The Nature Generation

I have worked closely with this group for many years. They live p to their reputation. Authenticity in their work, they are tireless in engaging schools, children and communities in work to protect our planet and for environmental awareness. Sustainability and stewardship are valued in their approach to education. There are opportunities to take part in grants and meaningful projects as well. Their ground-breaking Green Earth Book Award has been nationally renowned for 16 years-a one of a kind award given in 5 categories for children's and young adult books that promote engagement for children and young adults to become active in their fight to save our planet.

NatGen never stops going above & beyond to educate and positively impact the community.

The Nature Generation has introduced me and my family to so many amazing environmental books. I truly enjoy the Green Earth Awards and have met some of the most interesting authors.

All the campaigns that I have seen have been wonderful... The water bottles and stickers and postcards and photo contests. But my favorite thing they do is the awesome books.

I served as program manager for the Nature Generation from 2005 to 2019. What an amazing organization that teaches an environmental ethos to the next generation and appeals to the scientist and the art lover, alike. The Green Earth Book Award and Seed Grant program reach so many different kinds of students. I am so proud to have served this organization.

This is a wonderful nonprofit organization that educates young people about the environment and encourages them to become the next generation’s environmental stewards.

The Nature Generation’s has such great environmental education programs. Their Seed Grant program offers small grants to applicants that use Green Earth Book Award books in real-life projects. It’s just one of the ways NatGen rolls up its sleeves to encourage environmental stewardship.

Innovative programs and impactful efforts that change the lives of children across our nation. Natgen inspires the next generation of environmental stewards through our Green Earth Books and STEM grants to schools, libraries and youth groups.

Amazing nonprofit educating our next generations about the importance of being aware of the environment and what they and their family and friends may do to help.
The Green Earth Book Awards showcase all age groups through the stories of celebrated authors and illustrators. Support as a donor or volunteer!

the nature generation is a great resource for eco-books for kids of all ages!

A great organization focused on getting factual science books in the hands of kids and provide STEM grants to schools.

Passionate people doing amazing things for children and our planet. I know my donation makes a difference and that every penny is used wisely. This is a TRUE GREAT NOPROFIT.

The Nature Generation donated a set of their award winning books to my children's elementary school. The books explore environmental issues for a variety of ages. They are a generous organization that does incredible work for young people.

We love the Green Earth book award! Every year our family purchases at least one of the books and donates it to our local schools here in Texas. This year, NatGen sent us a box of books appropriate for elementary and middle schools that we will donate. The libraries and students are very excited to receive these contributions to the school. We appreciate NatGen's effort to educate the next generation!

I wrote a book review of One White Dolphin for The Nature Generation's eco-reading contest and I won! I'm glad I know about these kinds of books on nature because they help teach me about the environment.

NatGen is an amazing organization that cares deeply about their mission. I helped with their social media and was interested and pleased to see how invested they were in providing information and fun events to our community!

An amazing nonprofit organization that dedicates it's time, energy, and funds to promote environmental stewardship for the next generation. The Green Earth Book Award is a wonderful program acknowledging authors and illustrators who write/illustrate books from picture books for the youngest readers to young adults. Happy and proud to volunteer with this group.

I am thrilled to be a part of The Nature Generation. NatGen (as we call it) is one of the very few environmental stewardship organizations with volunteers that exude passion for children and the environment. One of the great programs the nonprofit implements is stewardship of the Chapman DeMary Trail. The Trail encourages exploration of the outdoors and emphasizes stewardship in everyday activities. The trail is supported by NatGen, Loudoun Valley High School, the Piedmont Environmental Council, and the Town of Purcellville. The Chapman DeMary Trail, located in what is considered to be the last stand of old growth forest in the Town of Purcellville, provides amazing hands-on environmental learning opportunities to thousands of students throughout Loudoun County, and to even more residents and visitors!

It is such a delight to see children of all ages work on preservation of the Trail, learn about the flora and fauna surrounding the stream, and bring their friends and family with them! I'm proud that my children and I can benefit.

