Every year, Dunes Learning Center recognizes excellence in environmental education through the Green Apple Award. This year’s recipient is Sarah Pavlovic, recently retired Naturalist at Discovery Charter School in Chesterton.
“We are recognizing Sarah for her dedication to her students, science, and the environment,” Erin Crofton, Education Director at Dunes Learning Center, says. “Sarah has been a wonderful partner since Discovery Charter opened in 2010.”
With a Biology degree from Earlham College and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Indiana University, Pavlovic also worked as an environmental scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office in Chicago before turning her focus to education with Duneland Schools and then Discovery Charter.
“The place-based mission at Discovery is to connect students’ learning with their community and environment whenever possible – no matter the subject area. Dunes Learning Center was an obvious partner from the very first year when we took 5th and 6th graders to Frog in the Bog,” Sarah says. “I was more than happy to advocate for and connect teachers with opportunities with the DLC in the years to come.”
These connections still include Frog in the Bog for 5th graders plus Nature Navigators for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, Citizen Science for middle school students, Watershed Ed with a paddling experience, Science Olympiad Team training, and professional development for all Discovery teachers to empower them to more confidently lead outdoor learning on school grounds and the adjacent National Park land.
“One of my favorite things about being Discovery’s school naturalist was having students bring their nature discoveries for me to appreciate and to learn about alongside them. It has been gratifying to observe teachers grow in their capacity to use local resources – including the Dunes Learning Center - to encourage students to ‘become stewards of their environment and community,’ as Discovery’s mission statement states,” Pavlovic says. “Discovery Charter School has been amazingly fortunate to have such a great resource right down the road from their location to help them grow in their place-based mission!”
The Green Apple Award will be presented to Sarah at Dunes Learning Center’s annual gala, A Dunes Affair, on September 16th at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton.
“After two years of virtual galas, we are so looking forward to seeing everyone at A Dunes Affair once again,” Geof Benson, Executive Director of Dunes Learning Center, says. “This annual celebration is truly a wonderful event that brings together people who believe environmental education is about hope and change.”
Supporters of A Dunes Affair and Dunes Learning Center’s environmental education programs include 1st Source Bank, BP America Inc, Cleveland Cliffs, Monica Conrad and Chris Hoham, Discovery Charter School, Friends of Indiana Dunes, Phil Hahn, Indiana University Northwest, Kuraray/MonoSol, Drs. Usha Vyas-Major and Glenn N. Major, NIPSCO, Purdue University Northwest, Thorgren, Valparaiso University, Visit Miller Beach, and Theresa and Thomas Weakland.
Dunes Learning Center’s 2022 Corporate Sponsors include BP, Cardno, Cleveland Cliffs, Enbridge, Franklin Pest Solutions, Friends of Indiana Dunes, Keramida, Mark J. Mihalo DDS Family Dentistry, NIPSCO, J.F. Pelkey - Attorney at Law, Pratt Industries, Shinka Sustainability Solutions, and Wickcraft Boardwalks.
To join Dunes Learning Center in honoring Sarah for her longstanding commitment to environmental education, go to www.DunesLearningCenter.org/ADunesAffair for tickets.
About Dunes Learning Center
Dunes Learning Center is the education partner of Indiana Dunes National Park. To inspire lasting curiosity and stewardship with nature, Dunes Learning Center provides students of all ages with nature-based experiences that break down the barriers parents and teachers face in getting kids outdoors to explore, connect science with the real world, and discover how they can make a difference. School-year, summer camp, internship, and community education programs focus on the natural and cultural history of the Indiana dunes region. Students explore the science of ecosystems as well as the relationships between people and their environment over time.
Since 1998, more than 160,000 students from the diverse communities and backgrounds along the south shore of Lake Michigan have learned about nature, in nature with Dunes Learning Center. Former students and campers become counselors in training, cabin leader interns, naturalist educator interns/fellows, and employees. Others are inspired to become teachers, scientists, engineers, park rangers, and community leaders who are advocates for the local environment, Lake Michigan, and their National Park. Visit www.DunesLearningCenter.org to learn more.