30 Sep 2010 Children in Nature Event and Award winners
Austin Children in Nature Collaborative (CINC)’s Austin 3rd annual Children in Nature awards being held Thursday, September 30, at the Four Seasons.
This event celebrates leaders in our community who are focused on getting our local children out into nature. Host organization Westcave Preserve will highlight five 2010 award winners. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director, Carter Smith, will keynote and Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune will serve as master of ceremonies.
“Arguably the greatest challenge that we as conservationists face is ensuring that our young people understand, experience, and value nature as part of their everyday lives,” said keynote speaker, Carter Smith, executive director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Without those strong bonds, the future of our lands and waters is uncertain at best.”
Austin EcoNetwork is pleased to share this year’s winners with you (you get a sneak peek before the event):
2010 Children in Nature Award Winners:
- Lee Walker Award for Community Collaboration, Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Families Program
- John Covert Watson Award for Vision, Texas River School
- John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education, Johnny Wilson, head teacher, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
- Westcave Preserve Award for Enduring Dedication, Austin Nature and Science Center
- Special Recognition Award, to be revealed at the event Sept 30
E. LEE WALKER AWARD FOR COLLABORATION : The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Families Program
Many parents are interested in getting themselves and their kids back to nature but they don’t know where to start. Two years ago, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department launched the Texas Outdoor Family program. In addition to camping in their own parks, they have also hosted workshops in local parks through partnerships with cities, river authorities and others. One example is their innovative partnership with Georgetown Parks and Recreation which is also supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several outdoor retailers. TP&WD has trained the Georgetown park staff to introduce families to all the nuances of happy camping such as cooking outdoors, fishing, archery, kayaking — all in a hands-on manner. http://beta-www.tpwd.state.tx.
JOHN COVERT WATSON AWARD FOR VISION: Texas River School
The Texas River School has been providing fun and engaging canoeing experiences on Lady Bird Lake for Austin area grade school students since 1992. As this is a fi rst experience on the water (much less piloting a canoe) for most of the children, the Texas River School program provides four pre-visit programs with hands-on activities to prepare the students for their upcoming day-long river adventure and overnight camping experience. Over 5,000 elementary school children have had the opportunity to develop a lifelong relationship with our mighty rivers, meandering creeks, bubbling springs and streams through the Texas River School. http://www.texasriverschool.
JOHN F. AHRNS AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: Johnny Wilson – St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
For over 20 years, Master Teacher Johnny Wilson has been inspiring and involving students in the appreciation and protection of the natural world. Radio-tagging snakes on campus, researching feral hogs on Nature Conservancy land in West Texas, designing models of green homes, dinosaur fossil hunting, creating and tending school gardens, taking service trips to Haiti — these are just a few of the opportunities he has made possible for his fortunate students. Mr. Wilson is greatly beloved for his kindness, enthusiasm, breadth of knowledge, adventurousness and creative sense of humor. http://www.sstx.org/
WESTCAVE PRESERVE AWARD: Austin Nature and Science Center
The Austin Nature and Science Center is celebrating its 50th year anniversary of connecting people with the natural wonders of Central Texas. The center offers wildlife exhibits housing more than 90 injured or orphaned native Texas animals, a Dino Pit featuring an educational dig site, dinosaur trackways and a fi eld collection display. The SPLASH! Exhibit introduces kids the unique nature of our Hill Country watersheds and the function of a healthy aquifer. The Center offers a wide variety of programs ranging from elementary school programs to high adventure activities and camps to meet the needs of its large and diverse audience. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/
——————
The Austin Children in Nature Collaborative (CINC-Austin) is a private/public partnership dedicated to creating social change so that kids throughout Central Texas have easy and frequent connections to our natural world. CINC-Austin is facilitated by Westcave Preserve, and comprised of many organizations who together execute a strategic plan to inspire social change resulting in a significant increase in the amount of time children spend interacting with nature on a daily basis. Scientific research increasingly shows that kids with frequent access to the natural world are healthier, happier and smarter. CINC-Austin delivers such amazing resources as NatureRocksAustin, http://www.naturerocksaustin.
No Comments