Howard Bell Award Winner, 2001: George Stratman Interview with George Stratman by Janice Smith, AEOE State Historian

The following interview was taken in 2001 for the Howard Bell Award nomination. George Stratman is an excellent example of someone making a career in outdoor environmental education - starting as an intern and working his way up from there. He has written several articles for the AEOE newsletters about this and many aspects of teaching - see his "AEOE bibliography," at the end of the article.

1. Please list your educational background.

I have a liberal studies degree and teaching credential from San Francisco State University. I also possess a master's degree in education administration and an administrative credential from Saint Mary's College (Moraga, California). Over the years I have done some additional course work at Humboldt State, Stanislaus State, and National University.

2. How did you first get started in ODE?

I resigned my position with a Real Estate Investment firm in February 1985 when I realized that I wanted to work in the outdoors. I had been working as a volunteer on weekends with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Marin Headlands-- also where I met my wife) and realized that I did not enjoy what I was doing at the time professionally (businessman). That fall I started school again at Humboldt State University with an eye on getting a second degree in Resources Planning and Interpretation. In October of 1985 I learned of an Internship opportunity at Foothill Horizons (Stanislaus County Office of Education). I was offered the position and began my career in January of 1986. I took the internship as a way to gain interpretation experience (with a, then, career goal of working in the Park Service). Truth be known, I knew I wanted to work outdoors (as this is where I spent most of my free time), but I wasn't sure if I'd like working with children (having never done so previously). Ultimately the reason I have stayed in outdoor education is because I love working with kids and what outdoor education does for them.
(I'm guessing I just gave you more information than you wanted here.)

3.a. Please list your experience in outdoor Ed. and the positions you have held.

At Foothill Horizons: Intern, Naturalist, Head Naturalist, Assistant Director.

In San Diego: Principal, Director

b. Please explain your current position at SDCOE and how long you have been there.

I am finishing my 4th year as director with the County Office (after spending 4 years as principal at Fox). I am responsible for all aspects of the outdoor education program with the SDCOE. This includes the outdoor schools and outreach (Marine Science Floating Lab, "Splash" Lab, Green Machine, Salk Institute Mobile Lab, and a few other irons in the fire).

4. List any Envir./Educational organizations that you belong to and whether you have held (or currently hold) any leadership positions with them.

COSA and AEOE. I am the current chair of COSA and a past chair of AEOE. I have also attended several ROEE conferences. I am a member of the board of directors for the San Diego Environmental Foundation (this foundation primarily raises funds for clean air education-- and in particular the soon to be in existence alternative fuel vehicle education center-- they have also donated in excess of $1 million for the purchase of land by the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy).

5.a. How has AEOE influenced your career?

It has been a great source of inspiration due to the excellent conferences offered. I can always count on quality presentations that are informative and which help to "recharge the batteries." I also enjoy the networking as I have made many professional contacts at AEOE meetings and conferences. I am a better teacher and administrator for what I have learned through AEOE and my AEOE contacts. The newsletter also gives an opportunity to give statewide feedback as the COSA Chair and for sharing information.

b. When did you first get involved with AEOE?

My first involvement with AEOE was attending a conference in 1987 (I believe we went to Headlands Institute (or at Foothill Horizons-- I can't remember which came first or the exact dates).

c. What board positions have you held? dates?

Chair, (1996?-- I think the historian has this information :-) [note: George has been State Coordinating Secretary since 2002]

6.a. What has been your involvement with COSA?

I am the present Chair and have attended COSA meetings on a regular basis since 1993 (and sporadically prior to that). I have also served as the certification chair and on the legislative committee. I have worked hardest at updating certification standards, ensuring that all programs maintain current certification, chasing state funding, and assisting where I can with the general organization of COSA and in helping to forward outdoor education causes.

b. How do you view the relationship between COSA and AEOE? Any future goals?

I see COSA and AEOE as being closely related. As such, I am pleased that the spring meeting has been scheduled to coincide with the AEOE conference. I believe the networking possibilities and the sharing of information between the two organizations is very positive.
One of my own goals for COSA and AEOE is that future outdoor education administrators be recruited from among the ranks of AEOE. I believe that we need experienced naturalists to move into positions of leadership in outdoor education (all too often we do not have many (or any) candidates with outdoor education backgrounds applying for vacant administrative positions).

I believe that maintaining a professional affiliation between COSA and AEOE is valuable for everyone. For instance, the collaborative work done this year with regard to input into the State Science Framework, Outdoor Education Funding (AB 1498 and AB 1531), and the recent environmental education hearings has been very positive. By working together to forward such causes COSA and AEOE have become a strong force in environmental education and are being heard at the state level-- and the best is yet to come!

7. Why is outdoor education important to you?

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to lead a hike through Anza Borrego Desert State Park with with a group of troubled youth from the Juvenile Court Schools. It was wonderful to see these tough city students let their guards down and become children again. Being in nature won these students over and made an impression on them, it opened their hearts to other possibilities and perhaps showed them that there is another direction to take their lives in. While these students had to return to their day to day lives in the city, the impression stayed with them. These students are eager to go back again. They openly share the experience with others. Their faces light up when they speak of the experience. While this positive experience is owed mostly to the natural surroundings and the naturalists who worked with them for their entire stay, it was great that I had the opportunity to see a portion of the experience and to witness some of the aftermath in their classroom.

In short, outdoor education is important to me because it has real impact on students. It teaches them to connect with the real world and helps them to understand their place in nature. The environment has a great power to touch our lives and to teach us. It is also the very source of our existence. We need to understand, respect, and protect the environment-- outdoor education helps us to understand that.

Lord knows I could go on for days on this topic.

8. What hopes do you have for the future of ODE?

That all students will have the opportunity to have an outdoor education experience. That they will all have an experience more than once in their lives. That those of us in the profession will help to nurture a love of the outdoors that will carry over from the children we serve to their families and communities.

In the immediate future, I hope we can gain a foothold with the state in funding these important programs. I also hope that the education community as a whole will recognize the value of environmental education and that taking students into the outdoors will become as strong a force in education as standardized tests are now.

9. Please list any personal interests or hobbies you enjoy.

Hiking, being a Dad (which includes taking my 4 year old daughter to see the wonders of nature), softball, writing, painting (though its been a while).

AEOE Bibliography

Newsletter Articles:
Winter 1999-2000: "Home Grown Talent - The Next Generation of Outdoor School Administrators"
Summer 2000: "Ten Subtle Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment,"
Fall 2000: "Getting Students' Attention (What to do Instead of Yelling)," and COSA Report
Summer 2001: "The Dream Job" and COSA Update
Spring 2002: "Coming to Our Senses - thoughts on the conference theme"
Winter 2002-03: "California Environmental Education Update" and "The Status of AEOE's Bid for Non-Profit Incorporation," (northern only)
Summer 2003: "The Howard Bell Award"

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