Partnering our volunteer organization with The Nature Generation over the last year has been a pleasure. Nat Gen needed assistance identifying some of the trees along their wonderful Chapman DeMary Trail in Purcellville, VA. The Tree Stewards, part of the VCE Master Gardeners of Loudoun County, gladly assisted with this, so that they could provide signage on site and information on their website/Facebook page for local students and community members to utilize exploring the trail and stream area. We will be doing some additional projects in 2015 along-side Nat Gen, including tree walks, assisting with school visits to the site, and championing our shared appreciation of native trees and shrubs. Focus will be on educating students and the public about trees value to wildlife and water quality.

An exceptional organization! And when you are in the area, you should take advantage of this lovely, very accessible nature trail.

As a 2014 recipient of the Green Earth Book Award, I am honored and excited to know the extraordinary people in The Nature Generation. Their passion about preserving and conserving our environment is contagious. One of the many ways they further this cause is to connect children with books that will inspire them to appreciate our natural world. These "seeds" will bear fruit for many years to come.

Thank you, NatGen, for honoring my book, The Eye of the Whale, with the Green Earth Book Award.

My love of books and my love of nature have been entwined throughout my life. But as a mother of two suburban teens, I know well that while kids still read, they have fewer and fewer opportunities to experience nature freely and allow it to provoke the questions, ideas, and affection for the natural world that will ultimately spur a passion for conservation. The Nature Generation's mission to provide kids with books that will provide a foundation for lifelong stewardship is extremely well-conceived..and well-executed. The 2014 Green Earth Book Award raised the profile of my book considerably. And when I went to DC to accept the award, the Nature Generation arranged for me and the other award-winners to share our passion for the environment with school children throughout the greater DC area. The Nature Generation has a unique and worthy mission, and I'm pleased to have the chance to say how much I appreciate what they do.

As a member of a community that is actively served by the NatGen (formally the Newton Marasco Foundation) what great programs have been made available to provide hands on learning opportunities and to ignite the intellectual curiosity for our next generation of environmental stewards. I have had experience on many levels with this organization, all of which have been positive.

My first experience was as a parent at our elementary school (Hillsboro) during the implementation of the butterfly garden and wildlife refueling station. The plan for these two school projects was developed in concert with the Hillsboro students and the Newton Marasco Foundation. As a parent of two Eagle Scout candidates the NatGen has also reached out to our local scout troop to volunteer and support their community clean up efforts, nature trail development, and family programs. These volunteer opportunities have allowed our scouting organization many hours of community outreach and true hands on learning and teaching experiences. And finally as a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher I have been tapping into the on line resources and book recommendations to compliment my lessons. I also have led many nature walks and conducted lessons in both our school butterfly garden and wildlife refueling station.

It is my pleasure to write this note with my heartfelt thanks to this organization for not only guiding me, my family, my students, and community on our way to embracing the Nat Gen’s mission. I only hope that the reach of this organization can expand and touch many more lives in the future.

NatGen is amazing! I worked with them extensively during my senior year in high school and I still volunteer occasionally. They are an amazing group of people doing some amazing work!

My co-author, Cindy Trumbore, and I have become "forever friends" of The Nature Generation. The warm, welcoming, appreciative reception given by the Green Earth Book Award Organization to Cindy and me for our winning book, The Mangrove Tree, 2012, is still a benchmark for celebratory occasions. The honor was great and it continues to follow us. The elegant accompanying exhibit of my original art for this book was beautifully displayed. That the exhibit was timed perfectly with the award presentation made the event even more special and meaningful to us. The memorable occasion was orchestrated with exquisite attention to details, including appropriate visits with schoolchildren and even a prearranged sightseeing tour to a nearby nature reserve for our added enjoyment. Our second book together, Parrots Over Puerto Rico, 2013, was an Honorable Mention for the Green Earth Book Awards, for which we are deeply appreciative.

