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RESTON, Va. —  Alabama conservation educator April Waltz has received the National Wildlife Federation’s annual Conservation Leadership Award. Since joining the staff of the Alabama Wildlife Federation in 1997, Waltz has worked to provide outdoor learning opportunities for K-12 students so that they can experience Alabama’s native wildlife first-hand through AWF’s Outdoor Classroom Program.

“April’s dedication and creativity have defined nature education in Alabama and set a gold standard for outdoor learning programs nationwide,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Hundreds of thousands of students have forged connections to wildlife and their habitats because of April’s tireless, hands-on work — from building frog ponds and songbird habitats to crafting conservation education curriculums. Her impact on the next generation of conservationists cannot be overstated.”

“When children participate in hands-on activities as they explore their schoolyard habitats and outdoor classrooms, they gain a meaningful connection to our native wildlife and the native plants they rely on to survive and thrive,” Waltz said. “I’m inspired daily by the schools enrolled in our program, and their Outdoor Classroom teachers’ commitment to provide opportunities for their students to learn in nature. I look forward to working with our AWF Outdoor Classroom team to help this program continue to grow, so that we can create a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate Alabama’s amazing biodiversity.”

As AWF’s Outdoor Classroom Coordinator, Waltz has designed, developed, and grown the program over the last 25 years from a concept to a reality statewide. Along with a team that has expanded under her supervision, she provides on-site technical assistance for schools, helps tackle administrative and budget challenges, and supports educators in using the outdoors to teach lessons in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Many of the schools who have received AWF Outdoor Classroom Certification have also received NWF Schoolyard Habitats® Certification and several have achieved Green Ribbon School status.

The National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Awards began in 1966. Since then, the National Wildlife Federation has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama, and other national leaders, including U.S. Senator John McCain and filmmaker Robert Redford.