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.
Nominate Excellent Environmental Education in Colorado
Nominations for the 2023 Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education are now closed. The next nomination period will be in early 2024.
CAEE's awards recognize excellent environmental education 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 (formal and nonformal programs)
- Outstanding Environmental Educator Award (for formal, nonformal, volunteer educators)
- Outstanding Young Environmental Leader Award
- Outstanding Retiring Educator Recognition
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].
2022 Excellence in Environmental Education Award Recipients
- President's Award:
- Parker McMullen Bushman, Ecoinclusive Strategies
- Parker McMullen Bushman, Ecoinclusive Strategies
- Innovative EE Programs:
- Changemaker Program - Cottonwood Institute
- Forests and Fire Field Course - CU Science Discovery, Cal-Wood Education Center and Nature Kids Lafayette
- HEART Force Hazard Education Awareness & Resilience Task Force Project - CIRES Education & Outreach, University of Colorado Boulder
- Northern Redbelly Dace Project - Ocean First Institute, Boulder County Parks and Open Space, St Vrain Valley School District Innovation Center, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Denver Zoo, Lefthand Watershed
- Changemaker Program - Cottonwood Institute
- Outstanding Environmental Educators:
- Erin Angel - Cottonwood Institute
- Stacy Wolff - Flagstaff Academy
- Erin Angel - Cottonwood Institute
- Outstanding Young Environmental Leaders:
- Cory Hoit - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
- TRC Initiative: Stella Corzine, Abby Fitzgerald, Josie Karr - Peak to Peak Charter School
- Cory Hoit - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
- Outstanding Retiring Educator Recognition:
- Kirstin Copeland - Ridgway State Park
See a list of past award recipients
View past award recognition booklets
Awards Celebration Event
Each year individuals and organizations from around the state of Colorado are recognized and honored for their hard work and dedication in the field of environmental education at an Awards Banquet. Awards honor and celebrate environmental education programs, the lifetime accomplishments of an individual in the field of environmental education, and retiring environmental educators. Please stay tuned for the announcement of this year's Awards Celebration Event.