Schaffer to receive 2025 Environmental Educator of the Year Trees Award

MINOT, N.D. - Minot State University's Dane Schaffer has been selected to receive the 2025 Environmental Educator of the Year Trees Award from the North Dakota Forest Service on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Fargo.

The award is presented to an educator who demonstrates creativity, dedication, and commitment to teaching and whose outstanding leadership motivates others to learn about the benefits of forestry and the environment.

"This was totally unexpected when I received the email in early August from Beth Hill from the ND Forest Service," Schaffer said. "I would be remiss not to thank all my colleagues in education and science who set high standards for our future educators in PK-12. Peer teaching is an important aspect in blocks and practicum/methods and using Project Learning and WILD seemed like the best way to start that process in my courses."

Project Learning and WILD are professional development curricula developed by and with the US Forest Service for use in classrooms with students from preschool to high school.

Along with Schaffer, the event will honor award winners from other categories: Community of the Year, Conservation Achievement, Distinguished Service Award, Excellence in Government, Fire Department Cooperator of the Year, and Forest Stewardship Landowner of the Year at a luncheon at the FARGODOME on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. They receive a plaque and a photo with Tom Claeys, state forester, and David Cook, president of North Dakota State University. Awardees and their families also receive free tickets to the Trees Bowl NDSU football game and are recognized on the field at halftime. Unfortunately, Schaffer will not be in attendance on Saturday but will receive her award from the ND Forest Service at a later date at Minot State.

After the game, 3,000 free tree seedlings will be distributed to fans leaving the FARGODOME courtesy of the Towner State Nursery.

The Trees Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and agencies who contribute in an outstanding way to forestry activities. Forestry activities can include: fire mitigation, protection and suppression; tree planting, preservation, or maintenance; community forestry efforts; forest management practices; forest recreation; or environmental education.