Columbia Basin Trust receives environmental award

Directors of the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network present Columbia Basin Trust with the 2014 Award of Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication.

Throughout the Columbia Basin, many educators, volunteers, community groups and organizations dedicate themselves to enhancing environmental well-being through education. As a supporter of these efforts, Columbia Basin Trust has earned an award from the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. It received the 2014 Award of Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication.

The award was presented to the Trust by the nominating organization Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) at the Environmental Education Soiree & Expo held in Creston on November 28.

"We were both surprised and humbled by this recognition," said Neil Muth, Columbia Basin Trust President and CEO. "This achievement would not be possible without the incredibly committed and passionate educators, volunteers, community groups and organizations in the region, like CBEEN, that help us deliver on our mandate to enhance environmental well-being in the Basin. We accept this award on behalf of all of our environmental partners."

"CBEEN nominated the Trust for this national award to recognize its long-term commitment to environmental education," said Duncan Whittick, Executive Director, CBEEN. "Since its inception, the Trust has provided critical capacity for key environmental education and stewardship projects. As a result, we wanted to recognize the Trust for its important role in allowing a small area of Canada to become a national model for success. We also wanted to recognize the Trust's strong vision for environmental education which is showcased in their new Environmental Strategic Plan. This will allow for the continued development of high-quality learning opportunities for residents of the Basin."

Pictured in photo: In photo back (L-R) Susie MacDonald, Wild Voices for Kids Program Manager; Erika Momeyer, Director, CBEEN; Yann Loranger, Director, CBEEN; Neil Muth President and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust; Ingrid Liepa, Vice-Chair, CBEEN; Dave Hillary, Board member, CBEEN; Duncan Whittick, Executive Director, CBEEN. Front (L-R) Kim Deane, Director, Columbia Basin Trust, Laurie Paige, Vice-Chair, Columbia Basin Trust; Greg Deck, Chair, Columbia Basin Trust; Gillian Cooper, Chair, CBEEN; Sonja Seher, Wild Voices for Kids Program Assistant.

Over the past 20 years, the Trust has invested over $5 million in 185 environmental education projects across the region, including the following four major education programs:

• Wild Voices for Kids, delivered by CBEEN
• Education in the Wild, delivered by Wildsight
• Know Your Watershed, delivered by Wildsight
• Wildsafe BC, delivered by BC Conservation Foundation

Learn more at cbt.org/environmentaleducation

CBEEN acts as a regional umbrella network for environmental education which encourages environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Canadian Columbia Basin by supporting environmental educators. To learn more about their work, visit cbeen.org or call 250.341.6141.