AFRE RECEIVES TWO AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
(April 18, 2007) – The Arizona Foundation for Resource Education (AFRE) has announced that it has been honored with two awards—one for its natural resource education program for K-12 teachers, and a national award for exceptional leadership in the field of environmental education.

AFRE Executive Director Dr. Larry McBiles has received the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) “Star Thrower” Award for his exceptional leadership in the field of environmental education.

The award’s name is derived from literary naturalist Loren Eiseley’s well-known essay "The Star Thrower." In it, the writer comes upon a beach littered with countless dying starfish. Among them is a man who throws one starfish after another into the sea before it suffocates in the sand or dies from the sun’s heat. One small life at a time, he makes a profound difference.

In selecting Dr. McBiles, the NAI cited his ability to touch community members with his contagious passion for environmental education, AFRE’s successful workshops and expeditionary learning experiences developed under his leadership, and his success in involving business and industry as meaningful partners in the stewardship of Arizona’s natural resources.

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is a professional organization whose members use interpretation as a communication process that connects people with their cultural and natural heritage to promote stewardship of the planet’s resources.

In late 2006, AFRE received the Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Award of Merit in the environmental education/communication category. The AFRE team accepted the award for its 2005-06 academic year AZventure series of environmental literacy events for K-12 teachers.

Each academic year, AFRE’s faculty and staff custom-design and present the AZventure series of approximately one dozen cross-curricular, themed workshops and expeditionary learning experiences. The events develop in teachers a personal understanding of our state’s unique natural resources and the related sustainability and livability issues.

In addition, teachers learn how to help students to develop sound, independent thinking and problem-solving skills. AZventure series events help teachers to meet Arizona’s academic standards in science, social studies, math, reading and writing, as well.

The Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Awards program is considered Arizona’s oldest and most prestigious competition of its kind.