Mary Britton-Simmons and Youth Education Committee Honored with Golden Eagle Award

Mary Britton-Simmons and the Youth Education Committee (YEC) received the Golden Eagle Award, the highest honor given by Eastside Audubon, from Eastside Audubon President John Spilker at Volunteer/Member Appreciation Night. The ceremony took place on March 27 at Bellevue Botanical Gardens, attended by 55 people.

The YEC members honored alongside Mary were Jill Keeney, Tora Roksvog, Diane Crestanello, Leslee Shepler, Pamela Gunther, and Debbie Bensussen. The committee, active for approximately 25 years, typically reached over 1,000 children and 500 adults annually through a range of educational activities.

Their extensive outreach included presentations at public and private schools, churches, camps, libraries, science centers, and parks. The committee also set up information tables at locations such as St. Edwards Park, Molbak's, and the Kenmore Heron Rookery. Additionally, they developed a comprehensive classroom curriculum, awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships, recognized outstanding teachers, and supported children's attendance at wilderness camps.

Mary Britton-Simmons, a retired high school teacher, demonstrated her dedication by completing a bird biology course at Princeton University to better educate children about birds.

"We can never replace the YEC, but we can try to carry on their tradition," Spilker said. "The YEC team is an incredible inspiration we can all be proud of."

The evening concluded with a presentation by naturalist and photographer Thomas Bancroft.