Not only do Cindy and I deeply believe in The Nature Generation's causes, but also, we feel that NatGen fulfills a very special responsibility in choosing to focus its awards on children's books that promote stewardship of our environment. We believe that early education of our children is essential if our planet is to survive. The Green Earth Book Awards, by showcasing accessible, informative, and beautiful books, is helping to educate our educators as well as our children, and they are the ones who will determine the future for all of us. -Susan L. Roth

Kudos to The Nature Generation for 10 years of inspiring others to become environmental stewards through signature youth and education programs! Thousands of students and their families have embraced environmental responsibility through books recognized by NatGen with its prestigious Green Earth Book Award (GEBA), and through its innovative outdoor classrooms and nature trail. As an educator for more than three decades, I am aware of no other organization like NatGen and believe its efforts will positively change our planet one child at a time. In addition, I am deeply humbled and honored to be a recipient of NatGen’s 2014 GEBA for “Inside a Bald Eagle’s Nest”, a book I co-authored with Craig Koppie, which was released by Schiffer Publishing in 2013. Through the GEBA, NatGen provided a platform for me to share our book and the current plight of the American bald eagle. I believe NatGen’s GEBA seal encourages families to purchase nonfiction literature for their home libraries and publishers to take a risk in printing these important stories. Thanks to The Nature Generation!

The Nature Generation engages both young and old in ways that exceed all expectations. Having helped on several events in stream monitoring I find the enthusiasm of our young inspiring as they gaze through the microscope seeing a much smaller world of aquatic life and diversity that would otherwise never be known. I am so grateful that The Nature Generation brings these programs to our youth and fosters environmental stewardship. This is one of the finest group, hands down.

I don't know of another organization that has so passionately worked to connect young people with the environment--and especially environmental literature. If it weren't for NatGen, many critically important books and authors would be totally overlooked. They help bring attention to important issues through books--and then take the extra step of connecting these issues, and books, with those who will make a difference.

I am very grateful to the Nature Generation for their efforts to establish the Green Earth Book Award program. As a winner of the award, I have seen first-hand, the positive effect on influencing publishers to accept more books that advocate environmental stewardship! Keep up the hard work! It is paying off! KUDOS!

I am so grateful to NatGen for their Green Earth Book Award program. As a two-time winner of the award, I have seen the power of the organization's book donations in schools I've visited. And I know the award has influences my publishers to accept more books that advocate environmental stewardship.

Melissa Stewart

The Nature Generation project in the Town of Purcellville is helping preserve and protect the last forested area in our town and the buffer to our beloved creek. NatGen has hosted wonderful events which involves workshops, lessons, and interactive tours of the trail so that those of all ages can enjoy nature and still feel connected to mother nature in the middle of our small town. Because our local high school is within steps of our Nature Generation preservation area, the students have partnered to complete projects and use it as an outdoor classroom. Local scouts have also partnered to perform their scout programs and badges by building bridges and bird houses. Looking forward to their continued growth and progress in the preservation of nature in our communities.

I have worked with the Nature Generation for several years and watched it grow from just an idea to a innovative and very active organization that has touched many young lives. Staff, board members, and volunteers are all very passionate about helping kids learn about nature and conservation. I have seen first hand how children, teens, and parents respond to the many Nature Generation initiatives. They are learning and seeing the environment in a very different way from previous generations. They will make such a difference in our world in the years to come. I am proud to be associated with Nature Generation.

The Nature Generation (formally the Newton Marasco Foundation) has invested in our next generation. Through Teach Green Programs and Read Green--NatGen connects with our nations youth . NatGen has reached out to thousands of kids in 2013.
What I love best is when a child meets one of our Award winning Green Earth authors and is inspired herself to read and write about nature ! Or when a city kid comes out on our nature trail and is touched by the magic and pure innocent beauty of a protected habitat . Or when a teacher thanks us for our electronic games that support her curriculum on energy and environment in a fun and imaginative way.
Or when a NatGen volunteer asks if they can offer us more time as one recently said 'my best day is a day working with kids and NatGens programs'.

NatGen rocks! Real people making a real difference - inspiring young enviro stewards - especially where there is an environmental literacy gap. I have participated in many events but my favorite always is donating really wonderful books to students who do read them, care about the message and make a difference in their home and school communities from energy saving to nature appreciation. NatGen has a smart approach to ensuring a legacy of environmental stewardship. Honest, thoughtful, focused on their programs - NatGen is a good investment.

