Nature Generation Milestones

2004

The Newton Marasco Foundation

(later known as The Nature Generation) is Created


The Nature Generation was created to fill a missing gap in environmental literature–nowhere else in the U.S. existed an award that specifically recognized the importance of authors who teach our next generation of stewards. In 2002, The Nature Generation founder Amy Marasco and her husband Dave Newton sold their environmental consulting firm with plans to volunteer and travel the world. But when Dave died unexpectedly the next year, Amy created the Newton Marasco Foundation in his memory. She and a group of friends sketched out plan with a mission to inspire and teach our youth to protect the planet and they never looked back.

2005

First Green Earth Book Award is Bestowed


The Nature Generation’s founding board of directors created the Green Earth Book Award to encourage and reward authors and illustrators who write books for children and young adults that best raise awareness about the beauty of our natural world and the responsibility we have to protect it. The first recipient honored with this first and only environmental stewardship award in the U.S. was The Sea, The Storm and the Mangrove, by Lynne Cherry. From 2005 through 2020, the “seal of approval” has been bestowed to over 160 winning and honor authors and illustrators for their contributions. It continues to garner attention from the literary world as an esteemed award, bringing recognition to authors, but more importantly, providing environmentally themed books to children.

2006

"Field It!" is Launched


Through real-life experiences in nature, students become more aware of environmental issues. The Nature Generation launched Field It! to reach youth by supporting field trips, outdoor classroom installations, water quality testing and wetlands rehabilitation projects; by sponsoring environmental art and photography contests; and by providing field and lab equipment to classrooms.

2007

Rachel Carson Day is Commemorated


The Nature Generation launched the Rachel Carson Centennial Celebration and organized the designation of May 27 officially as “Rachel Carson Day” to honor the Marylander who pioneered the modern environmental movement and awakened America’s environmental conscience. We commemorated her 100th birthday anniversary by hosting the internationally renowned play about Carson “A Sense of Wonder,” by Kaiulani Lee on Capitol Hill and at a Wildlife Refuge educational center in Maryland. In addition, we hosted the showing of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” at the Environmental Literacy Festival. We also invited students to honor Carson’s legacy in a poster contest and created the Rachel Carson Scholarship monetary award for Maryland high school juniors and seniors who actively participated in community-based environmental stewardship activities.





2008

Chapman DeMary Outdoor Classroom is Created


Teacher and naturalist John DeMary and his students shared a vision to protect a 10-acre tract of land near their school and use it as an outdoor classroom. They presented their vision to community leaders and members. John Chapman, owner of the land and father of a former student of Mr. DeMary’s, heard the presentation and was so impressed, he offered to put the land into a conservation easement, as long as the students continued to be stewards of the area. The Nature Generation played a large role in providing funds for trail maintenance and habitat enhancement, as well as for providing educational opportunities like community nature walks, water testing projects, pollinator gardening workshops, and school field trips. The trail is now under the umbrella of Purcellville County Parks and Recreation and continues to be a nature retreat for all in Loudoun County, Va. to enjoy.





2009

First McGranaghan Stewardship Award is Bestowed


We presented Loudoun Valley High School teacher Liam McGranaghan with an award to recognize his personal dedication, commitment, and support to the creation and maintenance of the Chapman DeMary Trail. Mr. McGranaghan is an inspiration to his students by teaching them how to be good stewards of the trail and its inhabitants. Years later, the McGranaghan Stewardship Award continues to be bestowed to an individual or organization that has had the greatest impact on the Chapman DeMary Trail. 






2010

EnGauge It! Partnership is Created with UPS


We partnered with UPS and youth groups in a EnGauge It! public awareness campaign that educated drivers on how properly inflated tires saves gas, money and lives. Over 5,000 tire gauges were distributed to motorists throughout the metropolitan D.C. area.








2011

Amy Marasco Receives Washingtonian Green Award


The Nature Generation president and founder, Amy Marasco, proudly received her Green Award from the Washingtonian Magazine. The prestigious award is given annually to celebrate Washingtonians who preserve and protect our environment through education, by promoting green building, and by teaching the importance of living green. 






2012

Newton Marasco Foundation Becomes

“The Nature Generation”


Thanks to the support and expertise from our corporate partner, Cadmus, we created a new name, brighter look and updated website that better reflects our mission to inspire environmental stewards to cultivate a healthy planet for future generations.






2013

Milestone: Green Earth Award Winning Authors Visit over 1000 Students


A unique aspect of the Green Earth Award is that each year we connect winning authors to students K-12th grade through classroom visits and book signings – once a child meets an author his or her life is profoundly changed forever.

(link to Green Earth Book Award page)







2014

E3: Education on Energy and the Environment Games is Launched


E3: Education on Energy and the Environment computer games are in an engaging quiz-show format and supports the Virginia Standards of Learning for Science with a focus on the environment and stewardship. These easy-to-use, interactive games inject can be played individually in a home school setting or in the classroom to make learning fun while encouraging student participation and focus. The games engage students of all ages in learning about the science of our environment and stewardship, covering topics such as water, energy, and geology. 

(link to E3 on Resources page)






2015

Milestone: 4,000 Students Visit the Trail


“If kids don’t understand nature, how are they going to protect it?” With that question in mind, we’ve invited over 4,000 number of students on the Chapman DeMary Tail in Loudoun County, VA, to learn about nature on field trips, nature walks, trash cleanup days, tree plantings, scavenger hunts and more!






2016

Green Reading Challenge is Offered to Schools


We challenged students across the country to read Green Earth Book Award winning books and give us their feedback. The prize? A Kindle! Teachers loved the way the challenge motivated their students to read; and students were transported to the world of nature through beautifully written and illustrated books.

(link to Green Earth Book Award page)






2017

“Closing the Environmental Literacy Gap” Webinar is Presented


Our very first webinar was produced in partnership with the Security and Sustainability Forum. We brought together authors, educators and environmental specialists to discuss how to best improve the environmental literacy of students. Great resource for educators looking for ways to increase knowledge and participation with their students.






2018

First Seed Grant is Awarded


Seed Grants are an outreach tool that supports our ongoing efforts to engage and inform youth about STEM, environmental literacy, and science-based truth. We offer a limited number of grants each year to schools, community centers, museums, libraries, military or veterans’ groups, associations or centers, faith-based-organizations, and nonprofits.


These mini grants fund small-scale projects that directly impact the environment and involve children and young adults. Winning projects are inspired by Green Earth Book Award winners and showcase innovative ways to provide hands-on opportunities and eco-learning for youth. 

(link to Seed Grant page) Insert additional seed grant photos from Romany







2019

Milestone: 10,000 Books Are Donated


Our mission has always been to encourage green reading and get the winning books into the hands of children across the nation. We are proud to have donated over 10,000 books over the years to schools, community centers, hospitals, youth groups and more.

(link to Green Earth Book Award page)






2020

Miss America Gives a Stewardship Lesson


We hosted Camille Schrier’s classroom visit to students at Hillsboro Charter Academy, where she recounted the true story of the rebirth of a creek to students. Schrier, who was crowned 2020 Miss America, earned degrees in biochemistry and systems biology and is a on a mission to show kids that science is fun; she is an inspiration for young women and men entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We also donated the Green Earth Award winning book, Creekfinding, to each student.






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