EPA Honors Maine Audubon Educator Linda Woodard with Environmental Merit Award

FALMOUTH, Maine, April 22, 2008—At a ceremony today at Faneuil Hall in Boston, the New England Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is honoring Maine Audubon educator Linda Woodard and seven fellow educators who plan and coordinate the annual Southern Maine Children’s Water Festival. The group is receiving EPA’s Environmental Merit Award, which annually recognizes outstanding environmental advocates who have made significant contributions toward preserving and protecting our natural resources.

Held each May, the Southern Maine Children’s Water Festival features a day of hands-on demonstrations and activities to teach Maine middle-school students about how important water quality is for humans and wildlife, and how the actions of individuals can make a positive difference on water quality.

The EPA cited the planning committee’s exceptional work and commitment to the environment in its decision to award the group.

“I’m thrilled the agency decided to honor this passionate team of environmental educators,” said Woodard, who has coordinated activity booths and classroom presentations at the water festival for the last eight years. “I’ve really enjoyed being involved with such a great collaborative effort. The festival is a fun day for the kids, and it gives them a lot to take back to their classrooms and communities.”

The EPA is also honoring fellow festival-planning committee members Susan Breau-Kelley of the Maine Rural Water Association, Wendy Garland of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Irwin Novak of the University of Southern Maine, Sarah Plummer of the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Beth Pratte of the Maine Drinking Water Program, Lynne Richard of the Portland Water District and Rob Sanford of the University of Southern Maine.

“Congratulations to Linda, whose longtime dedication to teaching Maine students about their environment is certainly worth applauding,” said Kevin Carley, Maine Audubon executive director.

Woodard, a resident of Gray, has been a Maine Audubon environmental educator and manager of Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center for 20 years.

Among a range of programs for all ages, Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers guided and self-guided tours on foot and by canoe of Maine’s largest contiguous salt marsh. The center opens for the season on May 1. For more information, visit www.maineaudubon.org.

The 2008 Southern Maine Children’s Water Festival will be held on Friday, May 16, on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine's wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation, and action. With a 160-year history, Maine Audubon today is affiliated with Audubon’s national organization and has seven local chapters in the state. Support for Maine Audubon comes from 11,000 member households and donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations.

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