I got to know the Nature Generation last year, when I was one of the authors invited to Salisbury for the Green Earth Book Award. Such a passionate, committed group. Their unswerving focus on green education, and getting their message to students from all walks of life, made me a big fan. A very worthy charity.

This year, I worked with The Nature Generation to organize a corporate book buy in coordination with my company, The Cadmus Group. The Nature Generation has an annual Green Earth Book Award program to recognize authors of books for children and young adults that encourage environmental stewardship. And Cadmus has a relationship with The Morrison Center, a nonprofit in Portland, OR that assists children and families. The Nature Generation helped select 3 award-winning books and message the fundraising goals to my colleagues. The effort was very successful we raised enough money to purchase 530 books.

My most recent experience with NatGen has been helping to inroduce their E3 Games into the Arlington County Schools. At the end of last year I was able to set up a demonstration at my children's elementary school, Glebe Elementary in Arlington County. In the course of an hour the kids and teachers got to be introduced to the games and participate with them in a mock competition environment. The kids had a blast and the teachers really loved the games. The games are also based on the Virginia SOLs, so they provide an appropriate educational resource for parents, teachers and children.

Since then, we have met with the Arlington County Science Advisor and presented to the science leads from all 22 Arlington Elementary Schools. This FREE resources is a great example of how NatGen can provide both educational, inspirational and fun important resources to the community.

NatGen is doing great work.

I am a 6th grade student who went to the water testing event on the Chapman DeMary Trail. I learned a lot about how we can tell if the creek water is clean and why it is important for everyone to help.

Welcome to an organization that is educating children about the environment by reaching out to youth and inspiring them to make a difference! Direct involvement, effective leadership, and wonderful volunteers shines through and through. Our financial engagements is an effective means of support while providing back to our community. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this manner.

The Nature Generation reaches thousands of kids and inspires them to care about the planet and to take action in their communities . Check out their website for free green games or take their green reading challenge and you might win a Kindle!

NatGen does great work and is fun to partner with as well!
In just nine years this nonprofit has really made a difference in the lives of children.
I am proud to be a Board member.

As a student you are always looking for opportunities to expand your knowledge base and The Nature Generation has given me that opportunity. I learned how to help out more than yourself and how your environment is your greatest indicator of your standard of living. I learned this during the Trail to Better Water Quality project(and still am) and i hope to benefit more from it. It couldn't have been done without the help of The Nature Generation

As a high school student, finding non profit organizations that allow you to be a leader and not a follower is difficult. The Nature Generation offered me the opportunity to not only participate, but take the reins of a project detailing water quality in a local watershed. Working with a few fellow students, I was immersed in foreign jargon that soon became second nature and often found myself standing in the middle of a stream on a beautiful day carrying wide nets, monitoring equipment, and a turbidity tube. Romping around in my oversize boots is only one of the perks of working on this project. I get to promote sustainability with children at an age that thrives on engaging activities that often occur in the beauty of nature. The Nature Generation combines the efforts to conserve nature with the childlike curiosity that inhabits so many environmental enthusiasts, creating a highly effective program for the next generation, the Nature Generation.

I have volunteered with The Nature Generation (formerly Newton Marasco Foundation) for the last 7 years, helping to organize vital fundraising events. This is an extremely well run organization with a deep volunteer pool that consists of the best and brightest in the DC and surrounding areas. As a Project Manager by trade, I appreciate the planning that goes into each event to ensure that volunteers are well informed about what is expected of them and know the schedule well in advance of the event. I truly enjoy every opportunity that I get to volunteer at The Nature Generation events.

The Nature Generation gets to the heart of two things I care most about: educating children and the environment. I am proud to work with an organization that gets directly involved with youth to pass along a passion for preserving our world. I've been involved for a number of years as a volunteer, Advisory Board Member, and donor. I am also pleased to work on the their behalf at my regular job and partnering. My organization sponsors and partners with NatGen on a number of programs and our leadership has always been impressed with the broad impact we're able to have on our community as a result of the relationship. It's enriching to see the results of my financial and personal engagement in the faces of the children who have had their eyes open to the possibility of a greener future.

The Nature Generation has a fantastic history of reaching out to youth and inspiring them to make a difference. The leadership and volunteers are all outstanding. I recommend involvement for anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference.

