PAEE AWARDS
The annual awards are a meaningful way for environmental educators across Pennsylvania to recognize one another and celebrate the inspiring work happening throughout the state.
MEET OUR 2026 AWARD WINNERS AND EXPLORE OUR ANNUAL AWARD CATERGORIES!
KEYSTONE AWARD
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 display uncommon and exceptional understanding, passion and commitment to environmental education and serve as an inspiration to other environmental educators.
2026 WINNER
Mark McLaughlin: Shaver’s Creek
Prior to moving to Pennsylvania in 1993 to work at Shaver’s Creek, Mark had been an Outdoor Education Program Director in Colorado, a High School Science Teacher and Outdoor Education Director in Ohio, and an environmental educator for programs in New Jersey, Vermont and Maine. Married to Laurie since 1990, together they moved to PA in ’93 to start an incredible 33 year run at Shaver’s Creek. Mark served as a Program Director for the summer Adventure Camp Program and Outdoor School Program before becoming the Director of the Center. Happily raising two boys with Laurie at a family friendly, community-minded center within the larger Penn State community has been Mark’s greatest joy.
DAISY S. KLINEDINST
MEMORIAL AWARD
This award recognizes an educator with fewer than five years of experience who shows dedication to expanding their involvement with environmental education.
2026 WINNER
Sara Wettekin:
PA DCNR - Presque Isle SP
Sara Wettekin is an Environmental Education Specialist at Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania’s busiest state park. She connects thousands of visitors each year to the natural world through hands-on programs, field trips, and innovative virtual experiences designed to make nature accessible to all. Her work emphasizes environmental stewardship, stress reduction through nature connection, and community engagement. Sara is passionate about inspiring curiosity, conservation, and a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.
OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AWARD
This award recognizes an exemplary or innovative environmental education program that could serve as a model of excellence for educators throughout the Commonwealth of PA.
2026 WINNER
Wildlife Leadership Academy:
Wildlife Leadership Academy engages and empowers high school age youth to become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a sustained wildlife, fisheries and natural resource legacy for future generations. A year-round program, the Academy trainings begin with a rigorous period of residential programming that focus on a special topic in conservation that teaches about ecology, recreation, as well as leadership skills development and continues with community outreach through education, service, media engagement, creative arts, and outdoor mentorship. At our core, we run five summer field schools and two weekend programs annually. Celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2026, the Academy has graduated 1,200 high achieving youth from 67 counties across Pennsylvania as well as 15 other states. Together, these Conservation Ambassadors have completed 11,500+ project, reached over 200,000 people in over 45,700 hours of service. We are excited to serve and shape the Commonwealth for at least 20 more!
OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR AWARD
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.
2026 WINNER
Natalie Reese:
Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling SP
Natalie Reese joined Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling as the Program Director in September 2011 and in 2025 became the assistant executive director. Her primary role is to educate county residents about proper disposal of solid waste and the importance of the 3Rs through a variety of methods such presentations, displays at local festivals and social media. She spends a large portion of her time at schools, libraries, and scouting events teaching the youth of the County. For instance, in 2025 she presented 175 programs, engaging 6,400 youth and 600 adults.
Natalie’s credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science in Environmental Education from St. Vincent College. In 2013 she became a certified Professional Recycler of Pennsylvania (PROP), with a specialization in recycling education. Prior to obtaining this position at Westmoreland Cleanways, she was an AmeriCorps member serving in the Greater Latrobe School District as an Environmental Science Assistant and has worked as an educator at five different Nature Centers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina. Either on a boat, in the woods, at a creek, or in a classroom, Natalie encourages her audiences to embrace gradual, realistic changes that support the environment and build a greener future.
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, research, administration, facilities development, or other area.
2026 WINNER
Ken Hamilton: GreenAlliesSP
Ken is an award-winning environmental educator and community leader with a K-12 Masters Degree in Environmental Education. He has been invited to the White House for the EPA’s Presidential Environmental Youth Awards for his environmental work with students. After many years of teaching environmental science in a formal setting, Ken founded the non-profit GreenAllies and has built a national organization with a mission to empower and support students as they become sustainability leaders. His volunteer students have created, and now manage and run, a 20 acre outdoor education center called the Althouse Arboretum which provides programming for over 10,000 people each year. Ken’s success comes from a service-learning strategy that unleashes the creativity of students by empowering them to be the leaders of their communities. This technique has yielded some of the most successful student projects in the country and has been used to inspire others on how we can all move forward together toward a more sustainable world.
What is GreenAllies? GreenAllies is a youth-powered movement putting students at the center of change. We envision a world where students are not only seen as leaders, but are empowered to drive real change. Where communities grow stronger through youth-led action, shared purpose, and environmental stewardship.
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.
2026 WINNER
LaMotte Company:
LaMotte Company has been a leader in water testing solutions since 1919, providing innovative meters, reagents, and tools used in over 75 countries. Trusted for fast, accurate, and reliable results, LaMotte empowers professionals to make confident water-quality decisions worldwide.
GOVERNMENT PARTNER AWARD
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.
2026 WINNER
Kody Brittingham:
Committee Chairman, Bristol Township Environmental Advisory CommitteeSP
Kody Brittingham has served on the Bristol Township Enviromental Advisory Committee since October 2023, first as Acting Secretary and then as Chairman from February 2024. He led the EAC in joining the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s Bird Town PA program, creating the Township’s first environmental award for students (the Bristol Township Student Environmental Excellence Award), and creating the Species Spotlight poster series, an educational resource for younger students that highlights native and established invasive species in Pennsylvania.