The New Hampshire Environmental Educators presents awards annually to individuals who stand out as exemplary in their ability to engage students in environmental studies in lasting and meaningful ways. The awards are presented in three categories: elementary school (K-6), middle/secondary school (7-12), and non-formal educators. Recognition of 2011's award winners occurred at the NHEE annual conference on March 9, 2011.
2011 Environmental Educator Nomination Form
Clare Long is an amazing individual with incredible passion for education. She is the 2011 NH Environmental Educator of the Year for the Non-Formal Category. Throughout her career she has worked for many organizations including the USDA Forest Service, Appalachian Mountain Club, NH Project Learning Tree, Weeks State Park, SPNHF’s Rocks Estate, and the National Association for Interpretation. Clare has shared her love for the environment with all ages while wearing many different hats. Her enthusiasm is evident whether it be while writing an environmental education curriculum for the Physical Education program at Pinetree School in Center Conway or working with professionals in the forest service.
Her current position is as the White Mountain National Forests Conservation Educator. Here, she continues her diverse work by developing programs for children and adults, by working with many different program areas including recreation, timber, and wildlife, and by creating public awareness for the Forest Service and helping to connect all of their environmental partners. This requires Clare to think outside the box and use her amazing creativity. Her work touches the lives of thousands of people.
Jen Werda from the Pemi Baker Leadership Academy met Clare while enrolled in the Forest For Every Classroom workshop about 5 years ago. She remembers this crazy red head leading a bunch of teachers into the woods at night to do activities in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Jen was so nervous and excited, especially when Clare started calling to the owls and they called back! Jen wanted to know how she could get her students that excited about our natural environment. Clare has an amazing way of getting people excited about what she is working on and guiding you as you step outside of your comfort zone to explore new forest concepts.
Lisa known as “Water Woman” at Nashua’s Bicentennial School, is the 2011 NH Environmental Educator of the Year for the Elementary Category. Lisa focuses on student understanding and inquiry as she teaches her 5th graders about water systems, cycles, and conservation. She engages parents and the community, getting entire families excited and Saunders, involved in environmental endeavors.
Lisa connects her students with environmental professionals including fish biologists and hatchery workers, a scientist in residence program, and watershed protection volunteers. Her students participate in engaging field trips to a fish hatchery, wastewater treatment plant, and a canoe trip down the Nashua River where they conduct aquatic insect investigations and water quality testing. With the help of the mascot Polly the Pickerel, Lisa illustrated how water flows through the neighborhood and how actions of individuals can affect their drinking water. Similar in-depth studies touch on other environmental topics.
Lisa’s work is not just in teaching students, but in designing strong educational practices. Working with Project Learning Tree’s Connecting Schools to People and Places, Understanding by Design and other innovative methods, Lisa has worked with a team from her district to discuss, develop and implement best practices for science education within the district. As a result, their NECAP science proficiency scores have risen from 54% to 70% in the past three years.
Lisa’s love and commitment to science and the environment resonates in her personal life and makes her teaching genuine and realistic. NHEE joins her students, parents and colleagues in recognizing her dedication to environmental education.
The recipient of the 2011 NH Environmental Educator of the Year award for the Secondary Category is Mark Pedersen of Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow. Mark was chosen because of the combination of his personal and professional commitment to environmental stewardship. He shares his passion for the environment with his students, colleagues and community by his words and actions.
These actions include launching a student investigation of Timberlane’s energy use. They went beyond a typical audit by calculating alternatives and cost saving measures which were presented to the school board. By implementing some of these recommendations the school has reduced energy costs, pollutants and received an Energy Star award. Mark has helped initiate other activities in and out of school including school wide recycling, an environmental service club, coastal cleanups, ecological research projects, and teaching about local food which resulted in student designed websites to assist farmers with marketing.
Mark has retooled the Timberlane Environmental Science curriculum to combine physical science and biology in a single year-long course with a focus on sustainability. This systems approach has inspired his colleagues and helped his students’ understand their impact on the environment. The combination of innovative curriculum, engaging lessons, service learning projects and personal commitment make Mark Pederson an educator worthy of recognition. In the words of one of his students, “Mr. Pedersen is a great teacher and a great person too. He really deserves this award.”
New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE) seeks nominations each winter for three annual awards recognizing New Hampshire’s outstanding environmental educators.
Winning educators will each receive a $200 cash award and a one-year membership in New Hampshire Environmental Educators. Recognition of the next group of winners will occur at the NHEE Annual Conference in late March.
2010 Environmental Educators of the Year