientists to share, compare and understand data, Stroud Center has been able to increase the scope and reach of it's programs and provide rich field experiences to over 52,000 students and adults.

Stroud Center is one of the few laboratories in the world devoted exclusively to research and education on stream and river ecology. Its education program was conceived in 1990 through the interest of a nearby school to have students learn more about local streams and rivers. The ensuing education and outreach effort created a wide variety of freshwater ecology programs for students, teachers, public officials, environmental professionals, watershed groups and the general public. During the past 25 years, Stroud educators have translated scientific findings to the world, engaging more than 52,000 students and adults in freshwater ecology and stewardship.

Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators