City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Naturalist Dave Sutherland has been awarded the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education’s (CAEE) Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award for his innovative work in bilingual education at OSMP. CAEE is a non-profit, membership organization which facilitates communication and cooperation among varied environmental education programs in Colorado.
"The enthusiasm Dave brings to his interpretive environmental programs is infectious," said Lisa Dierauf, a co-worker who nominated Sutherland for the award. "It is appreciated by children, teachers and staff members alike."
One such program is a bilingual wildlife hike, which Sutherland will deliver in Spanish for University Hill Elementary first graders on Oct. 19. He will lead the fall foliage hike into Gregory Canyon, one quarter mile west of the Chautauqua trailhead entrance on Baseline Road.
"I really, really love open space and as a naturalist the best part of my job is trying to communicate that love of the land and its inhabitants and natural history," said Sutherland. "I’m really jazzed about things I am able to do with OSMP. When I’m out there with people and see the light bulb come on when they understand how special nature is – that is my greatest joy."
Sutherland will be presented with the award at the CAEE Awards Banquet in February 2006.