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1997 IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental
Education Awards Announced «
The Iowa Association of Naturalists and the Iowa Conservation Education Council
are proud to announce this year’s recipients of their Conservation and
Environmental Education Excellence Awards Program. Eight awards will be
presented. The winners are as follows: Outstanding County
Conservation Board EE Program (pop.>35,000): Hartman Reserve Nature
Center, Black Hawk County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s environmental
education (EE) program. Hartman Reserve has a very diverse and strong EE
program. Beyond the usual school field days, the center also sponsors teacher
workshops, promotes in-school recycling, public recreational opportunities and
wildlife reintroduction programs. Aldo Leopold
Environmental Education Award: Duane Toomsen, Iowa Department of
Education.
This award recognizes lifetime achievements in EE excellence and leadership.
Toomsen has been involved in EE for over 25 years. His accomplishments include
service on the Iowa Conservation Education Council Executive Committee, bringing
EE curriculum materials such as Project WILD to Iowa, and creating and
administering the EE portion of the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act –
Conservation Education Program (REAP – CEP). His efforts have extended beyond
the state of Iowa and as well as the United States.
Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award: This award recognizes
formal or non-formal educators for innovative EE programming beyond his/her job
expectations. Two people have been selected to receive the award this year.
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Tonya Sworts, Lee County Conservation Board. Sworts
has expanded Lee County Conservation Board’s environmental program
considerably. Her programs now include in-school and outdoor field days,
summer day camps, weekend public programs, and special interpretive trips.
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Barb Kinneer, James Madison Middle School, Burlington.
Kinneer has encouraged environmental action in her students through the
formation of an Ecology Club, volunteerism at the local nature center, and
the development of outdoor classrooms. She is also involved in the Three
Rivers Environmental Council which sponsors teacher workshops in southeast
Iowa.
Frederic Leopold Environmental Education Award:
The Monsanto Company, Muscatine.
This award honors an outstanding EE effort by business, industry, or labor.
The Monsanto Company in Muscatine co-owns Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve and
hosts a Big Sand Mound Field Day every two years. Other efforts include prairie
restoration, hunter safety programs, household hazardous waste clean-up, and
sponsoring many EE programs in Louisa and Muscatine Counties.
Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award: Uncle Ike
Nature Program, Marshall County.
This program, designed for youth, was first created by the Marshall County
chapter of the Izaak Walton League and the Marshall County Conservation Board in
1983. The program, which has spread to other counties in Iowa and across the
nation, promotes conservation education among students.
Ada Hayden Conservation Education Award: This award commends
outstanding efforts to educate conservation professionals or private landowners
about preservation, land management, or natural resource conservation. Two
awardees have been selected for this award.
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Dean Prestemon and Paul Wray, ISU Extension Foresters.
These leaders in Iowa forestry education have added the idea of woodland
stewardship to timber harvest. Through workshops, they promote
individualized woodland management with an eye toward the future.
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Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Environmental
education is one of the Foundation’s primary goals. The Foundation has a
broad audience from youth to professionals to the general public. One of its
more commendable efforts is the publication of The Landowner’s Options which
details permanent land protection and is used across the nation.
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1998
IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Announced
«
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program
(pop.>35,000): Starr’s Cave Nature Center, Des Moines County
Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s environmental
education (EE) program of counties with a population of over 35,000. Starr’s
Cave Nature Center has a very strong and diverse EE program from field days and
public programs to working with cooperating agencies.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program
(pop.<35,000): Louisa County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program
of counties with a population of less than 35,000. Louisa County has a strong EE
program with nearly 100% contact with all elementary students in the county.
Along with other EE programs, Louisa County has a unique soil and water program
they have developed in cooperation with the Louisa County Soil and Water
Conservation District.
Frederic Leopold Environmental Education Award:
Local 838 – United Auto Workers Waterloo.
This award honors an outstanding EE effort by business, industry, or labor. Over
the past eight years, this union has played a major role in sponsoring and
organizing Earthworks in Black Hawk County. The Earthworks program helps schools
earn credit to fund field trips to Hartman Reserve Nature Center, allowing
schools to participate in EE field trips that may not be able to otherwise.
Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award:
Boone County 5th grade ExCEL students.
These 12 students, as 4th graders, actively pursued and promoted a public
campaign for the Boone County Conservation Board to hire a naturalist. As a
result of their efforts, this county now has its very first naturalist.
