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Each year individuals and organizations from across Minnesota are recognized and honored for their hard work and dedication in the field of environmental education at an Awards Event.  Awards honor and celebrate environmental educators and teachers, the lifetime accomplishments of an individual in the field of environmental education, young environmental leaders and an outstanding partner organization.

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h2024 Excellence in Environmental Education Awards

Each year the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) recognizes and honors individuals and organizations from around the state of Minnesota for their innovation and dedication to moving the field of environmental education forward. We embrace and hope to celebrate the many related educational efforts that contribute to environmental and outdoor learning. Nominations are reviewed and selected by MAEE’s Award Selection Committee and approved by MAEE's Board of Directors. 

MAEE is proud to recognize Minnesota's environmental education leaders and students with awards in the following five categories:

• Formal Environmental Educator of the Year:
  

  This award is presented for outstanding, ongoing efforts in infusing environmental education into school curriculum. Teachers from all subjects and grades are eligible.

• Non-formal Environmental Educator of the Year:
  

  This award is presented for exhibiting innovative and exemplary effort in providing environmental education opportunities for audiences outside the formal school system. Professional and volunteer educators who teach in non-school settings are eligible.

• Early Childhood Environmental Educator Award sponsored by MNECO:
  

  This award is presented for providing outstanding contributions to the advancement of early childhood environmental education in Minnesota.  Both environmental educators and organizations are elgible for this award.

• Student Environmental Stewardship Award:
  

  This award is presented for exhibiting innovative and exemplary effort in the practice of environmental stewardship at the nominee’s school or community. Students in grade school through college level are eligible for this award.

• Partner of the Year Award:
  

  This award is presented to a partner organization that has make significant contributions in advancing environmental education efforts in Minnesota.  Schools, government agencies, tribal communities, non-profits, and businesses are all eligible for this award.

• Lifetime Achievement in Environmental Education:
  

  This award is presented for long-term, outstanding service and contribution to the field of environmental education in Minnesota.  It is intended to recognize the efforts of those people who have had a large-scale, long-term impact in the EE field.

NOMINATE Excellent Environmental Education in Minnesota

MAEE's awards recognize excellent environmental education and the many related education efforts that contribute to environmental and outdoor learning in the categories listed above.  2025 Nominations are DUE BY March 31st, 2025.

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Help MAEE recognize outstanding environmental education in Minnesota by nominating your favorite teacher, educator, or student! For more information please email maeeinfo@gmail.com.

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GLACIAL HILLS ELEMENTARY

Student Environmental Stewardship Award

Glacial Hills Elementary School is an environmentally-focused school that embraces project based learning, student-centered instruction, and learning outside the classroom to teach Minnesota State Standards and environmental education. Over the last two years, Glacial Hills has focused on living out this mission and these values while expanding project based learning and environmental education opportunities for all students.

Students gain knowledge about how natural systems function and how human systems interact with and depend on them. All the while, they also gain and demonstrate respect and concern for the earth’s health and participate in environmental stewardship. It is through these experiences that students apply what they have learned into action!

One of the most exciting projects is the outdoor learning center called the Eagles Nest which will be designed and built by 3rd through 6th grade students along with community partners.  The school received grants and community donations wot transform two acres behind the school into a learning center, rain garden & butterfly garden with native prairie grasses. This project also allows the students to share their love of the outdoors and mother nature with the community as this center will be open to the public outside of school hours.

- Summary of nomination by Jodee Lund.

ALYSSA JANILLA

Early Childhood Environmental
Educator of the Year

Alyssa Janilla at Kind Roots Early Learning & Care excels in teaching young children about environmental conservation because she has an incredible ability to make learning about the environment accessible and fun. She has developed and implemented engaging, age-appropriate curriculum and activities, seamlessly incorporating Literacy, Art, Math, Music and Stem all together. Alyssa inspires a love for nature and fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world by organizing outdoor experiences and field trips that connect children with their environment.

