Our Wildlife Education Manager Was Recognized as a Top “EE 30 Under 30”

Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society’s Wildlife Education Manager, Connel Bradwell, was one of 30 people recognized as a top EE 30 Under 30 by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).

According to their website, “the EE 30 Under 30 program recognizes individuals in the U.S. and internationally, 30 years of age of younger, who are game changers in their communities.”

Connel was also one of four people selected to participate in a panel discussion in Washington, DC; you can watch the full length discussion, and learn more about NAAEE and their EE 30 Under 30 program here: EE 30 Under 30

Here’s what Connel had to say about being selected as a top EE 30 Under 30:

This month I was selected as part of the North American Association for Environmental Education’s 30 under 30, I was nominated for this off the back of the amazing work that we do at Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society. I was lucky enough to be invited to speak on a panel, along with 3 other youth environmental educators, so I packed my bags and headed for Washington DC.

The panel discussion gave myself and other young environmental educators the chance to discuss the challenges and work we do in our communities. I loved being able to share the work NWPS is doing for wildlife conservation and environmental education in British Columbia. I was amazed by the overwhelming positive response we got to our work from a variety of people in this field. It is rare for young environmental educators from different areas to meet up in order to learn about how environmental education works in different parts of North and South America. It was interesting to hear that many of the challenges we face in British Columbia are similar in other communities across the continent. It was also inspiring to see the number of youth that are involved in environmental education and learning about the work young people are doing to inspire and provide opportunities for the next generation to connect with the environment around them.

The panel was an hour-long discussion, answering pre-set questions about our work and then taking some questions from the audience. At the end we received an award for outstanding leadership in environmental education. The trip was a fantastic opportunity to connect with others working in the environmental education field, promote and receive recognition for the amazing work that NWPS is doing and to learn and discuss ways we can improve environmental education in our local areas. I left the conference with a fresh perspective and full of optimism about the work NWPS is doing, I truly believe that environmental education is vital if we are to have healthy and thriving ecosystems and that by actively engaging young people in the environmental field, we can create a better society.