Hazel England, 2017 Education Award Honoree
As Director of Education & Outreach for Great Swamp Watershed Association, 2017 Women & Wildlife Education Award Honoree Hazel England has spent 24 years as an enthusiastic environmental educator and naturalist in New Jersey, bringing education programs to students and teachers of all ages about our local ecosystems and habitats. Her work focuses on providing powerful learning experiences for educators, encouraging youths to explore and understand New Jersey’s incredible biodiversity, and partnering with agencies to open up more environmental opportunities for students of all ages.
Since 2004, Ms. England has dedicated herself to developing, coordinating, and implementing a wide variety of educational and stewardship programs and activities at the Great Swamp Watershed Association as the Director of Outreach and Education. She currently focuses on creating programs about water quality and conservation, ranging from curriculum development, to watershed-wide issues, to local resident workshops.
Ms. England has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Botany from the University of Dundee, as well as a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Management from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. She is a state-certified facilitator for many nationally acclaimed environmental education curriculum (Project WILD, WET, WOW, PLT HWHP, and Bridges to the Natural World), which gives her a strong background and understanding for environmental education programming. Her in-field experience as a county naturalist also provides her with the insight for developing effective hands-on activities in in-formal settings for her diverse audiences.
Ms. England’s many partnerships with county, state, federal, and non-profit agencies allows her to share resources and knowledge, opening up new types of collaborative education to the public and to youths. She sets an excellent model for other women to follow by being an accomplished natural scientist that brings her passion to life for people of all ages.
Join us to honor Hazel and the three other 2017 Women & Wildlife Award Honorees on Wednesday, November 1st beginning at 6 PM. Purchase events tickets and find more information.
CWF asked Hazel a few questions about what inspires her to dedicate her career to New Jersey’s conservation:
What is your favorite thing about your job?
“People, people, people- I love the diversity, passion and interests of the people I work with, and those I get to interact with through my job. No two days are ever the same, and the variety of never quite knowing what’s around the corner with the next project is exciting to me.”
Do you have a New Jersey wildlife species that you like best?
“I’m from Scotland, so many of the common, but colorful species were new to me when I arrived- I loved the colorful decadence of the blue jays the first time I spotted them- I also have loved otters all my life, and though I’ve only glimpsed them properly a few times, I always seek their signs and am happy to know that they are around in the places that I work!”
Name one thing you can’t live without.
“Strong, black coffee in my favourite mug first thing in the morning! Though I guess I’m supposed to say my husband and kids?!”
Name one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to change the world.
“Persist, and be tenacious! You need to take the long view with many environmental battles, and to keep changing things up to keep yourself motivated and to keep the end goal in mind- being able to inspire kids to want to change their world helps you leverage the desire to improve our environment into future generations, and that is a good feeling.”
What do you find most challenging about your profession?
“There is never enough time… there are always more good ideas, than money to enact them, and knowing how to say no to good projects is always tough. Personally, it is keeping the balance between being a Mum and being an employee for a not for profit- the demands are often greater than the ability to fill them.”
What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t working?
“I catch up with my family overseas- keeping connected to them through calls and facetime makes the homesickness I still feel lessen a bit, and I love to support my two daughters as they participate in school musicals and plays, sporting and science events… sitting and relaxing is not a state I find myself in very often…!”
Please join us on Wednesday November 1, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Duke Farms’ Coach Barn to honor the contributions that Jeannie Geremia, Kris Schantz, Kelly Mooij and Hazel England have made to wildlife in New Jersey.
We are excited to recognize the leadership and inspiration they provide for those working to protect wildlife in New Jersey. Women & Wildlife will also celebrate the timeless and inspiring journeys of wildlife migration in New Jersey and beyond.
Tags: 2017, conservation, Environmental education, Great Swamp Watershed Association, GSWA, habitat restoration, outreach, women & wildlife awards