Durango Nature Studies - Environmental Education in Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners

The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) is honoring the timeless power of environmental education by recognizing organizations and individuals who are transforming educational opportunities in their communities. Nine organizations and three individuals will be acknowledged for their outstanding work in helping learners understand their role in the environment with an Award for Excellence in Environmental Education. The recipients of the 2010 Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education will be recognized at a banquet hosted by CAEE on February 4, 2011.

The Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award, for outstanding individual long-term accomplishments in environmental education, will be presented to George Wallace. George is a Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Professor in Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. George has dedicated his professional career and personal life to helping others understand our environment-- at community to global levels. From his early work in the Peace Corps promoting sustainable farming practices to Colorado State University where his research provides meaningful courses for students and practical models for natural resource professionals, George practices what he advocates and teaches. This award is named in honor of Enos Mills, whose passion for environmental protection and education was largely responsible for the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Nine unique organizations from across the state will be honored for leadership in developing effective, cooperative, and cross-sector environmental education programs. The award recipients represent a wide array of innovative educational programs reaching out to a variety of audiences to increase environmental awareness and conservation. The environmental education program award recipients for 2010 include these successful and inspiring programs:

Best New Program Award
Growing Up WILD, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver, CO

Agriculture Award
Rock Bottom Ranch, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Basalt, CO

Citizen/Community Award
Senior Habitat Gardening Program, Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, CO

Government Awards
Art in Nature, Colorado State Parks – Eldorado Canyon, Eldorado Springs, CO
Roxborough State Park Interpretive & Environmental Education Programs, Colorado State Parks – Roxborough, Littleton, CO

Higher Education Award
Becoming An Outdoors-Woman Program, Wildland Awareness and Educational Institute, Indian Hills, CO

Non-Profit Award
Junior Naturalist Field Camp, Durango Nature Studies, Durango, CO

PreK-Elementary Education Awards
Ecosystem Adventure, South Suburban Parks and Recreation – South Platte Park, Littleton, CO
Star K Kids, City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space, Aurora, CO

The CAEE Board of Directors will present Representative Christine Scanlan and Senator Dan Gibbs with the President’s Award for their work on House Bill 1131: Colorado Kids Outdoors Program.

Katie Navin, CAEE Executive Director, said “The environment is where we live and the decisions we make about the environment impact our economy, our communities and our homes. All across the state, from Durango to Denver, these environmental educators and programs are helping create informed and responsible decision makers.”

All recipients will be showcased at CAEE’s Twelfth Annual Awards Celebration to be held on Friday, February 4, 2011, at 6:00 in the evening at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. The banquet is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased by January 21. For information and tickets, please contact CAEE at 303-273-9527 or visit www.caee.org.

CAEE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting quality environmental education by facilitating communication, coordination, and professional development among the varied environmental education programs in the state. A comprehensive electronic information clearinghouse and resource directory for environmental education is available on the organization's web site, www.caee.org.

From more info, send a note to Sally Shuffield, Executive Director,
or call 970-769-1800.