After a year hiatus, Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network’s (CBEEN) Awards of Excellence has returned, and we are excited to celebrate 12 outstanding local educators from across the Columbia Basin region for their efforts in educating students and the public on environmental stewardship and sustainability.

“The 2022 award winners include early years, Indigenous, and community educators, along with primary and intermediate teachers. All are committed to creating opportunities for people to connect with, learn about, and learn from our amazing local environment,” said Mia King, Program Manager for CBEEN. “We are grateful for their dedication to increasing the ecological literacy of students, professionals, and community members throughout the Columbia Basin.”

CBEEN’s 2022 Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education were awarded to: 

• Indigenous Educator – Jenna Jasek (Invermere)
• Indigenous Educator – Lisa Moore (Revelstoke)
• Primary Teacher – Caren Nagao (Golden)
• Primary Teacher – Jodi Casey (Invermere)
• Primary Teacher – Rita Corcoran (Slocan Valley)
• Intermediate Teacher – Matt Kieller (Revelstoke)
• Intermediate Teacher – Sarah Newton (Revelstoke)
• Early Years Educator – Cheryl Anderson (Kimberley)
• Early Years Educator – Evelyn Walker (Columbia Valley)
• Community Educator – Kathy Murray (Fernie/Elk Valley/South Country)
• Community Educator – Hailey Ross (Revelstoke)
• Community Educator – Jade Berrill (Revelstoke)

When notified of her award, Rocky Mountain SD6 Vice Principal for Indigenous Education and Equity Jenna Jasek said, “My passion for learning about my culture and sharing knowledge with students and staff is a gift for Mother Earth. She is our greatest teacher. Outdoor education, learning about the environment and Indigenous perspectives weave together like the perfect braid. I will always be on this journey and invite others to join me. Kukstsemc!”

Primary school teacher Jodi Casey explained how she started delivering lessons outside: “It began with the inspiration from an outdoor conference and with some trepidation, I started taking students outside once a week through the seasons. Quickly I came to see that all children thrive and find inspiration in nature. With a few fabulous outdoor resources, it became so easy to take our learning outside for any subject through all the seasons. Now it’s my students and my favourite time in the week.

“We always come back rejuvenated, having shared a common experience in a fresh, new space. The possibilities are endless! With all the amazing outdoor learning and leadership in this region, I am beyond honoured to receive this award.”

These educators were recognized during an awards ceremony at the provincial Classrooms to Communities 2022 Provincial Conference in Revelstoke on October 21.

Learn more about local educators honoured by CBEEN…

Jenna Jasek (Invermere) is the current Rocky Mountain SD6 Vice Principal for Indigenous Education and Equity. Prior to this role, Jenna has been a leader in the community, encouraging and supporting environmental education. She works closely with CBEEN to provide advice and guidance on Indigenous learning resources to share with other educators and as co-host of the “Every Child Matters Year-long Learning Challenge, and has also been an advocate locally for ensuring that the Every Child Matters movement takes root in the Columbia Valley. Jenna strives to provide her students with opportunities to explore, learn, and immerse themselves through outdoor education.

Jodi Casey (Invermere) has been practicing environmental education with her students for more than a decade and has generously modeled her environmental education practice to colleagues within her schools by welcoming teachers and their classes to join her in taking their teaching and learning outdoors. Jodi has had such a positive impact on the Columbia Basin by helping students develop a relationship with the land, teaching students to be stewards of the land, and demonstrating to students that through wonder and curiosity, we can connect deeply with our communities and surrounding environments.

Cheryl Anderson (Kimberley) is the manager of Purcell Preschool where she fosters a strong commitment to outdoor learning and natural curiosity. Supporting her team of educators, programs at the preschool are alive and play-centred, embracing the natural classroom of the outdoors. Purcell Preschool also has a close connection with the ?aq’am community of the Ktunaxa Nations,  and integrates Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into early years learning, further developing connections and perspectives to the land. Cheryl also was involved in the developing Kimberley’s first Forest School for ages 4-6, which is centred on outdoor and nature-based learning.

Evelyn Walker (Columbia Valley) is the lead teacher at Little Badgers Early Learning where students experience everything from ice fishing to hatching chickens! helped to establish. When Evy joined the Little Badger team, she had a dream to build a garden for the Akisqnuk Community. The Learning Garden that resulted has brought together the Akisqnuk Community and Little Badger community, with students learning first-hand about the cycle of planting and harvesting a garden.

Kathy Murray (Fernie/Elk Valley/South Country) recently retired as a WildSafeBC educator after 16 years, doing outreach with communities, residential homeowners, and school children, educating on topics of bear safety, managing wildlife attractants, and being aware of the wildlife around us. Kathy has also mentored many new WildSafeBC coordinators over the years, helping them to make connections and to maintain strong relations with stakeholders and community members to ensure effective educational messaging is delivered. Kathy’s dedication to her work has resulted in the WildSafeBC program being supported, received, and in demand from organizations throughout the RDEK, helping to keep wildlife wild and communities safe.

Caren Nagao (Golden) is a seasoned early primary teacher, providing students with authentic outdoor learning experiences daily. She breaks down barriers (resistance, lack of clothing) and promotes a positive mindset and understanding of outdoor experiences. Over the course of her 30+ year teaching career, Caren has provided hundreds of children (and by extension their families) with rich outdoor learning experiences and the opportunity to fall in love with our natural world. Caren celebrates and incorporates her Indigenous heritage into her teaching has the enviable ability to be both in the moment as well as intentional when she is experiencing time in nature with her students.

Images submitted by CBEEN

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