PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators Announce Recipients Of 2026 PAEE Awards, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Awards

The PA Association of Environmental Educators recently announced the recipients of the 2026 PAEE Awards and the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Awards at their annual conference in Gettysburg.

PAEE Awards

The annual awards are an important way that environmental educators in Pennsylvania can recognize one another and celebrate the great work that is happening throughout the state. 

The honorees are--

-- Keystone Award: Mark McLaughlin, Shaver's Creek Environmental Education Center, Huntingdon County

-- Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award: Wildlife Leadership Academy, educating student Conservation Ambassadors

-- Outstanding Environmental Educator Award: Natalie Reese, Westmoreland Cleanways & Recycling

-- Outstanding Contribution to EE Award: Ken Hamilton, GreenAllies, empowering students to lead

-- Daisy S. Klinedinst Memorial Award: Sara Wetting, DCNR Presque Isle State Park

-- Government Partner Award: Kody Brittingham, Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee, Bucks County

-- Business Partner Award: LaMotte Company, a leader in water testing since 1919 operating in 75 countries based in Newark, DE

Click Here for more on each award winner.

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Awards

The MWEE Partner of Excellence and the MWEE School of Excellence Award are two annual awards intended to celebrate outstanding support of and/or implementation of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) in PA.

The honorees are--

-- MWEE School of Excellence: Saint Patrick Catholic School, Machele Lynch, Carlisle, Cumberland County

-- MWEE Partner of Excellence: Penn State University Outreach, Amanda Smith, Aikumis Serikbayeva and Peter Boger

Click Here for more on each award winner.

For more information on programs, initiatives, resources and other upcoming events, visit the PA Association of Environmental Educators website.  Click Here to sign up for the PAEE newsletter (bottom of page, left).  Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to support PAEE’s work.

(Photos: Row 1- Natalie Reese, Westmoreland Cleanways & Recycling; Wildlife Leadership Academy; Mark McLaughling, Shaver’s Creek; Row 2- Ken Hamilton, GreenAllies; Sara Wettekin, DCNR Presque Isle State Park; Kody Brittingham, Bristol Twp. EAC; Row 3-- Saint Patrick Catholic School, Machele Lynch; Penn State Outreach - Amanda Smith, Aikumis Serikbayeva and Peter Boger.)

[Posted: April 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest