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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Each year, outstanding classroom and community educators are recognized for their unique and invaluable contributions to the field of Environmental Education. 

Please nominate an elementary teacher, secondary teacher, non-formal educator and volunteer.

Nominations for 2023 are now open through May 5th.  Winners will be announced at the Project Green Sustainability Summit on June 7th at Riverside Elementary.

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ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Teachers working in public or private schools.

Educator Awards: Programs
EE Grant Opportunity

IdEEA is pleased to offer Environmental Education Grants to support environmental education for Idaho’s youth.

We invite proposals from formal/informal educators, parents, students, and student groups for projects that help youth learn more about environmental education and/or enhance their connection with nature. Grant funds can be used to develop or continue community or school environmental projects, for teachers to develop or purchase new materials, and more. Special consideration will be given to projects that provide hands-on learning opportunities for youth and can provide a resource for other educators.

Educator Awards: News

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR - 2022

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LYNETTE WELLER

ELEMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Lynette has been working with the city of Boise's naturalist Kristin Gnojeski to develop a pollinator Garden in Mariposa Park.  Her students chose to help pollinators as their service  project, because they are aware of the plight of bees and other pollinators. The students decided they wanted to use drought resistant Idaho native plants. This began a slew of activity.  We first met virtually with a city naturalist. The students had many questions about what irrigation, signage, types of plants that are in the other sections of the garden, ground preparation, tool availability, plants available from the mother garden, and other pollinator gardens they could reference.  They started research on types of Idaho native plants. There were over 75 plants that we were considering to put in the garden. They wrote letters to parents explaining the project. The students wrote scripts so they could make cold calls to local nurseries, and be able to explain what they were doing and ask for plant donations. They have taken photos to be used on our class Instagram to tag nurseries that have donated. They contacted a local printer to have t-shirts printed with their slogan " Saving pollinators one plant at a time" They care about each other and the planet :) Students have written thank you letters to nurseries that have donated. They have planted seeds that were donated from Snake River Seed Cooperative, so that the seedlings may be added to the garden either on the planting day or after.  We have two 49ft square spaces in  Mariposa Park, with the possibility to extend more next year!  Because this is a fifth and sixth grade project, fifth graders may work on it again next year! 

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2020

Misha Smith                   Elementary

Ali Ward                          Secondary

Matt Podolsky                 Non-formal

Sandy Racine                  Volunteer

2018

Debbie Bell                      Elementary

Steve Demers                  Secondary

Courtney Couch               Non-formal

Jennifer Ellis                     Volunteer

2015

Erin Stutzman                    Secondary

Tate Mason                        Non-formal

Denise Keyser                    Volunteer

Julie Scanlin     Lifetime Achievement

2013

Purley Decker                      Elementary

Arlene Wolf                          Secondary

Rena Ashton                        Non-formal

Ann Christensen                  Volunteer

2011

Cara Sonnemann                Elementary

Clint Kennedy                      Secondary

Adare Evans                        Non-formal

2009

Dick Jordan                         Secondary

Dick McCloskey                  Non-formal

2007

Jane Thornes                     Elementary

Charlie Kator                      Secondary

Steven Hines                     Non-formal

2005

Molly Pannkuk                  Elementary

K.C. Jones                        Secondary

Alana Jensen                    Non-formal

2003

Donna Kent                    Elementary

Doreen Beck                  Elementary

Jan Wathen                    Elementary

Darin Zarbnisky              Secondary

Denise Burnett               Non-formal

2021

Susan Wolfe                    Elementary

Jamie Brunnmeier           Secondary

Elizabeth Dickey             Non-formal

2019

Lauresta Welty                 Elementary

Melyssa Ferro                  Secondary

Stephanie Day                 Non-formal

Kimberly Semple              Volunteer

2016

Amy Silver                         Elementary

Mary Engels                      Non-formal

Jane Matthews                  Volunteer

2014

Sandy Kindt                        Elementary

John Schisel                       Secondary

Lori Adams                         Non-formal

Liana Litzsinger                   Volunteer

2012

Sheryce Davis                      Elementary

John Hastings                      Secondary

Sara Focht                           Non-formal

2010

Sue Hansen Barber             Elementary

Gina Lockwood                   Secondary

Michelle Youngquist            Non-formal

2008

Dan Hines                           Elementary

Gregg Losinski                   Non-formal

2006

Christenia Coast               Elementary

Carri Thomason                Elementary

Diane Welch                      Elementary

Amy Luft                            Non-formal

2004

Renee McNally                Elementary

Robert Beckwith             Secondary

Greg Kaltenecker            Non-formal

2002

Teri Burch                      Elementary

Kris Ablin-Stone            Secondary

Jennie Rylee                 Non-formal

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