Forestry & Natural Resources
Nature of Teaching Program Receives Environmental Education Award
The Nature of Teaching, a Purdue Extension signature program, was honored as the third place finisher in the central region for the Environmental Education Award presented by the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science (NEAFCS).
The Environmental Education Award recognizes NEAFCS members for outstanding educational programs conducted for families and/or communities on various environmental issues/concerns.
The Nature of Teaching includes formal standards-base curricula and informal activity-based curricula centered around getting youth outside. The program curricula is focused on three areas: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. Classroom ready lesson plans for grades kindergarten through 12 are available as are professional development workshops for teachers, focused on science, the environment and getting students connected with nature.“I’m very happy to have the Nature of Teaching team recognized by our professional association as many team members are also members of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences,” health and human sciences extension educator Kelsie Jo Muller said. “The Nature of Teaching team has developed over multiple years and added different discipline areas all working together. It’s great to see all of the hard work recognized.”
The Nature of Teaching team includes:
- Deb Arseneau, HHS Educator, Newton County
- Jarred Brooke, extension wildlife specialist
- Jay Christiansen, health and human sciences extension educator for Vigo County
- Robert Cordes, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) wildlife special projects coordinator
- Molly Hoag, health and human sciences extension educator for Wells County
- Molly Hunt, health and human sciences extension educator for Delaware County
- Rebecca Koetz, urban ag/home horticulture extension educator for Lake County
- Tami Mosier, 4-H youth development extension educator
- Kelsie Muller, health and human sciences extension educator for Benton County
- Dr. Rod Williams, professor and extension wildlife specialist
- Brad Zischke, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) assistant regional wildlife biologist
All of the NEAFCS awards will be presented in September as part of the NEAFCS Virtual Annual Session.
Featured Stories
Indiana Corn Update - Issue #28
Cover crop strategies for weed control, N₂O emissions in corn, and the impacts of harvest...
Purdue institute powers the future of Indiana, U.S. agriculture through AI, data
On any given day in Indiana, you will find farmers checking weather apps before sunrise,...
Innovating the snack aisle: A food scientist’s mission for tastier, healthier foods
Driven by a mission to change how Americans eat, Monica Stampfli, a Food Science alumna, turned...
Gerald Shurson delivers 2026 Phillip A. Maxwell Keynote Address
Gerald Shurson shares insights on sustainability and animal agriculture.
Farmer sentiment improves despite rising input cost concerns
Farmer sentiment improved in March as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose...
Better driving by design: Purdue-Led NSF CHORUS Center makes autonomous systems stay safe
There were more than 1,000 crashes involving vehicles equipped with automated driving systems or...