Association for Environmental & Outdoor education

Click here to nominate an outstanding Environmental Educator as EE'er of the Year!

Past Environmental Educator of the Year Award Winners

2019 Northern EE'er of the Year - Michael Shanahan
Michael "Rhododendron" Shanahan has made significant valuable contributions to two environmental education programs and an outdoor summer camp. In every capacity, he brings his never-ending enthusiasm, work-ethic, and desire to improve programs with him. Michael was nominated by colleagues and supervisors at San Joaquin Outdoor Education, YMCA Camp Jones Gulch, and Shady Creek Outdoor School & Event Center.

During the 2013-2014 year as a brand new naturalist at SJOE, Michael went above and beyond, building a cob oven in the program’s garden. At Summer Camp at YMCA Camp Jones Gulch, Michael is an Assistant Camp Director who firmly believes that no job is below his pay grade – he will do whatever it takes to support the campers, whether teaching them how to sew, leading an outdoor cooking specialty (in the cob oven he built), or driving campers and staff on the bus (which he calls the Mike Express!) When challenges arise, his positivity keeps camper and staff spirits high.

Michael has spearheaded many projects at Shady Creek that have improved the school. He has partnered with a local Boy Scout troop and helped two young men earn their Eagle Scout rank by coordinating the construction of a Cobb oven for the Shady Creek Garden, and coordinating the planting and care of a fruit tree orchard. And finally, Michael has contributed many ideas and procedures for improving safety at Shady Creek and making the response to emergencies more formalized and effective.

In Rhody’s words, "It is a great honor for me to receive this award. Also I want to send an appreciation to my family and all in the AEOE community who:
- Guide students to “ah- ha” moments, and ignite inquire fever about the world around them,
- show students that they are scientists everyday,
- and to all those who create a community that allows students to be who they want to be, and they walk away saying ‘I am best, in the whole world, in being me.’

I am one person who thinks during a skit night performance on how many other disappearing log skits are going on across the state. I smile because we are instilling self confidence in students. I smile because we have a collective positive impact and building positive communities. Thank you."

Rhody, we thank you for your contributions to the Environmental and Outdoor Education community!

2019 Southern EE'er of the Year - Katie Miller Andersen

Katie Miller Andersen was nominated for her tremendous contribution to the lives of young people in her long career in outdoor education. Katie was nominated multiple times by coworkers and supervisors at Cuyamaca Outdoor School, where she has worked for 16 years.

Katie started as a Girl Scout counselor, received her teaching credential, taught in the classroom for a year then was selected as an Outdoor Education Specialist for Cuyamaca in 2003 where she has served ever since. When Katie is not at work, she volunteers for the Girl Scouts, the California School Employees Association, and AEOE. She has been a dedicated AEOE volunteer since 2012 and our Board Secretary since 2014.

During her time at Cuyamaca, Katie has made many valuable contributions towards improving the program. She has volunteered for countless projects and committees, applying her skills in lesson planning, curriculum development, writing complex schedules, and more. Her colleagues tell us that Katie’s number one goal as a professional is to protect the environment by educating young people about their role in the environment and also providing them tremendous agency as changemakers and citizen scientists. She brings a love and respect for science and nature to every student she teaches and her enthusiasm for citizen science and its promise to save the environment is both admirable and contagious.

Katie, we thank you for your contributions to the Environmental and Outdoor Education community!

Past EE'ers of the Year

2018 Southern EE'er of the Year - Jane Mattione

2018 Northern EE'er of the Year - Nicholas Bischoff

2017 Southern EE'er of the Year - Nathan Taxel

2017 Southern EE'er of the Year - Lauren McLaughlin

2017 Southern EE'er of the Year - Elizabeth Willoughby

2017 Northern EE'er of the Year - Allison Hartman

2016 Southern EE'er of the Year - Joselito Robles

2016 Northern EE'er of the Year - Ian “Ibis” Gledhill

2015 Southern EE'er of the Year - Amy Ecklund

2015 Northern EE'er of the Year - Sean Hoppes

2014 Northern EE'er of the Year - Emilie "Dipper" Lygren

2013 Southern EE'er of the Year - Danny Sudman

2013 Northern EE'er of the Year - Korena David

2012 Southern EE'er of the Year - Megan Lockwood

2012 Northern EE'er of the Year - Robb Stolberg

2011 Southern EE'er of the Year - Paul Grafton

2011 Northern EE'er of the Year - Garth Harwood

2010 Southern EE'er of the Year - Jay Bishop

2010 Northern EE'er of the Year - Chris & Jason Little

2009 Southern EE'er of the Year - RT Hawke

2009 Northern EE'er of the Year - Jymn Meier

2008 Southern EE'ers of the Year - Laura Vandezande

2008 Northern EE'ers of the Year - Traci Fesko and Hilary Hobbs

2007 Southern EE'er of the Year - Nicole Larson

2007 Northern EE'er of the Year - Sarah Lemley

2006 Southern EE'er of the Year - David Macander

2006 Outstanding Service Award - Maggie Wolfe

2006 Northern EE'er of the Year - Lisa Murphy

2005 Southern EE'er of the Year - Tonya and Rich Mandl

2005 Northern EE'er of the Year - Rikki Schackleford

2004 Southern EE'er of the Year - Michael Charnofsky

2004 Northern EE'er of the Year - Liza Earle

2003 Northern EE'er of the Year - Tamara Palmer

2002 Northern EE'er of the Year - Kim Taylor

2001 Northern EE'er of the Year - Dan Webster

2000 Southern EE'er of the Year - Janice Smith

2000 Northern EE'er of the Year - Stephen "Hoppy" Hopkins