Second Annual Bartlett Award Announced during the 2008 NAAEE Conference
This year, the National Environmental Education Foundation is proud to announce Mr. Gary Swick of Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, IL as winner of the 2008 Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award!
In his 32 years at Dundee-Crown High School, Gary Swick has built an environmental education program that truly embodies the principles of the Bartlett Award. His students master their coursework through project-based learning, often serving as “Teen Teachers” for K-12 students and the extended community on topics such as solid waste, water quality, and restoring natural areas.
Mr. Swick was honored with the Bartlett Award on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the North American Association for Environmental Education conference in Wichita.
Environmental education programs succeed when teachers are passionate,
creative, and able to connect with their students and inspire their
peers. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) supports
these teachers and recognizes their efforts nationally through the Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award.
For more than 40 years, Richard C. Bartlett
has been inspiring environmental educators nationwide. This award
distinguishes the teachers who best represent Mr. Bartlett’s passion
for and leadership in environmental education, who have successfully
integrated environmental education into daily education programs, and
who can serve as an inspiration and model for others. A $5,000 cash
award is provided for the recipient to continue their work in
environmental education.
The second annual Bartlett Award winner was announced on October 17, 2008. Introduced by Richard Bartlett,Mr. Gary Swick of Carpentersville, IL, accepted the award during a presentation at the North American Association of Environmental Education.
The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award is awarded annually to an outstanding educator who has successfully integrated environmental education into his or her daily education programs. The award will be given to an educator who can serve as an inspiration and model for others. A $5,000 cash award will be provided for the recipient to continue their work in environmental education.
The Richard C. Bartlett Award was established in 2007 by the National Environmental Education Foundation to distinguish the teachers who best represent Richard C. Bartlett’s passion for and leadership in environmental education.
The first Bartlett Award was presented to Debra Weitzel in 2007. Debra Weitzel, a high school environmental science teacher at Middleton High School in Middleton, WI., was selected from a group of 45. Read Debra Weitzel's inspiring acceptance speech.
The first Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award was presented at the North American Association for Environmental Education's Annual Conference in Virginia Beachon Thursday, November 15, 2007. Read more about the ceremony in the press release.