The Nature Generation offers me the opportunity to help inspire the next generation to understand and practice sound stewardship of the planet's resources. As an advisor, I am inspired by this meaningful mission. Our three primary means to do this include: the Green Earth Book Award, using the power of story to teach children about our natural environment and the responsibility we all have to protect it, 2) engaging quiz show format games that school teachers use to make learning about energy and environment fun, and 3) creating outdoor classrooms where students learn about and develop an appreciation for the nature that surrounds them. The Nature Generation effectively engages youth from elementary school through high school in important issues from climate change to biodiversity. NatGen's founder is herself one of the most inspiring leaders I have known. She has devoted a lifetime to making a difference in the world of environmental stewardship.

I've volunteered with Nature Generation for over a year, helping with various events and planning class room exercises for grade school children. The experience has been very positive. The people involved with Nature Generation are great, very friendly, open and hard working.

I've worked with the NMF/Nature Generation in several capacities, and am so excited about the trajectory this organization is on! The name change really clarifies the organization's invaluable mission: No activity we involve our kids in is more crucial to their futures than to nurture their understanding of the environment and a commitment to sustainability. The NatGen is involved in and supports the local community on various levels, from the arts, to the schools, to the natural world. It's all connected!

I have worked with the NMF now Nature Generation for at least 14 years. When they are involved with a project, it is top notch; they know how to organize, publicize, and run an event. Great people, great organization. They have helped hundreds of students have meaningful field experiences.

I have volunteered with The Nature Generation at the Chapman DeMary Trail and Outdoor Classroom. This beautiful trail provides a great opportunity for students and the general public to study the natural sciences or just enjoy spending time outside. Volunteering at the trail clean up days and other events gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I enjoy working together with other members of my community to preserve and improve this wonderful trail.

I believe the Green Earth Book Award has great potential to impact youngsters by introducing them to fine literature that deals with the world around them and by introducing models of ways to be responsible stewards of that world.

I have been a member of the Advisory Board and now the Executive Board for many years and also Chair its committees on grant writing and the Chapman DeMarry Nature Trail. This is an outstanding organization. It reaches kids of all ages and teaches them the value of the environment through a wide range of fun and interesting activities. At the heart of the organization is a commitment to educating the next generation of youth on the many aspects of the natural world around them. Whether it is maintaining an outdoor classroom, learning about water quality through hands-on sampling of the nearby stream, or engaging them through interactive games in a classroom setting, the Nature Generation draws on the expertise of its hundreds of volunteers to make a difference in this critical area. I also get what i call my greatest day of the year -- spending time in a high school classroom teaching and interacting with really smart kids on the issues surrounding energy and climate change issues. It is so rewarding!

I have been a donor and board member of the Nature Generation for over 5 years. While I have served with other organizations, this one is truly making a difference in an area that effects all of us - the education of our next generation, and how each of them can make a difference. NatGen reaches out to our youth on multiple levels, and gets them interested in nature, and our environment. What could be more important?? People definitely need to consider this worthy cause - they ROCK!

Each year The Newton Marasco Foundation invites the Green Earth Book Award winning authors and illustrators to the campus of Salisbury University in Maryland to share their books and stories with students, especially the pre-service teaching candidates. Additionally, the authors go out into the larger educational community and visit with children in pre, elementary and secondary education settings. The importance of their environmental stewardship message cannot be overstated. Today's youth needs to be involved with awareness AND action. These books encourage and inspire kids to do just that. And meeting the authors and the illustrators motivates the kids because they build a personal relationship with an adult who cares about the earth to write, draw and photograph its beauty and fragility.

I have worked closely with the Newton Marasco Foundation for several years and I can say unequivically that with their help and expertise our environmental science curriculum hs become outstanding. NMF has not only found local funding to support our programs but has supplied experts from the field to both speak to our classes and help in the field .
With NMF help we have begun working more closely with the schools in our highschool cluster, which has been a great benefit to the schools but more importantly to the the children in those schools.
With NMF help we have been able to build a one mile long nature trail within the town limits, plant riparian buffers to protect our water qualiity and stream corridors, take a Chesapeake Bay watershed experience along the Shenandoah river. guest speakers have help educate our students on topics from energy to pollution control.

