Washington County Naturalist Pamela Holz accepts the award from IAN workshop coordinator Annette Wittrock. (Photo submitted)

For the third time, Washington County has won the Outstanding Environmental Education Program with two or less naturalists award from the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition and the Iowa Association of Naturalists. Pamela Holz is the only naturalist on staff and she provides over 300 programs annually, reaching over 12,000 participants according to the department.

Last year, the program brought a traveling Smithsonian exhibit to the Conservation Education Center at Marr Park that is free of charge and is available for public viewing through the month of April. Also, a traveling exhibit about snakes is scheduled for the center for early next year.