Michigan Alliance for Environmental & Outreach Education
2010 AWARDS

Each year, MAEOE takes the time to acknowledge and celebrate individuals who have made outstanding achievements in environmental or outdoor education within Michigan. We believe in nurturing excellence. Every year, the awards are presented at our Annual Conference. Keep reading to learn more about the individual awards, as well as how you can nominate some one for an award!

Would you like to nominate someone for an award? Nominations are open
for the 2010 MAEOE Awards - download the form here. Nominations must be received by September 10, 2010.

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The Michigan Alliance for Environmental
& Outdoor Education 2009 award recipients.

Julian Smith Award:
Phil Moore, Director, Upland Hills School

Awarded to one individual who:
-exemplifies the best in the field of outdoor education (i.e., service, research, teaching administration).
-has made outstanding contributions to outdoor education.
-demonstrates a lifetime of devoted service.
-has spent at least 5 years working in Michigan.

Since 1971, Phillip Moore has been the Director of Upland Hills School (UHS), an independent school in Oxford, Michigan. Inspiring and guiding the school community to this day, Phil led the development of the core values of UHS: strengthening a student's relationship with the natural world, empowering a student's individuality, and developing a respect for community. UHS incorporates outdoor education and activities into its curriculum on a daily basis, with numerous outdoor classes and activities.
Phil has has helped to create an environment and curriculum of sustainability which includes a solar green house, geodesic dome with a 2kW wind turbine, a 155-seat theater made with recycled materials and alternative energy sources, and a 25' pedestrian bridge spanning 200' over a ravine using reclaimed materials. At UHS children don't just learn about the outdoors, they are immersed into the "wild" daily as classes often take place in the woods or on trails.
Phil also co-founded Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center (EAC) in 1974, serving as co-director from 1974-1992. This environmental demonstration and educational facility has been visited by thousands of Michiganders and hosted workshops for world leaders in sustainability.

William B. Stapp Award:
Barbara J. Pepper, environmental educator, Birmingham Environmental Center

Awarded to one individual who:
-has made outstanding contributions to environmental education.
-exemplifies the best in the field of EE (i.e., service, research, teaching, administration).
-demonstrates a lifestyle of devoted service.
-has spent at least 5 years working in Michigan.

Barbara is a dedicated environmental educator. During the past 30 years she has made many outstanding contributions to environmental education in Michigan, both as a board member of many different environmental organizations and also as a dedicated enthusiastic educator. She has directly impacted over 50,000 students as a Teacher  Consultant at the Birmingham Environmental Center for 21-years and as Education Director at the Cranbrook Institute of Science for 9 years where she has taught and developed curricula for students of all ages. She has impacted countless more students as an instructor of pre-service teachers at Oakland University as well as training teachers in environmental curricula of Project WET, Project WILD, and Project Learning Tree. Barbara continues to enhance her skills through embracing technology to connect nature to the classroom.

Recognition Award: 2 Recipients

Awarded to TWO individuals who:
-have made significant contributions to the fields of environmental and outdoor education in a specialized area (i.e., journalism, photography, curriculum development, interpretation, the arts, etc.)

1. Darrell Hendrickson, 7th Grade Science Teacher, Washington Middle School, Calumet

Since 2004, Darrell Hendrickson has shared his passion for the outdoors with his 7th grade students and their families via the Calumet School District's school forest. Darrell is the lead teacher of Washington Middle School's year-long interdisciplinary Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI) project that is, a project where all 7th graders conduct forest measurements to develop a forest management plan, participate in an Adopt-a-Beach clean-up and community outreach, Natural Resources classes, and publishing their journalreflections of outdoor activities. In addition, Darrell teaches outdoor summer classes through the Great Explorations Program. Darrell shares his knowledge with other teachers by presenting at professional development workshops and conferences.

2. Brian Rajdl, Math/Science Teacher, Hancock High School

Brian Rajdl is passionate about teaching everyone about the outdoors---students, teachers, community, and his children! Brian is a classroom science/math teacher and has served as Director of Education for the Isle Royale Institute since 2003. Brian created and implemented a new, interdisciplinary, two-hour, 2-credit course, titled, "Partnership for Environment and Academics in the Keweenaw" (PEAK) and coordinates school-wide initiatives and Earth Week programs on global climate change, waste reduction & recycling, and developing their school forest. In the summers, Brian conducts a variety of teacher institutes and youth programs on Isle Royale and elsewhere.

Appreciation Certificate: 7 recipients

Awarded to a maximum of TEN individuals who:
-have taken exemplary steps to initiate successful environmental or outdoor education programs where they live.
-enthusiastically promote the goals of outdoor and environmental education.

1. Hannah and Alan Allgaier, Conservation Stewards, Oakland County Parks

Hannah and Alan are a father/daughter team of Conservation Stewards working on a Service Program for Oakland County Parks, mapping and controlling the invasive plant, swallowwort, at Independence Oaks County Park.  Hannah and Alan have contributed over 40-hours on this project, braving summer heat, herbicide, and presenting their efforts at the MAEOE conference.

