Each year, AEOE selects two Environmental Educators of the Year – one in Northern California and one in Southern California – for their outstanding contributions to the field of environmental and outdoor education. Educators are nominated by their peers and are selected by AEOE’s awards committee. Nominees must be currently practicing educators who teach in and/or about the environment in some way – whether it be in a residential outdoor school program, a traditional classroom, community outreach program, or another program setting – and who are making an impact in the realm of environmental and outdoor education.
The Southern California Environmental Educator of the Year, Helen Morales, has dedicated over a decade to transforming outdoor education at Woodcraft Rangers and beyond. Joining Woodcraft Rangers in 2009 as a Club Leader, Helen now serves as the Director of Camp Woodcraft and Outdoor Education, leading a dynamic team of year-round outdoor educators in delivering high-quality programs that serve hundreds of youth across Los Angeles annually. Helen continues to break barriers while championing inclusivity and innovation in outdoor education and youth programming.
Helen’s work is grounded in her commitment to equity and inclusion. She ensures Woodcraft programs embrace participants from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Through intentional hiring practices, Helen prioritizes staff from the communities served, offering youth role models who reflect their own experiences. Under her guidance, staff receive extensive training in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and healing-centered approaches to create safe and supportive environments for all.
As a champion of accessibility, Helen has spearheaded initiatives supporting neurodiverse youth, including partnerships with the Department of Developmental Services and local Regional Centers. These efforts include on-site support, staff training, and family camps, making Camp Woodcraft a leader in inclusive outdoor education.
Helen also empowers young people to become environmental stewards through programs like EcoWarriors, which engages students in environmental action and civic leadership, and Camp Woodcraft’s Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program, which prepares youth for careers in outdoor education. Her collaboration with Indigenous communities incorporates culturally relevant practices into programming, enriching participants’ understanding of the natural and cultural importance of the land.
Beyond Woodcraft Rangers, Helen serves on the board of the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE), on the Volunteer Engagement Committee, and as DEI Trainer for the American Camp Association (ACA). Her leadership has elevated the field, advancing inclusivity, accessibility, and impact in outdoor education.
We are honored to recognize Helen as the 2024 Southern CA Environmental Educator of the Year.