Ada Hayden Conservation Education Award:
Trees Forever Iowa Buffer Initiative.
This award commends outstanding efforts to educate conservation professionals or
private landowners about preservation, land management, or natural resource
conservation. The Iowa Buffer Initiative, sponsored by Trees Forever and other
agencies, held workshops across the state to educate landowners about increasing
water quality through tree plantings serving as buffer strips along waterways.
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1999
IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Announced
«
Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award:
Dr. James Pease.
This award commends a lifetime achievement in EE excellence and leadership.
Pease’s leadership in EE has extended beyond his position as a professor in
animal ecology at Iowa State University. He is actively involved as an educator
and leader in Iowa, in regional and national conferences, and in other
countries. His guidance and assistance are sought by those in EE, government,
and many others.
Ada Hayden Conservation Education Award:
Lee County Pheasants Forever.
This award commends outstanding efforts to educate others about preservation,
land management, or natural resource conservation. This Pheasants Forever
chapter has done much work in promoting conservation education from teachers to
children to landowners. Their programs have included sponsoring Forestry Field
Days, fishing clinics, teachers’ workshops, and donating money and supplies to
schools for conservation programs.
Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award:
Michael Havlik.
This award commends outstanding efforts by an environmental educator. Michael
Havlick has proven himself to be an innovator of residential EE programs in the
state. Working at the Des Moines YMCA Camp near Boone, he developed a five day
residential program and is currently working on a "Naturalist Camp" for August
2000.
Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award:
Lee County Conservation Board – Wild in Iowa trunks.
This award commends an outstanding EE program for or by youth. The Wild in Iowa
trunks are the brainstorm of Lee County Naturalist Tonya Sworts. The series of
trunks each feature a unique native Iowa animal with activities, props and
stories for students from kindergarten through sixth. These trunks are truly a
"naturalist in a box."
Sylvan Runkel Environmental Education School Award:
Southeast Warren Primary and Intermediate Schools.
This award commends an outstanding whole-school EE program. Southeast
Warren Schools for four years have utilized the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources, Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs program throughout their grade
schools. The program is utilized in grades pre- kindergarten to sixth grade and
includes a family component.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
>35,000): Clinton County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s environmental
education (EE) program of counties with a population of over 35,000. Clinton
County had one of the first EE programs in the state and has provided quality EE
programs for the last 25 years. Operating two nature centers, the two Clinton
County interpreters have presented programs to over 47,000 people for the past
25 years.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
<35,000): Clayton County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of less than 35,000. Providing environmental
education for children has been a priority of Clayton County since 1969. The
county offers a unique program for junior high students. Through a series of
campouts, the students learn life skills, ecology, and environmental issues.
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2000
IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Announced
«
Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award:
William Desmarais.
This award commends a lifetime achievement in environmental education (EE)
excellence and leadership. For over 30 years, William has taught secondary EE,
volunteered for many state and local agencies, facilitated workshops, and been
an active member of several environmental and science oriented associations
locally, statewide, and nationally. Highlights include offering the only
advanced placement environmental science course in Iowa and working for
environmental legislation.
Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award:
Linda Scheuermann.
This award commends outstanding efforts by an environmental educator. Through
her work as a fourth grade teacher in Story City, Scheuermann has shown herself
to be an exceptional educator. She has developed curriculum used
internationally, worked on several projects with state agencies, and raised
funds with her students to release trumpeter swans locally. Scheuermann and her
students met the governor as a result of their swan program.
"Ding" Darling Environmental Education Award:
Des Moines Water Works – Iowa Children’s Water Festival.
This award commends an outstanding environmental education program which informs
and educates the general public. The Des Moines Water Works began the annual
Iowa’s Children Festival to raise awareness and knowledge of water resources. In
the four years of the event 5,500 fifth grade students across Iowa have attended
this free one day event full of interactive presentations, exhibits, and stage
shows.
Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award:
Knoxville High School Science Club.
