Iowa Association of Naturalists

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2004 IAN/ICEC Award Winners

2004 IAN/ICEC Conservation and Environmental Education Excellence Award Winners

The Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN) and the Iowa Conservation Education Council (ICEC) are proud to announce this year’s recipients of their Conservation and Environmental Education Excellence Awards Program. The winners are as follows:

Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award: Robert Rye, IDOT Field Services Coordinator. This award commends a lifetime achievement in environmental education excellence and leadership.

35 year career
First manager of the Conservation Education Center for 21 years.
Field Services Coordinator for IDOT and continually develops connections between the DOT and environmental community.
Has served on the ICEC board for over 15 years.
Served as co-chair of the 2000 Governor’s Conference in EE.
Served as a lecturer and adjunct professor at Drake University, UNI, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Facilitator and trainer for Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, Aquatic WILD, and Food, Land, and People Project.

Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award: Pamela Holz, Washington County Conservation Board Naturalist. This award commends outstanding efforts by an environmental educator.

Naturalist at Washington CCB for 6 years.
Grew program from 5,000 to 10,000 participants.
Assisted with the planning for the new Conservation Education Center.
Created text and design concept for the permanent exhibits in the exhibit hall. Worked with ISU Design students to complete the task.

Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award: Clinton County Conservation Board and Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency. This award commends an outstanding EE program for or by youth.

2^nd Annual Pollution Safari day camp focused on the area of pollution and the environment.
22 participants from elementary to middle school age.
Toured the landfill, recycling center, Soaring Eagles Nature Center, Rock Creek Marina and Campground and the Mississippi River aboard the Blue Heron Eco-Cruise pontoon boat.
Students participated in many activities including making recycled paper, building a worm compost bin, planting trees, and cleaning up a beach along the Mississippi River.

Ada Hayden Conservation Education Award: Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. This award commends outstanding efforts to educate about preservation, land management, or natural resource conservation.

INHF created an in-depth web site with nearly 1,000 pages.
The site includes educational articles on a wide range of Iowa conservation topics, tips and resources for enjoying Iowa’s outdoor resources, and publications on managing and protecting natural lands.
Web site is updated several times a week
More than 140,000 people have visited the web site during 2004.

"Ding" Darling Environmental Education Award: Polk County Conservation Board. This award commends an outstanding environmental education program or event which educates the general public.

5^th Annual Pelican Festival held at Jester Park to celebrate the fall migration of pelicans through Saylorville Lake.
Approx. 4,000 people attend the event annually. The event has become the largest one-day birding festival in Iowa.
Partners with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Audubon Iowa, Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity Team.
Local conservation groups are invited to attend the festival.

Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (< 35,000): Buchanan County Conservation Board. This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of counties with a population of less than 35,000.

Offers a wide range of school programs, public programs, and camps.
In a joint project with East Buchanan Schools, a new web site was developed for the Conservation Board.
BCCB cooperated with NRCS and several schools to offer an Iowa Environmental Workbook Contest.
More than 10,000 people visit the Nature Center each year. Planning is ongoing for new exhibits.
Staff active in multiple state and regional organizations.

Outstanding County Conservation Board EE Program (> 35,000): Linn County Conservation Department. This award commends excellence in a county conservation board’s EE program of counties with a population of more than 35,000.

Education program started in 1987 and was based out of a small center located at Pinicon Ridge Park near Central City. Today the program has grown and has moved to Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center and is located on a unique archeological site.
Archeology is a major component of their educational programming. Other popular programs are based on local habitats, flora and fauna at Wickiup.
During 2004, over 300 programs were offered at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center with almost 15,000 people attending.
Linn County Environmental Council sponsors the Cedar Rapids Connections Program series. It is an ongoing lecture series that intends to connect students and public to outstanding members of the scientific community.
Started an Osprey Reintroduction Program with the help of IDNR’s Wildlife Diversity Program and over 50 volunteers.

IAN/ICEC Awards Nomination Form