A Decade of Dedication: Honoring Brittany Wray

Today we’re celebrating a truly special milestone—Brittany Wray’s 10-year anniversary with KAEE.

Over the past decade, Brittany has grown from Operations Coordinator to Education Director to Deputy Director, helping lead KAEE through an incredible period of growth and impact.  When Brittany joined our team, we had just two full-time staff.  Today, we are a small but mighty organization with a strong presence across Kentucky and at the regional and national levels.  Brittany has been a driving force behind that growth—strengthening our programs, supporting educators, and helping ensure that everything we do is grounded in quality, relevance, and impact.

Brittany brings passion, thoughtfulness, and an unwavering commitment to environmental education into everything she does. She has earned the respect of everyone in the environmental education field as a humble leader who is quick to give credit to others and cares deeply for the well-being of those around her. We are truly honored to have her on our team.  

Executive Director Ashley Hoffman says, "Brittany is the kind of leader who makes everyone around her better.  She is detail-oriented, deeply collaborative, and always ready to jump in where she’s needed most.  We are endlessly grateful for Brittany’s vision, dedication, and heart over the past 10 years. KAEE is what it is today because of her."

Please join us in celebrating Brittany and this incredible milestone!

Member Spotlight: Celebrating James Garner, 2025–2026 State Facilitator of the Year

We’re excited to celebrate James Garner, who has been named a 2025–2026 State Facilitator of the Year by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and the Project WILD Program. This recognition highlights not only his dedication to environmental education, but also the energy and care he brings to youth experiences and educator trainings.

James serves as the Outdoor Programs Coordinator with Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, where he creates opportunities for both youth and adults to connect with the natural world in meaningful ways. Since becoming a KAEE Facilitator in 2023, he has quickly made an impact, leading workshops in Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Project WET with a style that is thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply engaging.

One of the things that stands out most about James is how naturally he brings learning to life. During a Project WILD training at Camp Shantituck in 2024, he used the surrounding landscape as a teaching tool, turning the camp itself into an extension of the classroom. Participants left not only with new knowledge, but with a sense of excitement and confidence. In fact, several were inspired to continue their own environmental education journeys and pursue additional training, a testament to the lasting impact of his work.

His approach is grounded in a strong foundation of sustainability and respect for the environment. James consistently weaves Leave No Trace principles into his teaching, encouraging others to think not just about what they teach, but how they interact with the spaces around them. This perspective is shaped by his academic background in Sustainability from the University of Louisville, as well as his experiences studying abroad in Costa Rica, both of which continue to influence his work today.

At the heart of it all, James is passionate about helping people find their own connection to nature. Whether through scientific inquiry, creativity, or reflection, he encourages learners to engage with the environment in ways that feel personal and lasting. It’s this ability to inspire curiosity and care that makes him such a deserving recipient of this award.

We’re grateful to have James as part of the KAEE community and look forward to seeing the continued impact of his work across Kentucky and beyond. 

Images by John Nation.

Kentucky Senate Honors KAEE’s 50th Anniversary

This year is a big one for the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE). As KAEE celebrates 50 years of impact, that milestone is now being recognized at the state level through Kentucky Senate Resolutions 177, 182, and 183.

All three resolutions honor KAEE’s long-standing commitment to advancing environmental education across the Commonwealth. The most recent, Senate Resolution 183,  adopted on April 1, 2026, was solely sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer ®.

In addition to the Senate recognitions, KAEE was also honored with a formal citation from the Kentucky House of Representatives. Enacted on March 20, 2026, and cosponsored by Representative Erika Hancock and Representative Ken Fleming, the citation recognizes and honors KAEE “during the 2026 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly as this worthwhile organization celebrates its 50th Anniversary, a notable milestone marking 50 years of invaluable service to the Commonwealth and its citizens…”

What started in 1976 as a fully volunteer-led organization has grown into a statewide network supporting educators, students, and communities through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.

Over the years, KAEE has played a key role in shaping environmental education in Kentucky. From helping inform the creation of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council in 1990 to supporting legislation that expanded funding for environmental education and conservation, the organization has consistently been part of the bigger picture. The earlier resolutions also included co-sponsors Senator Gerald A. Neal (D), Senator Matthew Deneen (R), Senator Reginald L. Thomas (D), Senator Robin L. Webb (R), and Senator Keturah J. Herron (D), reflecting a shared commitment to this work across the aisle.

The resolutions highlight the many ways KAEE continues to show up today, whether that’s through programs like Kentucky Green Schools, professional development opportunities, or partnerships with educators and organizations across the state. Even through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, KAEE has continued to grow and adapt, reaching more communities and expanding its impact.

At its core, this recognition is about people: the educators, partners, board members, and volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy over the past five decades to make environmental education more accessible and meaningful in Kentucky. The Senate and House recognitions specifically commend those individuals and encourage continued collaboration to keep that momentum going.

Looking ahead, the resolutions also point to what’s next, including KAEE’s 2026 Annual Conference in Lexington this November. It’s a reminder that while this milestone is worth celebrating, the work is ongoing and there are still plenty of ways to be part of it.

Fifty years in, this moment is both a celebration and a reflection of the impact KAEE has had and continues to have across Kentucky.

Citation of Celebration from the Kentucky House of Representatives honoring the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education on its 50th anniversary (2026).