Recently the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA) announced the winners of its annual series of Environmental Education Awards, recognizing this year's most outstanding environmental educator and environmental program in the state of Maine.  

The 2011 Excellence in Environmental Education Program Award went to the Science Department at Washington Academy (WA) in East Machias, Maine. WA Science Department faculty Don Sprangers, Catherine Kropp, Malcolm Holmes and Chris Sunde have worked together to create a program at WA that teaches students about the importance of sustainability in today's world. They offer a variety of courses that educate students about the environment and encourage students to become involved in taking action to make their world a better place. Among other projects, the students have started a school garden, restored salmon habitat, raised and released salmon in their local watershed, and participated in an outdoor leadership class. The program uses the school forest as a living laboratory for study in all science classes, and has implemented an alternative energy initiative building solar, wind and biodiesel devices to help power their school. Finally, students have learned about bioremediation through the construction of a man-made wetland to protect a local stream. This highly successful curriculum and programming are inspirational to schools in Maine and have been recognized at the national level.  These teachers have impacted many students’ lives. The quality of their program is the result of years of work and hours of extra labor above and beyond what is required. MEEA commends the Science Department at Washington Academy for their well-deserved recognition as 2011 Environmental Education Program of the Year.

(L-R): Malcolm Holmes, Don Sprangers, Catherine Kropp, and Chris Sunde pose with their award.