Frank Marsden embodies all of the qualities that MAEOE honors through the Robert Finton Award. The biggest theme throughout Frank’s 40+ year journey in the environmental education world is his optimism and ability to see potential. Whether you focus on his work in establishing Eden Mills Nature Center, motivating the community to volunteer and support the environmental efforts he envisions, providing countless opportunities to all people to connect with nature, providing guidance and leadership to multiple organizations, including MAEOE, inspiring many young people to enter the field of environmental education, sharing and donating his nature photos for organizations to use or auction off, or working with Veterans battling PTSD, Frank demonstrates leadership and innovation in environmental and outdoor education.

Bryan Gomes has spent the last 8 years as the education coordinator at CoreShark H2O, a Hanover-based environmental nonprofit whose mission is to provide hands-on programs designed to enhance students with a passion and understanding of Maryland's waterways. Gomes’ work with area students focuses on various topics such as the importance of oysters, the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay, and carbon emissions and plastic pollution in waterways. He averages about a dozen educational programs a month for elementary to high school age kids.

There is no one else in Maryland with as much knowledge or educational experience of the natural world as Jenny.
In Jenny’s 16 years at Adkins Arboretum, she has worn many hats: nature preschool teacher, youth program coordinator, youth program director, and now assistant director. She developed all of the youth program curriculum currently in use: homeschool, preschool, summer camp, scout, family, and school programs. All school programs are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and MD Environmental Literacy standards. When Jenny first developed these programs at Adkins, she saw 800 kids. In 2022, 1900 kids enjoyed romping through the Adkins woods and learning from Jenny about every aspect of the natural world. I was lucky enough to volunteer on a few of Jenny’s summer programs. I enjoyed every second of them and learned so much myself in the process. I can’t wait to be involved again. Jenny estimates she inspired over 21,000 kids through all of her educational programs. Jenny and I spoke about this recently, and she had just run into three of these kids who had pursued environmental careers. Who knows how many more have done so because of Jenny’s inspiration. Jenny is currently mentoring the next generation of youth directors at the arboretum, but there is no way she won’t be able to stay out of developing educational programs. She loves it too much.

Liz Wist, Maryland Coastal Bays is the most enthusiastic and passionate environmental educator. Her commitment to providing all programming, whether student or adult, for free demonstrates her passion for accessible outdoor education opportunities for all. Liz is dedicated to creating programming for everyone in our local community, and this year alone began a new Adult Education Series where anyone can come out and explore restoration areas that have very limited public access. Liz's education tactics are completely student-centered and I never meet anyone as capable of connecting with an audience as quickly as she does. She is unafraid of challenges, whether environmental or logistical. Her goal as an educator is to encourage meaningful connection with the environment to inspire environmental protection, and she does this through in-class lessons, student field trips, summer camps, public seining programs, volunteer events, educator trainings, teacher professional developments, grant writing, mentorship, and so much more. Her list of responsibilities goes on and on.

Antonia Bookbinder

Antonia Bookbinder is a true force of nature, making a difference in the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation and in the communities it serves. As Sustainability Instructor with the Special Programs Division, she has worked with the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment and the Chesapeake Bay Trust to expand the Department’s public outreach about the impact of stormwater runoff on local watersheds, to engage volunteers in tree plantings to restore riparian buffers (more than 1,000 trees planted in 2017 and 2018!), and to strengthen the Department’s stewardship of green infrastructure projects.

Curtis Bennett, Director of Conservation, Community Engagement at the National Aquarium. At first glance, Curtis Bennett appears to be a quiet, unassuming kind of guy, but it doesn’t take long to discover and get infected by the dedicated passion he has for encouraging others to get involved in caring and learning about the natural world around us. As the Director of Conservation Community Engagement at the National Aquarium, Curtis spends a lot of time in the underserved communities of Brooklyn and Curtis Bay in South Baltimore. At Benjamin Franklin High School, Curtis has helped them plan, plant and maintain bay grasses in their courtyard to be used for shoreline restoration projects at sites such as nearby Masonville Cove.

