Awards
Please take the opportunity to nominate a colleague for an annual award from Michigan’s professional association for environmental and outdoor education. MAEOE offers seven award categories (listed below) with a deadline of August 1, 2024. Award recipients will be recognized at MAEOE's annual conference in Grand Rapids (October 4-6).
You do not need to be a member of MAEOE to nominate or receive awards.
Award Descriptions
William Stapp Environmental Education Award
This award is given to up to 1 nominee, is named for the University of Michigan’s Dr. Bill Stapp and is MAEOE’s highest honor in the field of Environmental Education.
The Stapp Award is most appropriate for those with a long career conducting formal or nonformal programs that may focus on, but not be limited to, community awareness and stewardship of land, water, and/or air quality, solid and hazardous waste education, energy conservation and others.
The recipient must have demonstrated a lifetime of devoted service and have spent at least ten years working in Michigan.
This award nomination requires two additional support letters.
Julian Smith Outdoor Education Award
This award is given to up to 1 nominee, is named for the nationally recognized Director of Michigan State’s Outdoor Education Project and is MAEOE’s highest honor in the field of Outdoor Education.
The Smith Award is most appropriate for those with a long career implementing and conducting courses for students with an outdoor education emphasis including hunting, fishing, camping, archery, forestry and nature study and others.
The recipient must have demonstrated a lifetime of devoted service and have spent at least ten years working in Michigan.
This award nomination requires two additional support letters.
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees and is most appropriate for an individual who has made outstanding contributions to connecting diverse audiences to environmental and/or outdoor education in Michigan.
The recipient’s contributions should exemplify community engagement, research, teaching or other positive impacts furthering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the fields of environmental and outdoor education.
Impact Award
This award is given annually to up to 2 organizations to recognize relevant programs and/or campaigns that enhance the quality and availability of environmental and/or outdoor education (e.g. newsletters, professional development, events, series, and/or new initiatives).
Volunteer Award
This award is given annually to up to 3 individuals who volunteer their time and skills for more than 1 year to a school, college, camp, outdoor center, zoo, nature center, a MAEOE committee, or other venue that promotes environmental and/or outdoor education.
Rising Star in Environmental or Outdoor Education Award
This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees, to recognize an early career professional who is new to the fields of environmental and outdoor education.
The nominee has demonstrated leadership, innovation, as well as exhibited best practices in environmental and/or outdoor education.
Eligible nominees must have been in the field less than 5 years. Promoting environmental literacy through education.
Recognition Award
This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees making significant contributions to the fields of environmental and/or outdoor education, in a specialized area such as journalism, photography, curriculum development, interpretation and/or an individual making significant contributions towards creating, delivering, managing or sustaining environmental and/or outdoor programs.
