OKAEE Embers Awards
An evening to honor Environmental Educators who ignite a passion for conservation and stewardship and exemplify Excellence in EE in Oklahoma.
After several years, OKAEE is proud to bring back our awards program — reimagined as the Embers Awards. These awards celebrate individuals, organizations, and partnerships that inspire environmental stewardship, foster meaningful learning experiences, and strengthen connections between people and the natural world. They recognize work that creates lasting impact through environmental education, conservation leadership, equity and access, student empowerment, volunteerism, and community collaboration — across both formal and informal educational settings.
Award Categories
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR — FORMAL EDUCATOR recognizes an outstanding formal educator (PreK–12 classroom teachers, instructional coaches, school librarians, higher education faculty, or other school/district educators) who demonstrates excellence in environmental education within a school-based setting.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR — NON-FORMAL EDUCATOR recognizes an outstanding environmental educator working outside traditional classroom settings — nature centers, nonprofits, zoos and museums, parks, extension programs, tribal or governmental programs — who advances environmental literacy through community-based education.
SCHOOL SITE OF THE YEAR AWARD recognizes a school (public, private, charter, or tribal; early childhood through high school) that demonstrates a strong, sustained commitment to environmental education through school-wide culture, programming, stewardship, and community engagement.
COMMUNITEE PARTNERSHIP AWARD recognizes a collaborative partnership — between schools, organizations, businesses, tribal or municipal agencies, or community coalitions — that has significantly advanced environmental education, stewardship, or sustainability within a community.
STUDENT LEEADERSHIP AWARD recognizes a student or student group demonstrating outstanding leadership, advocacy, or action in environmental leadership, conservation, or sustainability.
EQUITY AND ACCESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARD recognizes an individual or organization working to increase equitable access, representation, inclusion, and belonging in environmental education.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional volunteer service and dedication to environmental education, conservation, or stewardship — including community volunteers, OKAEE volunteers, mentors, and event or program volunteers.
Eligibility
- Nominees must live, work, volunteer, or serve within Oklahoma.
- Self-nominations are permitted.
- Nominees do not need to be OKAEE members unless stated for a specific award.
- Previous award recipients may be re-nominated after three years unless otherwise specified.
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Nomination Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Nominations Opens | June 6, 2026 |
| Nomination Deadline | August 1, 2026 |
| Review Period | Mid Fall |
| Recipients Notified | Late Fall (TBA) |
| Embers Awards Dinner | Fall Event (TBA) |
How to Nominate
A complete nomination packet includes a completed nomination form, a nomination statement, and at least one (up to three) letters of support. Optional supporting materials — photos, program descriptions, media coverage, testimonials, or impact data — are welcome and strengthen a nomination.
📄 Read the full Embers Awards Guidelines — eligibility details, full criteria, and suggested evidence for each category.