The New Hampshire Environmental Educators presents awards annually to individuals who stand out as exemplary in their ability to engage students in environmental studies in lasting and meaningful ways. The awards are presented in three categories: elementary school (K-6), middle/secondary school (7-12), and non-formal educators. Recognition of this year’s award winners occurred at the NHEE annual conference on March 11, 2009. Congratulations to this year’s outstanding NH environmental educators!
The recipient of the 2009 NH Environmental Educator of the Year Award for the Elementary School category is someone who may not fit the typical model of an environmental educator. In fact when she was told that she’d been chosen to receive the award, she asked if there was some mistake! However there is no mistaking the commitment and enthusiasm of Mindy Beltramo, school librarian at the Peter Woodbury School in Bedford.
As a librarian, Mindy is a resource person. She has provided resources in the form of insight, coordination, information, community connections and inspiration to students, fellow educators and parents in Bedford. For the past 8 years she has initiated and directed the annual Science Day. The themes of these days have included Agriculture & Eating Locally and Alternative Energy. She sponsors a winter writing contest which bridges disciplines and links the environment with literature. Her library not only houses books but also is filled with interesting objects from the natural world including a very large python skin which she uses to spark interest in reading and writing.
But one important book sparked Mindy’s interest. After reading Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv’s seminal work on children and nature, she launched a remarkable effort to convert their school yard into a community park and education facility. She has spearheaded grant applications, community sponsorship, student fund raisers (including one student who asked that in lieu of a Christmas present her family donate to the schoolyard project) and collaborative efforts with landscape design students from NHTI. The Peter Woodbury School community school yard is even featured on the national No Child Left Inside website. Due to her efforts students will experience education by interacting with the natural world, families will share in the learning and the community has come together in support of this project. Mindy has also joined the NH Children in Nature Coalition to extend her desire to connect children with nature throughout the state.
Many thanks to Mindy for doing all that she does for her students and her community as an environmental educator.
The recipient for the 2009 NH Environmental Educator of the Year Award for the non-formal category is a true partner in environmental education. In her work with the Girl Scouts, Patti Dugan Henricksen has made a lasting impact on countless girls and women from northern NH. Patti promotes individual and social responsibility in use of natural resources through her use of the Leave No Trace principles and responsible use of forest resources. She has engaged girls in camping trips, community service projects, and HikeSafe programs, all of which get girls outside to experience and interact with the environment in ways that build strong relationships with the earth and each other.
In the tradition of girl scouting, Patti has enabled girls to take on leadership roles through implementing new projects that meet a community need. These have included creating informational materials on waste recycling, community mapping projects and developing survival packs for backwoods safety. The partnerships that she has developed with the White Mtn. National Forest and NH Fish & Game have provided girls with unique opportunities such as, experiencing science and career explorations in the field of Archeology. Several of the girls that Patti has worked with have gone to college to pursue degrees related to the work she has done with them.
Patti’s is also a PLT facilitator and works with numerous schools through the Forest Field Day programs. She goes above and beyond to connect with participating teachers to design curriculum that will meet their educational goals. She utilizes the NAAEE guidelines for excellence and aligns her materials with state standards, illustrating her understanding of the needs of her diverse constituencies.
In the North Country Patti is known as a connection conduit, a wealth of knowledge and a committed environmentalist. We are thrilled to highlight her accomplishments for the rest of the state and thank her for her efforts in environmental education.