Schuylkill County's own Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney was recently named Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year during the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators' annual conference last month.
McKinney, environmental education coordinator for the Schuylkill Conservation District, said Monday that the award came as a surprise to him and was presented during a March 16 banquet at Bushkill Inn and Conference Center, Bushkill.
The 2013 conference was held March 15 to 16.
"It makes me feel very proud to be recognized but I also know that I have a passion for education and it seems to be very evident from my peers," McKinney said. "I know people here in Schuylkill County really appreciate learning more about the environment."
McKinney said that he was awarded by his peers all around the state at places such as Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh; Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia; and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Drehersville.
According to the PAEE website, to be considered for the award, the nominee must be "an individual who made a significant teaching contribution to the environmental education field in a formal or non-formal setting, through either curriculum development or teaching."
The website also states that PAEE, a statewide nonprofit organization, promotes and supports environmental education activities in Pennsylvania.
McKinney was nominated for the award by Jeremy T. Scheivert, education coordinator at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, who is also the northeast region director for PAEE, who then contacted Elizabeth A. Hinkel, district manager, to provide some of his background for the nomination application.
According to the application, McKinney has spent nearly 25 years working for the people of Schuylkill County, "serving as their link to nature and the environment."
In his 23 years with the Schuylkill Conservation District, McKinney has taught others about the importance of the environment and protecting natural resources and also promotes Schuylkill County and the activities it has to offer, doing this through the many programs and activities he coordinates, including teacher's workshops, school programs, educational walks and various events that are held throughout the year.
He coordinates the county Envirothon, the annual Conservation District Awards Ceremony, which honors individuals, organizations and businesses throughout Schuylkill County that help to promote awareness of conservation and the environment, and is also co-coordinator of the Bear Creek Festival, an environmental education event hosted by the district each spring.
Over the years, his work has earned him several awards and recognitions, with some of the most recent being the Distinguished Service Award from PAEE in 2003, the Sandy Cochran Award for Excellence in Natural Resource Conservation Education in 2005 and he was Magic 105's Outdoor Personality of the Year in 2010.
"Everybody here at the conservation district was really hoping that he would get the award," Hinkel said Monday. "We all realize the great work that he's done throughout the county for the last 23 years educating anybody from kids to adults. Pat's the reason people know about Schuylkill Conservation District. He really does a great job of promoting us and what we do."
McKinney said that the thrust of the program at the conservation district is to create an appreciation for the environment and to make opportunities for how one can be a part of something bigger and to make something better, since in the state constitution, it mentions that people are guaranteed "a good, clean environment."
"I feel really surprised and it's nice to be recognized, but with good, what goes around, comes around," McKinney said. "People have helped me, so it's only natural to want to help others. I've had the opportunity to become this education coordinator and I just love it. I'm in my dream job."