Conservation Educator of the Year Award

David Tupa, science teacher at Gibraltar High School in Fish Creek, has been named the Conservation Educator of the Year by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. Tupa was honored for his dedication to educating others about the wise use and conservation of the state's natural resources and environment. Tupa teaches environmental science, biology, human anatomy, forensic science and earth science at Gibraltar, where he has worked since 1996, providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn about ecology and apply what they have learned. He invites conservation wardens, biologists and other natural resources experts into his classroom and his students learn natural resource management as well as to identify state wildlife, fish and plants.

Over the years, his students have built and installed bird nest boxes, assisted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in salmon egg harvesting, participating in bird counts and writing letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. Recently, 46 of his students attended the DNR's spring hearing in Sturgeon Bay to voice their opinions and vote on proposed resource management rule changes. In addition he recently organized the Gibraltar Ecology Club, a group of 25 students who are involved in improving their local environment.

Tupa earned a degree in environmental education, resource management, biology and earth science at UWSP. Previously he taught environmental education at UWSP's Central Wisconsin Environmental Station and in high schools in Weyerhaeuser, Marshfield, and Colby.

He has received training in Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, and Project Wet curriculums, taken the Aldo Leopold Teaching Environmentally training and earned the DNR angler education instructor certification. He earned a special certificate from the state for his Adopt-A-Wetland project at Peninsula State Park and won the 1996 Trees for Tomorrow Award. He is also involved in the Hunt for the Hungry program. He is an active member and a Door County delegate in the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, serving on the Great Lakes Committee. He and his wife, Sharon, reside in Egg Harbor.

Conservation Educator of the Year Award Nomination Form

Do you know a Wisconsin teacher, sports person or youth group leader who is active in promoting and teaching conservation education, ethics, safety or outdoor skills? The Wisconsin Conservation Congress would like to request your assistance or the assistance of your organization in nominating an outstanding educator for his/her efforts regarding conservation education. The “Conservation Educator of the Year Award” is intended to recognize Wisconsin conservationists who dedicate themselves to educating others about the wise use and conservation of Wisconsin’s natural resources and environment. Through this award the Conservation Congress will recognize the many hours of service, the number of individuals who have been impacted and the numerous programs which have been developed by Wisconsin’s conservation educators.