Awards Received
The Oregon Naturalist Program has achieved a variety of awards since it began in 2009. These awards represent recognition for program achievements given by peers at Oregon State University and external professional organizations. The awards received are listed below.
Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs Program of the Year Award (2022)
The Oregon Naturalist Program received the 2022 Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs Program of the Year Award. This award recognizes an especially innovative ANROSP member program, including their set of educational materials and events aimed at a specified audience, for its unique, cutting edge, risk-taking educational programs that succeed in meeting the program’s objectives.
Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs is a professional organization made up of programs that are peers of the OSU Extension Oregon Naturalist Program.
OSU Extension Association Team Award (2019)
The award recognizes work on the part of a team of Extension Faculty, staff or both in responding to a specific educational program or effort within the OSU Extension Service.
Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) (2017)
Gold Award for Web Sites/social media/online courses
This award is given annually by the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) for Educational Materials Awards. The Annual Awards Program is designed to encourage, support and recognize outstanding natural resource programs. This program strives to foster high standards among its members and help expand the use of high quality, innovative materials and programs by honoring the outstanding members and partners as well as the educational materials and programs they have developed.
The Oregon Naturalist Program has created a one-of-a-kind online course curriculum for adult learners who wish to seek the title of Oregon Naturalist. This online course acts as a core curriculum, taken in advance of local field courses required to become an Oregon Naturalist. Offered since 2012, when this award was given, 390 people had completed this course, which covers a broad range of topics, including: Ecoregions, Geology and Earth Processes, Watersheds, Principles of Ecology and Wildlife Management, Forest and Rangeland Ecology and Management, and Climate Change. This course is instructor-led twice yearly, delivered using the Canvas learning system. Each week, participants are asked to read an online, interactive “textbook” and research and respond to a question or issue through a discussion forum. Participants have consistently evaluated the course highly; with over 80% rating their experience positive and enjoyable. Participants indicate the course prepares them for more in-depth study in the field.
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extended & Continuing Education (2014)
College of Forestry, Oregon State University
Outstanding achievement in Extended & Continuing Education for the development of the Oregon Naturalist Program.
Oregon State University Division of Outreach and Engagement (2014)
Vice Provost Award for Excellence in Innovation for Non-credit Online Teaching
This award was given to the OSU Professional and Noncredit Education (now called PACE) team and collaborators who developed the Online Course for the Oregon Naturalist Program. This course was the first of its kind certification training course for this kind of program.