Jody Anastasio ‘07 (New England, MS) led the National Park Service (NPS) team that won the 2023 NPS Excellence in Education Award. As Education Specialist at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, she started the Earth, Sea, Sky program in partnership with two other local environmental education organizations: Mokupāpapa Discovery Center (sea) and ʻImiloa Astronomy Center (sky). Together, they have served more than 1700 students from the Island of Hawai’i.
Charles F Chuck Sams III National Park Service Director Glen Allen Beavers Kupu Americorps Service Member Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
“The education team at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is thrilled to receive this award, with gratitude to our partners as well as the hard-working teachers who put in the extra effort to schedule the field trips. We also give a big mahalo to the National Park Foundation, Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, and Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which make this program possible,” said Anastasio.
The theme that connects all three sites is kilo (to observe). At ʻImiloa, students kilo pō, (observe the night sky) in the planetarium and learn about constellations significant to Hawaiian culture. At Mokupāpapa, students kilo Hilo Bay, then move to the aquarium to kilo the coral reef environment. At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, students spend half a day outdoors and explore the geology and biodiversity of the volcanic landscape, and how these connect to traditional Hawaiian culture.”
Read more about the award and her work on the National Park Service website.
