PCSWCD awards Willcott Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year
SANGERVILLE — Each year, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) honors an educator working in the county with its Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year award for that educator’s dedication to fostering students’ learning and understanding of natural resource ecology, conservation biology and related curriculum. This year, the PCSWCD staff and board of supervisors presented Julie Willcott, high school teacher at Foxcroft Academy, with this award at a recent banquet at Stutzman’s Farm Café.
Photo courtesy of PCSWCD
PCSWCD HONOR — Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Educational Coordinator Kacey Weber, right, presents Foxcroft Academy’s Julie Willcott with the 2015 Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year Award. The honor was bestowed during a recent banquet at Stutzman’s Farm Cafe in Sangerville.
Wilcott’s Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture course provided a dynamic opportunity for Foxcroft Academy students to gain direct, hands-on experiences working in and learning about agriculture. This course and the Greenhouse Management course, which was co-taught with Jack McLeod, offered a wide variety of learning experiences for students as they toured and visited local agricultural enterprises, designed and managed an on-site greenhouse and learned about practical plant biology, chemistry and real-world applications to science normally taught in a classroom setting.
Sustainable agriculture practices are such an essential part to protecting and conserving our natural resources. The effort that Wilcott poured into her courses directly resulted in more area youth learning about the importance of conservation. In an interview Willcott said that “Foxcroft Academy always graduates a number of students who express interest in exploring natural resource professions. It’s great to provide those kids with these courses, so they can broaden their knowledge base, deepen their understanding and strengthen their connection to our community. A major part of keeping kids here in Piscataquis County is showing them these opportunities in natural resource conservation professions, such as careers in sustainable agriculture, and therefore developing an appreciation for the importance of our natural resources.”
The district staff and board were fortunate to work with Willcott and McLeod and their Greenhouse Management students in May 29 as they helped plant close to 600 hardwood trees at the Law Farm property. Willcott’s enthusiasm for the project and getting the students involved was incredible.
“I’m most excited to see the future of the tree planting project,” she said. “I enjoyed working with the district and see many opportunities for getting area youth involved in future projects at the Law Farm.”
Photo courtesy of PCSWCD
OUTSTANDING CONSERVATION EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR — The PCSWCD presented Foxcroft Academy’s Julie Willcott with the 2015 Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year Award. From is PCSWCD Executive Director Joanna Tarrazi, Willcott and PCSWCD Educational Coordinator Kacey Weber. Each year, the PCSWCD honors an educator for dedication to fostering students’ learning and understanding of natural resource ecology, conservation biology and related curriculum.