Last year, 8-year-old Gabriel Fennemore was honored for his ongoing wildlife photography
project, which is featured on his own website, http://theyoungnaturalist.com , along with information about the amazing creatures all around us. Middle schooler Caitlin Aber, 12, participates in water monitoring, wetland restoration, trash cleanup, makes bee houses and gives presentations on native bees. And 17-year-old Melissa Matsanka was recognized for organizing the Angels Club for the Environment, St. Marks High School's recycling club.
For their innovative ideas, good stewardship and concern for the natural world, Gabriel, Caitlin and Melissa were honored by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control as Delaware’s 2012 Young Environmentalists of the Year.
If you know students like them who are putting their passions into projects that benefit our environment, you can nominate them for the 2013 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards.
Click for 2013 Young Environmentalist Nomination Form.
Open to Delaware students in grades 1 through 12, this annual awards program seeks nominees whose actions have resulted in the protection, restoration or enhancement of our state’s natural resources. Projects must have been completed between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013, with nominations open from Wednesday, May 1 to Friday, June 14, 2013.
Past honorees have also included students who have organized tree plantings, a household hazardous waste community collection day and school recycling programs; and students who have volunteered their time with the Delaware Nature Society, DNREC's Piping Plover Monitoring Program and the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute, among other organizations.
Anyone can nominate a deserving student – teachers, parents, classmates, club or group leaders – by filling out a nomination form and including letters, reports, photos or other documentation of the project.
Winners will be chosen in three categories: elementary grades 1-4, middle school grades 5-8 and high school grades 9-12, and each will receive a gift card and a prize pack from Delaware State Parks. Winners will be honored in a special ceremony at the Delaware State Fair in July.
This is the 20th year for the awards program, which was established by DNREC colleagues and friends in honor of Dr. Edwin H. Clark II, who served as Secretary of DNREC from 1989 until 1993.
For more information, please contact Young Environmentalist Awards Coordinator Joanna Wilson in the DNREC Public Affairs Office at 302-739-9902, or by e-mail: joanna.wilson@state.de.us
