Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education
Each year the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) recognizes and honors individuals, organizations, and schools from around the state of Colorado for their innovation and dedication to moving the field of environmental and outdoor learning forward. We embrace and hope to celebrate the many related educational efforts that contribute to environmental and outdoor learning. Nominations are reviewed and selected by CAEE’s Award Selection Committee and approved by CAEE's Board of Directors. Award recognition takes place at the annual awards celebration event in the fall.
This year, the annual awards celebration event will be held at the Advancing EE Conference on September 17 at CSU Spur in Denver.
Awards Celebration Event
Each year's award recipients are honored and recognized at an Awards Celebration Event! This year, the annual awards celebration event will be held at the Advancing EE Conference on September 17 at CSU Spur in Denver.
2026 Excellence in Environmental Education Award Recipients
Enos A. Mills Award for Exemplary Contributions to Environmental Education
- Katie Navin, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education
Advancing Environmental Literacy Awards
Innovative EE Program Awards
- Outdoor Homeschool Enrichment, Bluff Lake Nature Center
- Foley Graduate Fellowship, Walking Mountains
Outstanding Environmental Educator Award
- Ben Webb, Cal-Wood Education Center
Outstanding Young Environmental Leader Awards
- Aisha O'Neil, Good Trouble Climate Network
- Lucas Gambone, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Outstanding Retiring Environmental Educator Awards - not awarded in 2026
Read the 2026 Press Release HERE
See a list of past award recipients
View past award recognition booklets
Nominate Excellent Environmental Education in Colorado
The 2026 nomination window is now closed. If you have your eye on a candidate to be nominated in 2027 or beyond, fill out the eeAwards Nomination Interest Form.
Nomination for 2027 will open in early 2027.
(click here to preview the form)
Learn more about each award category and nominate using the links below.
CAEE's awards recognize excellent environmental educators and the many related education efforts that contribute to environmental and outdoor learning in the following categories:
- Advancing Environmental Literacy Award
- Enos A. Mills Award for Exemplary Contributions to Environmental Education
- Innovative Environmental Education Program Award
- Outstanding Environmental Educator Award
- Outstanding Young Environmental Leader Award
- Outstanding Retiring & Retired Environmental Educator Award
Read more about the nomination process and criteria.
Help CAEE recognize outstanding environmental education in Colorado by joining the Awards Selection Committee! For more information please email [email protected].