NMF is a superior non-profit - they have a strong and clear mission, they communicate efforts, activities, and results efficiently and clearly, and they have a strong interaction with their community. NMF clearly makes a difference in the lives they touch and they continue to make a strong impression in guiding the next generation of environmental stewards.

I have volunteered for NMF multiple times by helping with research and preparing handouts for presentations. I have found the work to be rewarding and fun. NMF offers a variety of opportunities to volunteer and all are equally rewarding.

Here are a few examples of how I have volunteered with NMF:

I volunteered a couple of hours to look for quotes and facts about sustainability. The facts and quotes were used in a presentation given by NMF at the Master Gardener’s Symposium on Sustainability. NMF was the key note speaker at the symposium.

I volunteered a couple of hours to look for facts supporting the need to get children outside in unstructured play. These were also used in the presentation given by NMF at the Master Gardener’s Symposium on Sustainability.

I volunteered after work to make flashcards with facts about composting. The flash cards were used at a booth at the NMF at the Master Gardener’s Symposium on Sustainability. NMF used the flashcards to engage children in sustainability activities and to encourage parents to teach their children how to be sustainable.

I have been involved with the Newton Marasco Foundation for about three years, and I continue to enjoy my experiences. The annual Eco Golf Classic is the main event at which I volunteer and it is a wonderful fund raiser. The enthusiasm from golfers, volunteers, and event organizers is contagious and a fun day is had by all. In recent years I have been helping to organize the silent auction portion of the event, and it is great to see how many donations come in. The Newton Marasco Foundation continues to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through its programs and initiatives.

I have been very impressed with the Newton Marasco Foundation and the way they have stepped in to ensure that our children receive an education about the choices we make that affect the world they will inherit.
As a result of their partnership with our elementary school, our children have benefitted from a butterfly garden and wildlife refueling station, both of which have involved a lot of student research and input. Both can be used as outdoor classrooms. This spring the older students will be leading younger students and parents through the gardens teaching them about the plants and the various pollinators and/or animals they help. The plants and structures (including a fountain) in the garden would not have been possible without the donations that Newton Marasco facilitated.
The children have also been learning about various conservation efforts, such as composting, recycling, waste-free lunches, and how not to be an energy hog. School families have built bluebird boxes and attended nature hikes focusing on birds, vernal pools, and trees. These activities were led by professionals brought to us by Newton Marasco's network of organizations and individuals.
The foundation has established a green earth book award, and has donated books promoting the environment to our library.
All of these efforts (and more) have involved a great deal of input and guidance from Newton Marasco staff. They have worked hard to establish a program at our school that is focused on our community's needs, is student centered, and will be self-sustaining into the future.

I am an elementary guidance couselor and the Newton Marasco Foundation has helped my school go green. They have been a great support in helping us build a pollinator garden and refueling station. They have donated time and money to help us jump start the project and keep it up in running. The student have learned so much about the enviroment from this project.

The two gardens are being used for outdoor classrooms. The 5th grade class have created lessons for the gardens that can used for all grade levels. This experience has taught them lessons that can be carried outside the school and into the community.

We could not have done this without the help of NMF! Thank you!

The Newton Marasco Foundation has been a strong supporter of Hillsboro Elementary School for the past three years. The foundation has donated books for the school library. The foundation has worked with other organizations to donate plants, a water feature, and other items for our school gardens. They have organized school events such as building bluebird boxes.

Serving on the NMF Advisory Board and as a volunteer I have experienced the dedication of the Foundation's staff and its commitment to helping future generations (elementary school through high school) learn to appreciate the natural environment through first-hand expereince (e.g, high schoolers develop and lead the enGAUGE It Campaign, all students interact with the Chapman-DeMary nature trail)

Newton Marasco Foundation fills an imporatnt niche in raising awareness of the next generation of the importance of and involvement in environmental stewardship.

From selecting and distributing Nature-centered children's books to sponsoring school students' projects like the Chapman-DeMary nature trail or the enGAUGE It program, NMF constantly impresses me with their tight focus as well as their effectiveness with each project they take on. Finally, NMF is no slouch in fundraising and has successfully generated the cash to support the programming they have so creatively constructed.