Elaine is the Education Director at the Evergreen Heritage Center where she has been establishing and leading environmental education programs since 2010 for youth and adults on the historic farm in rural Mt. Savage. Through her unwavering determination, her enthusiasm for outdoor education, and her personal commitment to high quality experiential education, Elaine has changed this secluded farm into a vibrant place for learning. She was integral in the planning of Evergreen’s 20+ outdoor learning stations, and development of station lesson plans and activities for different age groups and grade levels In the field, she is as hands-on as the curriculum she develops and teaches, from inoculating logs with mushroom spawns to designing a Nature Play Space for Head Start and Pre-K explorers, from planting rain gardens to promoting rainwater collection within the community.

Tania Gale, Naturalist for Calvert County Division of Natural Resources! Tania has been a Naturalist with the Calvert County Division of Natural Resources since 2000. Her main responsibilities focus on teaching environmental education programs for schools and families, as well as leading summer camps. Tania and her team teach students about the ecology of Calvert County and the Chesapeake Bay through hands-on, student-centered activities. Tania’s professionalism has gained the respect of teachers throughout the county, while her enthusiasm and excitement for the subject matter engages the students into the learning process.

John had been working as an Environmental Consultant but needed a change in his life. It was apparent from the get go that John was perfect for the world of outdoor environmental education. He is extremely knowledgeable about the Chesapeake and the environment as a whole. You cannot spend time with him without learning something. His genuine lifelong love of learning and enthusiasm for sharing what he learns even translates into how he lives day to day. He models environmentally responsible behavior by his green lifestyle: riding his bike to work daily, and maintaining a community garden plot. It seems like each decision he makes takes the environment into consideration.

For nearly 30 years, Kelly was committed to teaching about the Bay, regardless of her formal job description. Whether preparing exhibits for Maryland Department of the Environment about water quality monitoring for Chesapeake Appreciation Days or showing a family visiting Phillips Wharf Environmental Center (PWEC) the mouth on a horseshoe crab, Kelley found opportunities to share her passion for the Chesapeake Bay. She wants people to share her love of the Chesapeake Bay, and her zeal is infectious. Kelley passed away in 2021.

Steve began his career creating experiences for students to get outdoor and appreciate the world around them. He has worked at the school for 36 years as teacher and administrator directly influencing more than 110,000 students. Following in-depth research Steve implemented the "Environmental Issue Investigation" model of instruction, changing not only the pedagogy of the Outdoor School but impacting environmental education for all Carroll County students.

Martha's outstanding achievements in working with student of all ages, creativity on a tight budget, and commitment to excellence in education are appreciated by us all.

Becky Beecroft - Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview, is progressive in her thinking, positive toward problems that arise, and continually develops new instructional programs that promote environmental literacy in and throughout Washington County. Becky consistently reminds adults and students that she is working her dream job. Her enthusiasm is contagious and can be seen reflected in the eyes of her students while she is teaching new content knowledge and skills.

Bart Merrick, Education Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Rever at Maryland DNR. His 15 years in education has found him to be a team player for Living Classrooms Foundation, CBF, and now the Reserve System. Bart personifies Bob's spirit, with his ability to capture students' attention and excite them about the natural world. His patience, sense of humor and professionalism has made him and outstanding recipient for this award!

Ruth Eisenhour of the Harford Glen Environmental Education Center in Bel Air, Maryland. During her 15-year (and counting) tenure, the scope and breadth of outreach and education has grown exponentially while staff levels have remained a constant 4. It is Ruth’s amazing motivational and organizational skills that keep the staff sane and the programs running.

Andrew McCown of Echo Hill Outdoor School in Worton, Maryland. Andrew joined the staff of Echo Hill in 1977 and was named Associate Director in 1981. In 1979, he started the Echo Hill Outdoor School Explore Program which began as a series of overnight canoe trips on the Chester and Sassafras Rivers and soon expanded into five-day trips using the school’s buy boat or skipjack.

Mary Hoy obtained her degree from Salisbury State University. She taught in Carroll County Public Schools for 37 years as a 6th grade Science Teacher and she was located at the Carroll County Outdoor School for 11 years. Her outreach involved environmental issues on school grounds and working with curriculum. She passed away in 2011.