This award commends an outstanding EE program for or by youth. This highly
popular school club encourages students to become actively involved in
stewardship for the environment. Over the last 25 years, students have planted
over 100,000 trees, created and maintained butterfly gardens and outdoor
classrooms, built bird houses, participate in wildlife surveys, and assisted
researchers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
>35,000): Hartman Reserve Nature Center, Black Hawk County
Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of over 35,000. Hartman Reserve supports a highly
diverse educational program, including a new program center demonstrating
"green" building practices. Another unique program is their Hartman Trail Tram
for senior citizens. The Tram provides weekly interpretive trail rides through
the warmer months.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
<35,000): Bremer County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of less than 35,000. For a small county, Bremer
County aims high, serving over 19,000 people in the last year alone. This county
sponsors a wide range of programming, including teacher workshops, residential
programs, county recycling programs, wildlife surveys, and a Rocky Mountain trip
for local high-schoolers.
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2001
IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Announced
«
Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award:
R. Thomas Tanner, Iowa State University.
This award commends a lifetime achievement in environmental education (EE)
excellence and leadership. Tanner has been a pioneer in the field of
contemporary environmental education (EE) since his teaching career began in the
60s. As a national leader and innovator, he has written books, articles, and
papers on the subject, while creating curricula and speaking at conferences. He
also spearheaded the Iowa Aldo Leopold Centennial Celebration in 1986.
Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award:
Joe Boyles, Polk County Conservation Board.
This award commends outstanding efforts by an environmental educator. Boyles’
most outstanding project as a naturalist is his work with the DNR to reintroduce
ospreys. For the project, Boyles dedicated an enormous amount of time creating a
manual for assistants, organizing volunteers, constructing a hack tower, and
checking on the birds daily prior to release.
Ada Hayden Conservation Education Award:
Clinton County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the Clinton County Conservation
Board.
This award commends outstanding efforts to educate others about preservation,
land management, or natural resource conservation. In response to a lack of
knowledge about Iowa’s prairie history, these two agencies collaborated to
create a "Prairie for Schools" program. Through this innovative program, prairie
plots were planted at local schools for use as outdoor classrooms. A teacher’s
guide on how to use the prairie was also created.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
>35,000): Lee County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of over 35,000. Lee County offers a diverse program,
including unique field trips such as Mississippi River Days, themed summer
camps, fishing tournaments, and public programs such as the large annual Bald
Eagle Appreciation Days. They sponsor several highly skilled Envirothon teams in
local high schools and fundraise money for Wild In Iowa trunks which specialize
in school activities about native wildlife.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
<35,000): Palo Alto County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of less than 35,000. Palo Alto County has taken full
advantage of their small population by forging strong partnerships and programs
with other agencies, connecting with all kindergarten through six graders within
the county, and reaching the public through their award-winning nature center.
Unique programs include a newsletter for elementary students and a new program
to reduce waste during field trips.
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2002
IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Announced
«
Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award:
Bob Bryant, Wapsi River Environmental Education Center.
This award commends a lifetime achievement in environmental education (EE)
excellence and leadership. Bryant’s influence on environmental education reaches
back into the 1970s. He helped found the Iowa Association of Naturalists, began
the third county conservation board EE program in the state, and developed the
Wapsi River EE Center. He is involved in many conservation agencies including
the Iowa Prairie Network and the Iowa Native plant Society.
Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award:
Dave Bakke, Muscatine County Conservation Board.
This award commends outstanding efforts by an environmental educator. Bakke is
being honored for his extensive work with the Muscatine schools. Possibly the
"most recognized man in Muscatine Schools," Bakke consistently leads high
quality programs whether the activities are new or have been repeated many
times.
Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award:
Franklin Elementary Fifth Grades for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, Marshalltown.
This award commends an outstanding EE program for or by youth. For the past
two years, the Franklin Elementary fifth grade has been working on a Mosquito
Service Project. After brainstorming on local environmental problems, the
students chose to tackle the mosquito population. After in-depth research, the
students made recommendations to the Marshalltown City Council and then began
community service projects to decrease the population.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
>35,000): Clinton County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of over 35,000. Clinton County hosts one of the
oldest EE programs in the state and staff are active in local, state, and
national committees. New projects for the county include the Blue Heron Eco
Cruises on the Mississippi and the development of a residential EE center.
Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (pop.
<35,000): Washington County Conservation Board.
This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of
counties with a population of less than 35,000. Washington County’s growing EE
program includes collaboration with many conservation agencies, assisting with a
local afterschool program, and the creation of a Program Guide for teachers. The
most exciting project Washington County is working on is their new Conservation
Education Center, scheduled to be open this summer.
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