The Bernie Melanson Award

The Bernie Melanson Award is a prestigious award given in memory of an exceptional outdoor educator. The recipient has demonstrated a long term commitment to outdoor and environmental education. The outstanding educator is someone who has used innovative teaching techniques and has demonstrated an extensive knowledge of natural environments. This individual takes a holistic approach to outdoor education and has shown the effort to share his/her love of the outdoors unselfishly. Obviously this outdoor educator practices "walking lightly on this earth" and uses every opportunity to share this philosphy in his/her professional and personal life.

History of the Award

The Bernadine Marie Melanson Award was set up in her memory to be presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to outdoor and environmental education in Saskatchewan. It is hoped that the award will allow us to remember and carry forward the work in which she was vitally interested. What kind of work?

Professor Bernie Melanson’s career sparkled with teaching expertise, innovative approaches, research skills, and an awareness of the human being matched by few educators in this province. Her interests and contributions spanned many areas: Science, Science Education, Outdoor Education, Teacher Education and methods of In-Service Education. She was active in a broad range of university affairs. She was concerned with skills, knowledge and attitudes of teachers; she was dedicated to the proposition that the best education possible should be provided the child …. Bernie was an energetic member of the Saskatchewan Outdoor Education Association.

Criteria for receiving the award:

1. The candidate shall be an active participant in outdoor environmental education in Saskatchewan.
2. The candidate need not be a member of the Saskatchewan Outdoor and Environmental Education Association.

Nomination procedures:

1. All members of the Association are entitled to nominate persons for the award providing that they obtain the endorsement of one other member.
2. A nominator will provide a statement fully describing the contributions and achievements on the nominee complete with supporting documents, such as newspaper clipping or photographs. Pertinent biographical data should be stated briefly.

Credit : Envisage newsletter Fall 1983

 

The 2007 Melanson Award Winner - Lyle Benko

Presentation of SOEEA Bernie Melanson Award to Lyle A. Benko
by Daniel M. Beveridge at SOEEA AGM Banquet, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Zest Restaurant

Good evening everyone.

The SOEEA B.M. Melanson Award is awarded each year for Outstanding Contributions to Outdoor and Environmental Education. It is my pleasure to announce, on behalf of the board of SOEEA, the Bernie Melanson Award this year is awarded to Lyle Benko. It is also my honour and pleasure to have been selected to make this presentation tonight to someone I consider as my friend and colleague.

Read the full citation here.