By: centraljersey.com
The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, central New Jersey’s environmental group, is seeking nominations for the sixth annual Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education.
The honor will be awarded to an area teacher who demonstrates a high level of enthusiasm and commitment to environmental education in their classroom.
Nominees should include any classroom teacher, grades K through 12, who explores environmental topics and/or shares the wonders of nature in a unique, memorable and/or engaging manner.
This could include hands-on lessons in the schoolyard or community, multidisciplinary lessons or projects exploring nature and the environment, in-class or neighborhood investigations and more.
Presentation of the award will occur at the association’s annual meeting at the Watershed Reserve in Pennington on Monday, April 25.
This award is in honor of the late Mr. Rotter, an exceptional high school teacher in Montgomery, who also was a committed environmentalist in his own community.
Mr. Rotter engaged his students in thoughtful investigations in the forest and wetlands behind the new high school in Montgomery. He incorporated biological and chemical sampling of streams into his science classes. He sought and delivered environmental lessons that both stimulated and challenged his students, immersing them into their local environment and inspiring them about the natural world around them.
To nominate a teacher, contact Maryann Polefka at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association by mail at 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, 08534, or e-mail at [email protected].
Letters should include the teacher’s name, their grade and school as well as the name and contact information of the nominator. Include a narrative or description of the activities they employ and/or the impact these lessons had on students.
Deadline for nominations is March 1. For more information, call the Buttinger Nature Center at 609-737-7592.

