John Quimby

John Quimby, the adult leader of Expedition Susquehanna, received the 2006 Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Environmental Educator of the Year Award during a special ceremony on March 24.

The award was presented by Don Baugh, Vice President of Environmental Education for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Brett Pifer, a Future Farmers of America member from Bradford County and other students who were part of Expedition Susquehanna, talked about the role John Quimby played on the trip and its value to them.

A retired entomologist, Quimby uses his knowledge of nature and the river to teach students about river and forest ecology in classes and trips throughout Pennsylvania.

Expedition Susquehanna included 11 high school students, all members of the Future Farmers of America, as they made a 30 day trip down the Susquehanna River from the river’s origin at Cooperstown, NY to the Chesapeake Bay.

Along the way, students stopped to learn about how mine drainage and agricultural runoff affects the river, the lifecycle of the rare hellbender salamander and the flora and fauna in around the Susquehanna.

The ceremony also included a preview of the upcoming WVIA – Wilkes-Barre documentary on the Expedition that will aired on WVIA starting April 18.

Video Blog: John Quimby Issues Challenge on Environmental Education

Video Blog: Don Baugh Talks About Why Quimby Received the Award

Video Blog: Brett Pifer Talks About Quimby’s Role and What He Learned

3/30/2007