Four educators with strong connections to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources received top honors from the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education at the organization's annual conference last week.
Mike Latus, a longtime explorer guide at Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien County, received the Julian Smith Award, the alliance's highest honor in outdoor education. Over his career, Latus has led public programs in hunting, fishing, camping, archery, forestry, astronomy and nature study.
Michelle Serreyn of the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit earned the William Stapp Award, the highest honor in environmental education. The award recognizes her decades of programming focused on community awareness, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Rose Menzies, educator for the new state park in Flint operated in partnership with Genesee County Parks, received the Rising Star Award, given to an early-career professional showing promise in natural resources programming. Programs at the park cover fishing, archery, birding and Michigan wildlife.
Tammy Smith, a teacher at Morrice Elementary School in Shiawassee County, earned the Recognition Award. She has led the Salmon in the Classroom program and worked to get forest land in her school district certified as a school forest. She has attended the DNR's Academy of Natural Resources teacher professional development week 10 times, according to Katie McGlashen, the DNR Salmon in the Classroom coordinator.
"Tammy shines among the teachers who participate in our programs," McGlashen said. "DNR education efforts could not reach students with as great an impact without teachers like her."