2. Nancy Tar, Natural Resources Stewardship Volunteer, Oakland County Parks

Nancy Tar is member of Oakland Audubon and a natural resources stewardship volunteer at Oakland County Parks. For the past three years, she has monitored grassland nesting birds in the prescribed burn areas at two parks - Orion Oaks and Independence Oaks. At Orion Oaks, Nancy observed two unusual species: nesting grasshopper sparrows and Dickcissel.  Nancy also assists with educational programs in the parks, helping others understand the importance of these often unfamiliar birds to this vanishing ecosystem. 

3. George Hemmingway, Volunteer at Hawk Woods Nature Center

Mr. Hemingway has been a volunteer at Hawk Woods since its beginnings in 1973. He is a graphic artist and avid fishermen. His work includes: designing the first handbook for teachers to use when bringing their class to the nature center, artwork for other publications, hosting Boy Scout Troops camping at the nature center and encouraging Eagle Scout projects, designing and constructing the center's entrance map kiosk, and donating two of his paintings of fish in honor of the Salmon in the Classroom efforts at the Center.

4. Mary Bohling, Educator

Mary Bohling is an educator for Michigan Sea Grant of Southeast Michigan and plans to begin her third year as the Southeast Regional adult advisor for the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC) program. Mary offers her professional knowledge and skills as a resource person for helping youth research the conservation issues of phosphorus levels in Michigan lakes and rivers and need for a state wastewater code and writing a science-based report.

5. Monica Borgman, 4-H Educator, Isabella County

Monica Borgman is a 4-H Educator for Isabella County and has served as the Central Regional adult advisor for the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC) program for two years. Through her efforts in mentoring youth in reporting on their research of a state wastewater code for the conservation of Michigan rivers and lakes, Monica has been instrumental in encouraging one of her teens to take on the leadership role of a Teen Advisor.

6. Wanda Norman, Volunteer, Hawk Woods Nature Center

Wanda Norman contributes her time at the Hawk Woods Nature Center in a variety of ways: developing environmental education curricula, organizing invasive species removal work days, assisting with Eagle Environmental Projects, cooking dinner for Father-Son Campouts, instructing at Mother-Daughter Campouts, guiding community nature walks, and assisting with the development of a marketing plan for scouting programs at the nature center. Wanda also presented a program at MAEOE Conference on how to attract more scouting program to non-formal settings

7. Charles St. Charles, Wildlife Photographer

Charles St. Charles is a renowned wildlife photographer and environmental educator. Charles records natural history through his photographs, spending time observing nature in his backyard and as he travels around the world. While showing his photographs, he tells stories of wildlife characteristics, behaviors, and habitat needs; and the current and past environmental concerns for conserving healthy wildlife populations, today and in the future for Michigan, United States and the world. The Nature of the Wild website (http://www.natureofthewild.com/) communicates his passion for nature and the importance of stewardship. Over the last two years Charles St. Charles has shared his photographs and stories with many adult and youth groups in the Cadillac, Michigan area; Wexford County Library, Pine River Audubon Chapter, and Kettunen Center.

Volunteer Service Awards: 4 Recipients

Awarded to a maximum of FIVE individuals who:
-volunteer their time and skills for more than one year to a Michigan school, college, outdoor education center, nature center, zoo, etc.
-work toward the goals of environmental and outdoor education with enthusiasm.

1. Nate Beelen, Teacher, Whitefish Township School
Nate Beelen is a certified 4-H leader with MSU Extension and has completed extensive training to become a certified 4-H Outdoor Adventure Challenge Leader. Nate heads the Paradise 4-H Club and led the club, including over 21 youth, on their first challenge trip this fall. Nate is an exceptional leader, and teacher in the Whitefish Township School area. He has put forth much effort to formulate a 4-H Challenge Club, and this trip is sure to be the first of many to come. 

2. Jennifer Derby, Teacher
Jennifer Derby, a volunteer for Michigan 4-H Youth Development Programs and professional science teacher has served two years as the adult advisor for the Southwest Region team of the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC). Jennifer has offered her professional knowledge and skills to help the youth research the conservation issues of land use and the need for a state wastewater code. She especially helped youth in the areas of public speaking and writing a science-based report.

3. Richard Crooks, BaySail volunteer

Richard Crooks is a recipient of the MAEOE Volunteer Service Award for being a devoted volunteer to BaySail since 2001, contributing to the environmental education program, Science under Sail, and training new volunteers. Not only has Richard served the most hours out of any of our wonderful volunteers, but he always comes aboard excited to teach and help share BaySail's mission of environmental stewardship of the Great lakes. He is a retired research chemist from Dow Chemical and science teacher from First Baptist Academy in Midland. Dick is dedicated to the program and to all students who come on board the Appledore Tall Ships to learn about the Saginaw Bay Watershed.

4. Mark Sherman, Forester, Plum Creek Timber

Mark Sherman, a forester and resource supervisor with Plum Creek Timber in the Upper Peninsula, has initiated and led numerous environmental education activities to engage K-16 students and teachers in learning about the forests of the Great Lakes region over the past 25 years. Through classroom and in-field presentations, Mark and his staff of foresters provide students who may become future natural resource managers with an overview of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative through an industrial forestry perspective, and promotes the value of public-private partnerships to protect natural resources and manage forests. For two years, Mark has chaired the Advisory Board of the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI). Mark and his team have also been heavily involved in Plum Creek's tree replanting effort by annually planting thousands of seedlings in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to promote forest regeneration.

Archive of Previous Awards