I've worked with NMF since its inception (though not as much or as often as I'd like), and have always been proud to be a part of this group. The foundation staff are focused on their mission and thoughtful in their approach to everything they undertake. This is one of those groups that not only takes action, but takes action that has a real and tangible effect.

I am involved with Newton Marasco Foundation every spring as they plan for the annual Greater Washington Eco-Golf Classic. This is a wonderful event that not only raises funds for NMF's unique programs but provides a social opportunity for members of the environmental community.

Newton Marasco Foundation was instrumental in helping the Town of Purcellville kick off a series of nature interpretive hikes within the town. They helped to market the hikes even going as far as running an advertisement in the local paper. They then registered members of the public who were interested so we could prepare for the numbers coming to the events. This effort plus others they are involved with have helped make Newton Marasco one of the premier environmental groups in the region.

NMF's consusltants guided us through the process of creating a wildflower meadow. The goal was for students to be decision makers and for them to be empowered to create an outdoor classroom and wildlife habitat which would benefit them academically. NMF staff was essential in providing information and advice about everything from the logistics through the implementation of the meadow. I was very impressed with the support and expertise of the staff. And the meadow is thriving!

NMF has been an integral part of our school for over 6 years. NMF staff has brought people, equipment, ideas, and programs to our school. These programs have given students in our environmental studies classes and our graphic design classes many opportunities to develop environmental friendly programs in the school as well as in the community. Our students have one awards and recognition for the work they have done in relation to NMF and the opportunities the foundation has brought to students in our school. For example, NMF sponsored a poster competition among our students for The Rachel Carson Centennial and our 3 students' posters were featured on capitol hill. The EnGaugeIt program mentioned in one of the other reviews is an ongoing project that will be sustained by future students in our school and in our community. NMF has sponsored the development of a nature trail that serves as one of our outdoor classrooms for our environmental studies programs. NMF was instrumental in helping to forge the relationships that lead to the land through which the trail winds being donated for the purpose of the nature trail. NMF has become an integral part of our school and community, always puts the environment and students first, and has been integral in developing the vision of environmental stewardship in our community.

NMF is a get-it-done oganization. They were instrumental in getting a new nature trail opened in the town's major forested stream valley involving the Town, the local high school environmental exploration teachers and students, and the property owner. They have become very active in all of our local schools, most recently a native plant garden planting program at the local elementary schools. I have found the staff to be committed, hard-working and passionate about their environmental education mission and a pleasure to work with.

I was invited as President of the Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP) to participate in two review panels: the Rachel Carson poster and the Loudoun Valley High School scholarship. Serving on both panels was both rewarding and educational from the standpoint of seeing first hand how much the students learned about environmental stewardship with the assistance of the Newton Marasco Foundation. I also had the opportunity to see the initiation of the NMF elementary school "Going Green" program at Hillsboro Elementary School. Through this program the students developed a Going Green logo, created a butterfly garden habitat, quantified the amount of waste produced during school lunch, and provided all students the chance to come up with creative ways for their school and families to be come more "green."

I've enjoyed tremendously my experience with NMF. The Green Earth Book Award winners provided me with some of most memorable and moving experiences. Witnessing the enthusiasm and joyful dialogue of young authors with the winners was truly inspiring.

As a volunteer, I managed two annual Maryland high school environmental photo contests as well as helped with early fund-raising events when the foundation was launched. All of my work with Newton Marasco Foundation has been rewarding for me and appreciated by the foundation. For example, the photo contests allowed the foundation to build its relationship with the state of Maryland's Department of the Environment as well as opened some young minds to the beauty and fragility of nature. I strongly believe in the Newton Marasco Foundation's mission, dedication to its cause, and passion to make a difference - even in these hard economic times. I am a life-long volunteer for this group because I believe not only in the founder and her staff but in the person who inspired the creation of this foundation. Newton Marascco Foundation is genuine in its concern for the environment and in passing the understanding of sustainability to future generations. It has developed creative ideas for spreading it messages and reaching new audiences. My only constructive feedback is tap me more often for other work!

