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REGISTER NOW - ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT Cultivating a Culture of Science
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM BROCHURE Join us at the MEEA Conference on April 28, 8:45am-4:00pm at Colby College, Waterville, Maine, as we tackle these and other questions about cultivating a culture of science and environmental education. How can we as environmental educators bolster society's appreciation and support for science? What is environmental education's role in strengthening Maine through a robust foundation of science and scientific knowledge? More than 25 Presentations and Workshops in these strands:
Conference Keynote |
Maine’s Science And Technology Standards Up For Review If you want to see change in the "Maine Learning Results in Science" this is the time to do it. The Maine Learning Results go under review every few years. The science standards were last reviewed and revised in 2007, more than 10 years ago. The Maine Department of Education initiated this review of the standards and they need our help to understand what types of science standards will be most helpful to students. As an educator you are an expert on what works for students and you can have a significant impact on how the standards are written and implemented across the State. There have been a number initiatives over the past few years, including failed legislation and other initial reviews of the standards, that have started and then faded away. The standards review that is now open will NOT go away, this is the big push that will define science standards for the immediate future. Even if you had submitted comment or testimony over the past few months or years, please make sure you submit new or revised comments and testimony NOW during this important science standards review process. NOW is the time to make your voices heard. Click here to download a detailed
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And on Friday April 27: Program Evaluation 202 Wondering about the best ways to capture the outcomes of your education programming? You feel certain that your programs are having positive impacts - but how do you evaluate those impacts in a way that will be meaningful to you, your constituents, and your funders? Join us for an intensive half-day workshop to learn more about program evaluation and how you can incorporate it into your work. Become a part of an informal professional network of educator-evaluators in Maine, the Maine Environmental Education Evaluation Collaborative (MEEEC). This workshop is for practitioners who already have basic knowledge of and experience with designing and implementing program evaluations. Through presentation, interactive discussion, application exercises, small and large group activities, and resource sharing, Presented by
Guided Tour of The China School's Forest
Friday, April 27th, 9:30 - 11:30am Registration is free
Join educators, Anita Smith and Elaine Philbrook for a guided tour of the award-winning China School's Forest in China, Maine. The tour will feature trails and many outdoor classrooms areas that showcase a variety of habitats, silviculture methods and nature-education opportunities. Learn about the history of the China School's Forest, how the area was created and funded, public and school program offerings and the various opportunities and challenges we have faced over the years. Come dressed for the weather and bring your forest-walking shoes. The goal of this tour is to inspire you to bring outdoor classroom ideas to your local community.
The tour will begin at China Primary School , 763 Lakeview Drive, China, Maine Visit the China School's Forest Facebook page to learn more about this educational gem in central Maine. REGISTRATION FEES SPECIAL SHORT COURSE: Program Evaluation 202 CONFERENCE - Saturday April 28, 8:45am-4:00pm BEST RATE: Combo Package, Friday and Saturday STUDENT RATE
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Linda Silka, Senior Fellow at the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. A social and community psychologist by training, Linda has several decades of experience in leading community-university research partnerships on environmental, economic development, and environmental health issues. She has written extensively on the challenges and opportunities of building partnerships with diverse stakeholders and has consulted internationally on how to build community-university research partnerships.MEEA's Annual Awards Celebration
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
at Maine Audubon, Gilsland Farm, Falmouth
With close to a hundred in attendance, MEEA presented its annual awards recognizing 2017’s outstanding environmental educator, school, student and environmental program in the state of Maine. In addition to MEEA's traditional awards slate, this year MEEA also presented a special lifetime achievement award to Dorcas Miller, cofounder of the Maine Master Naturalist Program, for her distinguished service and enduring contributions to the field of environmental education.
Monthly Webinars
. .Bringing New Ideas and Innovation to the Field of EE
MEEA is co-hosting a series of monthly webinars with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). These hour-long webinars are on key topics for environmental education professionals that will help raise the bar on the quality of EE programs, expand the scope and reach of these programs, social movements, and improve the way we communicate about our field.
Click here to learn more and register for upcoming webinars
Tuesday, December 12, 4:00 pm
New Approaches to Public Engagement: Seeking Relevance, Response-ability and Resilience (Curtis Ogden, Interaction Institute for Social Change)
2017's monthly webinar series concludes with Curtis Ogden from the Interaction Institute for Social Change. Curtis brings his experience in education, community building, leadership development, and program design, as well as an abiding passion for work at the intersection of racial justice and environmental sustainability. Curtis has built a robust practice in support of numerous multi-stakeholder collaborative change networks. He is a recognized thought leader around network development and social change.