Alyssa always takes every opportunity to encourage eco-friendly behaviors like the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling, as well as other eco-conscious habits like composting. She is a great role model for the young environmentalists she teaches and demonstrates environmentally responsible behavior and practices, serving as a role model for both young children and her colleagues.

“Alyssa is passionate and a dedicated advocate for instilling environmental consciousness in young children, preparing them to be responsible stewards of the planet.” - Annie Berres at Kind Roots Early Learning & Care

- Summary of nomination by Annie Berres

ANA MUNRO

Formal Environmental Educator of the Year Award

Ana is a teacher at North Hennepin Community College where she teaches courses such as Nature and Literature, Environmental Justice and Nature Immersion, and Community Organizing. Ana created the Environmental Justice class through North Hennepin Community College in partnership with many organizations, advocacy groups, and educational institutions, including YMCA Camp Northern Lights.

Ana is known for her drive and passion to create an intentional place for all to grow, learn, and build community. She worked to ensure that her students understood career and internship pathways in many environmentally-focused fields.

“I am fully confident of Ana’s capacity to inspire, grow, and support the next generation of learners and changemakers in this world, through her curriculum and vast community network she has.“ – Daniel O’Brien

“As her student, I have seen first hand the kind of work Ana is doing, and it is powerful, life-changing, and incredibly important.” – Dustin O’Brien

- Summary of nomination by Daniel O'Brien and Dustin O'Brien

MARGIE MENZIES

Non-formal Environmental
Educator of the Year

Margie has been active in the field of Environmental Education in both formal and nonformal settings for over 30 years. She loves sharing her passion for birds, learning, and the natural world with people of all ages.

Margie joined the Hawk Ridge staff as a Naturalist in 2011 and currently is the Education Director. She also works as a lead passerine bander, as well as with three MAPS stations studying summer breeding birds at Hawk Ridge, Wolf Ridge, and Sugarloaf Cove. She also leads naturalist programming for multiple EE based organizations in MN, such as Minnesota Master Naturalists, Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Hartley Nature Center, Wolf Ridge ELC. She serves as an adjunct member of the University of Minnesota, Duluth Education Department working primarily with student teacher supervision.

“Margie has gone above and beyond with her dedication and passion in the field of environmental education through teaching programs, providing trainings, and fostering partnerships with other nature center providers.” – Janelle Long

- Summary of nomination by Janelle Long

EAGLE BLUFF
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

Partner of the Year Award

Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center (ELC) aims to connect people to nature through education and transformative outdoor experiences. Located in rural southeastern Minnesota, they provide outstanding education programs & outdoor adventures to over 16,000 children, adults, and families each year.

Eagle Bluff ELC is being recognized for their leadership in the state of Minnesota, helping to advocate for outdoor education through their contributions to the Outdoor School for All Bill, and for being a key partner in the successful coordination of the 2023 MAEE Conference. At the annual conference, their staff not only participated on the planning committee, but led engaging sessions at the conference, offered unique outdoor experiences, helped secure donations from local businesses, and provided discount rates that made the conference affordable at all levels.  They continue to be a strong supporter of environmental educators across the state.

- Nominated by the MAEE Board of Directors

DAWN BAHAJAK

Lifetime Achievement
in Environmental Education Award

Dawn Bahajak has had a long and impactful career in Minnesota environmental education, including service at the Springbrook Nature Center, the Minnesota Zoo, and for the last couple of decades, as a coordinator of environmental education for the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 

Dawn has led many of the DNR's major education initiatives, including leading the Natural Resource Education Committee which guided and developed many impactful EE programs. In partnership with U of M Extension, she also helped spearhead the development of the Minnesota Master Naturalist program, including development of much of the classroom training courses and materials. The last several years, she has served as the coordinator of DNR's presence at the Minnesota State Fair, which is the department's biggest annual outreach effort. Her leadership and efforts have brought many new activities and programs to the State Fair, including the Fish Pond talks, live fish cam, and numerous, rotating education displays, which have reached millions of Minnesotans.

- Summary of nomination by Jeff Ledermann at the Minnesota DNR