Working to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards -- what can be more worthy than that? And what could be more exciting than the upcoming fifth annual Green Earth Book Award being held at Salisbury University in April? I'm delighted to be involved in it again this year -- and we have a wonderful selection of talented authors who write fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults -- it's the ONLY environmental book award in this country!

I have served on the Executive Board of the Newton Marasco Foundation (NMF) for almost 3 years. I have worked in the environmental management consulting industry for more than 25 years. I work for a global environmental management and engineering consulting firm called Tetra Tech. NMF's mission is to inspire our nation's youth to be responsible environmental stewards. NMF is led by Amy Marasco (President) and an Executive and Technical Board made up of professionals who are passionately dedicated to teaching our youth about environmental stewardship and whose life long careers have involved protecting the environment and promoting responsible environmental stewardship. NMF specifically focuses its programs on our youth to inspire the next generation to be good environmental stewards. NMF has many wonderful programs including the nationally acclaimed Green Earth Literature and Book Award; Field It - a school habitat and outdoor classroom program; and EnGAUGEit - a program that encourages drivers to regularly check their care time pressure - saving money, saving lives, and protecting the environment through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. NMF is a lean organization that is highly effective in leveraging its funds and programs to maximize the impact of every dollar it spends. Amy and the NMF staff are highly committed to making a difference in this world. I am honored to serve on NMF's Executive Board and I highly recommend getting involved with the NMF if you are excited about the potential to teach and inspire the next generation to be responsible environmental stewards. Mark F. Johnson

I spoke at Salisbury University and two schools when My book, Frog Heaven: Ecology of a Vernal pool was given a Green Earth Book Award honor by the Newton Marasco Foundation. The foundation did an excellent job in organizing these events and creating a great educational experience for kids in the area by meeting so many visiting authors. In promoting quality environmental literature for children, the foundation is helping them to get more exposure to an important subject that may not be adequately addressed in school. From a personal perspective the award was a great inspiration to me to continue to write books with environmental themes.

I have written books that won the Green Earth Book Award in 2007 and a Green Earth Book Award Honor in 2009. In addition to meeting with several school groups and participating in the Salisbury University Children's Literature Festival, I have participated in two panels of GEBA winners at major reading conferences. All these activities, expertly organized by the Newton Marasco Foundation, have brought exposure to my books as well as to NMF's important work. Children are spending less and less time in the natural world today. How can we expect them to preserve and protect it as adults if they don't grow to love it and respect it as children? Thank goodness there are organizations like the Newton Marasco Foundation who are finding fun, creative ways to show children (and adults) the importance of environmental stewardship.

I received the Green Earth Book Award from the Newton Marasco Foundation for my novel, The Blind Faith Hotel. Along with other award-winning authors, I was invited to present to groups of students and take part in a celebration which was open to the community, as well as participating in Salisbury University's Children's Writing Conference. I was extremely impressed with the dedication, commitment and creativity of Newton Marasco board members, employees. They are filling an important niche in the environmental community and spreading awareness of the need for a curriculum that encourages sustainability and concern for the world we all share.

I have been involved with the Newton Marasco Foundation (NMF) for several years, and have tremendously enjoyed my role formerly as a corporate patron and now as a volunteer. For the past three years, I also have had the distinct honor and pleasure of serving as a review panelist for the Foundation’s illustrious Green Earth Book Award (Picture Book Category). This annual contest was established “to promote books that inspire children to grow a deeper appreciation, respect, and responsibility for their natural environment.” Each year authors and their illustrators are awarded in four categories: Picture Book, Children’s Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Nonfiction. I can say without a doubt that this annual contest, coupled with the Foundation’s partnership with the annual Salisbury University Children and Young Adult Literature Festival, has equally inspired me and my fellow panelists to make a stronger and lasting commitment to being responsible environmental stewards. Reading and judging each year’s books about our environment and natural world, and then participating in the Foundation and University’s spring festival and meeting and hearing from the diversity of authors is an event unmatched in the environmental nonprofit community. I commend the Foundation for its ground-breaking work promoting and inspiring literature read by our children and young adults.