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RECORDINGS OF PREVIOUS WEBINARS:
2017 EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGEMAKERS GATHERING
September 29-30, 2017 at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center, Linconville, Main
In an annual intergenerational gathering, twenty established leaders in the environment and conservation fields in Maine joined thrty emerging change-makers between the ages of 15-30. This event helped participants grow their networks, gain inspiration for their own efforts in environmental/conservation work and also participate in skill building trainings and facilitated dialogue on how we can build a more inclusive environmental sector in our state. The annual event is a collaborative effort among the Maine Environmental Education Association, Cultivating Community, Maine Audubon, and the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood.
The New England Environmental Education Alliance was formed in 1980, with roots that extend back to 1966. That year, a handful of educators in the region decided to meet on an annual basis. Conferences were chaired by Chuck Roth, and hosted by a group of colleagues within the six New England states on a rotating basis. The conferences were small and the agendas informal. The goal was to facilitate communication and friendship among colleagues. In 1977, in an effort to increase participation, the responsibility for the conference was placed in the hands of a steering committee composed of two representatives from each of the six states. Conference attendance jumped from 30 people the previous year to 160 people in 1977. In 1980, the steering committee decided to incorporate the New England Environmental Education Alliance. The board of directors continues to be composed of two members from each New England state. The Alliance is interested in environmental education on a regional level and does not duplicate the contributions of the state organizations. The conferences continue to emphasize collegial interaction and collaborative learning. We invite you to become involved in your state organization and to get to know the state representatives on the NEEEA board.
What Is MEEA For?
Imagine the first time you ever saw a moose, or explored a tide pool, felt the cool water of the ocean wash over your skin, climbed a mountain... Now imagine a life where you live only hour from the ocean in Maine but have never walked on the beach, never hiked a mountain, never heard the waves crashing, or seen the beauty of sand pipers in flight. Many economic barriers exist for many Maine children that could make this unbelievable statement their actual reality. At MEEA, we believe that ALL Maine children have the right to experience the unimaginable beauty of the sate we are so lucky to inhabit.
Today, MEEA is focused on smart growth: better access to funding for transformative projects, improving organizational function, and broadening our reach to a more diverse audience. In the past few years, MEEA has achieved success under all these measures.
About the Awards | Past Award Winners
About the Awards
The New England Environmental Education Alliance recognizes outstanding environmental educators and programs from the New England region in three categories:
- Non-formal Environmental Educator
- Formal Environmental Educator
- Environmental Education Program
To Nominate
Download the nomination form here. Applications may be submitted either by the nominee or on his/her behalf by a colleague. To apply for yourself or a colleague please download the application in Microsoft Word, fill it out and email it as an attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by September 15th of each year.
Selection Criteria
The Non-formal Environmental Educator Award is designed to recognize environmental education professionals who work outside the formal classroom setting. The award recipient:
- Makes continuous and enduring contributions to environmental education (EE);
- Demonstrates capacity for creating and implementing successful EE activities;
- Creatively and innovatively approaches EE programming;
- Involves him or herself personally in the state and/or regional EE community;
- Contributes to EE by integrating with formal education systems, promoting the environmental education profession or providing training or resources to other EE professionals.
The Formal Environmental Educator Award is designed to recognize a public or private school classroom teacher who:
- Promotes individual and societal environmental responsibility;
- Encourages students to make informed decisions about environmental issues;
- Inspires student involvement and action through individual or group projects to effect positive environmental change at school or within the local community;
- Links student learning to the appropriate state or national science benchmarks, curriculum frameworks, or standards;
- Serves as an example for colleagues to engage in EE activities or to participate in school EE projects.
The Maria Pirie Environmental Education Program Award is designed to recognize an outstanding environmental education program that:
- Demonstrates innovation and creativity;
- Has been implemented broadly;
- Easily can be replicated in other regions;
- Is sustainable;
- Has a strong evaluation component;
- Results in demonstrated action by participants.
The Selection Process
All materials are due by September 15 of each year. All applicants will be notified following the final selection. Awards are presented at the NEEEA Annual Conference. In 2013, awards will be presented November 2 at the NEEEA Conference in Newport, Rhode Island. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:
Sarah Wilby, NEEEA Awards Chair
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Past Award Recipients
For over 20 years, NEEEA has been recognizing excellence in environmental education. The following is a listing of past award recipients by year. The state listed next to each year was the location of that year’s annual conference.
