Local Resident Wins 2014 Leadership Award

The New York State Outdoor Educators Association (NYSOEA) recently awarded Mattituck resident Melvyn Morris the 2014 Leadership Award to recognize his hard work in bringing forth the Open Space Stewardship Program (OSSP), which offers students and teachers the ability to create and participate in self-directed environmental research on Long Island.

NYSOEA’s Leadership Award is presented annually to honor and recognize the outstanding classroom teacher, outdoor environmental educator or interpreter who has used the outdoors to enrich curriculum or interpreted the natural world in order to expand the environmental appreciation of children or adults.

Morris’ nomination by fellow 2014 NYSOEA award recipient Jolene Thompson highlighted his vision to connect teachers and students to their local natural areas and encourage them to protect the resources in their communities, noting especially Morris’ passion, energy, and inspiration. Founded in 2006, the OSSP has succeeded in connecting students with the natural environment and developing their environmental awareness for over eight years, resulting in what Thompson denoted as an “incredible impact.”

The program features teacher training, networking for teachers with environmental professionals, and uniquely developed, community-based research projects. Over the course of the school year, participants use all the tools provided by OSSP to gather real-life data in the field and analyze their findings. Students are also given an opportunity to present their work to their peers, mentors, families, and school officials through presentations and a poster session at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

“Currently approximately 35 schools, and more than 3,000 students, are actively participating in the OSSP. The program has provided students with opportunities for hands-on scientific exploration in their backyard, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and respect for open space, while providing them with the knowledge and skills to be successful in future careers in science and technology,” said Thompson in her nomination of Morris.

The recognition ceremony took place at the organization’s 46th annual conference at Silver Bay YMCA in Lake George, where Morris received the Leadership Award from NYSOEA president Tim Stanley.

The New York State Outdoor Education Association is the professional membership organization supporting outdoor and environmental education and interpretive services in New York State since 1968. For more about NYSOEA, its mission, or to become a member, please visit www.nysoea.org.