2010 - Vermont
Formal Educator Award – Judy Filkins, Lebanon NH School District
Non-formal Educator Award – Kim Noyes, Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, MA
2009 - Connecticut
Non-formal Educator Award – Susan Cox, US Forest Service, Durham, NH
Maria Pirie Program Award – Nature's Classroom, Charlton MA
2008 - New Hampshire
Formal Educator Award – Katherine Bennett, J.R. Briggs Elementary School, Ashburnham, MA
Maria Pirie Program Award – Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory, Keene, NH
2007 - Maine
Formal Educator Award – Michele ('Chele) Miller, Principal, Moultonborough Central School, Moultonborough, NH
Non-formal Educator Award – Marilyn Wyzga, Wildlife Educator, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Marie Pirie Program Award – Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, Orange, Massachusetts
2006 - Rhode Island
Formal Educator Award – Dr. Ralph J. Yulo, Professor Emeritus at Eastern Connecticut State University
Non-formal Educator Award – Ruth Smith, Naturalist at the Mt. Kearsage Indian Museum, Warner, New Hampshire
Marie Pirie Program Award – Project CO-SEED, Keene, New Hampshire.
Richard Haley President's Award – Awarded posthumously to Richard Haley for his 20-year contribution to the field.
2005 - Massachusetts
Formal Educator Award – Jonathan Twining, 7th grade science at Remington Middle School, Smithfield, Rhode Island
Non-formal Educator Award – Erin Walsh, Naturalist Educator at the New England Wildflower Society
Marie Pirie Program Award – Valley Quest Program, Steven Glazer, Program Coordinator
2005 President's Award – Jim Lafley, in honor of his many years of dedicated service to NEEEA and to environmental education throughout New England. Jim is a past president of NEEEA and of MEES, and has co-chaired NEEEA's annual conference.
2004 - Vermont
Formal Educator Award – Cynthia Faughnan, Michael Quinn & Rick Schluntz, Hartford (Vermont) Middle School (k-12); Cindy Thomashow, Antioch (university/adult)
Non-formal Educator Award – Barry King
Marie Pirie Program Award – Keeping Track
2003 - Connecticut
Non-formal Educator Aard – co-recipients: Jennifer Guarino, Vermont and Cheryl Burke, Connecticut
Marie Pirie Program Award – Community Mapping Program, VINS
President's Award – Judy Silverberg, NHFG
2002 - New Hampshire
Formal Educator Award – Brewster Bartlett
Non-formal Educator Award – Dave Erler
President's Award – Chuck Roth
Marie Pirie Program Award – Earthways Environmental Education Program
2001 - Maine
Formal Educator Award – Nelson Lebo
Non-formal Educator Award – Lisa Purcell
Marie Pirie Program Award – School Nature Area Program (SNAP)
2000 - Rhode Island
Formal Educator Award – Kathy Kitteridge/Terry Monette
Non-formal Educator Award – Colleen Kelley
Marie Pirie Program Award – Mount Desert Island Water Quality
1999 - Massachusetts
Formal Educator Award – Sandra Ferland
Non-formal Educator Award – Susan Turner Moore
Marie Pirie Program Award – Project HOME
President's Award – Adrian Ayson, in honor of his many years of dedicated service to NEEEA and to environmental education throughout New England. Adrian has been president of NEEEA and of MEES, and has co-chaired NEEEA and MEES conferences and retreats.
1998 - Vermont
Formal Educator Award – David Wilkins
Non-formal Educator Award – Linda Woodard
Marie Pirie Program Award – Recycle Rangers
1997 - Connecticut
Drs. Carl and Marian Rettenmeyer
Formal Educator Award – Tom Wessels
1996 - New Hampshire
Ed Henry
John Green
Thomas Tyning
1995 - Maine (NAAEE)
Faith Thayer
Maureen Oates
1994 - Rhode Island
Delia Clark
Nancy Nowak
1993 - Massachusetts
Leo Kenney
Shirley Griffin
1992 - Vermont
Jenepher Lingelbach
Michael Caduto
1991 - Connecticut
Bill Niering
Sue Craig
1990 - New Hampshire
Judy Silverberg
Ty Minton
1989 - Maine
Peter Corcoran
Ralph Lutts
1988 - Rhode Island
Janet Gould
Larry Morris
1987 - Massachusetts
John Brainerd
Peg McDaniel
1986 - Vermont
Abbott Fenn
Tom Hudspeth
1985 - Connecticut
Bob Moeller
Jeff Ferguson