DNR MAPE member honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

Our MAPE members do extraordinary work to ensure the state of Minnesota is one of the best places to live and work. We can thank longtime MAPE member, Janine Kohn, for her work as the Natural Resources Education and Outreach consultant and Project WET State Program Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She has spent her career educating others on the importance of water quality and ideas for how to solve local environmental challenges. 

Kohn was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Environmental Education Award, recognizing her 33 years of work in the field. The award is presented by the Minnesota Association of Environmental Educators (MAEE) to recognize the efforts of someone who has had a large-scale, long-term impact in the field. She has been a MAPE member for more than 12 years since coming to the DNR, but her time at the state is only part of her storied career. 

Kohn began her career in 1992 teaching ecology, paleontology and fresh/saltwater systems in South Florida for two environmental companies. She also served as the assistant director of an international adventure summer camp, which traveled throughout the West exploring the national parks. She went on to work as a middle school science teacher in Colorado, where she developed outdoor education programs for two charter schools.  

“I knew early on in my career that making connections was going to be the heart of my work. Making connections with the land, connections with other people, and, most importantly, guiding others to see the important connection we all have with water,” Kohn explained. 

Then, Kohn moved to Minnesota, where she worked at Pheasants Forever’s headquarters in St. Paul and administered the Leopold Education Project, an environmental education program for the organization, partnering with non-profits, foundations, schools, businesses and state agencies. In addition to being a public speaker, national trainer and event planner, she was a curriculum writer for the national Pheasants Forever youth education newsletter, Ringnecks, and teacher resource guide. 

Kohn said, “One of my proudest accomplishments is creating  T.U.N.E Camp (The Ultimate Nature Experience), a natural resource kids camp while I was at Pheasants Forever. When I originally had the idea, my boss was not completely supportive of the idea, but I could see the need for educating kids to create a space where they learn about the ecosystem that allows them to pursue outdoor hobbies like shooting sports and fishing. I could see the vision of my idea and how it would work, and after pushing a bit, I finally succeeded. The camp started in 2008 and is still running today. I have twin daughters, and they have been going to camp for many years, and this year they are going to be counselors. It’s so rewarding to see my work come full circle, and now my kids get to be leaders in environmental education too.” 

Kohn has served several roles within the DNR, “I took part of an extensive research project associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where I worked with biologists in northern lakes to study the impact the oil spill had on loons that migrate to the Gulf and back to their homes in Minnesota.” 

“I’ll be honest,” Kohn said, “when my supervisor at the time, Carrol Henderson, pulled me onto this project, he believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Henderson is an absolute icon, and I was incredibly fortunate to get to work with him. I could never have accomplished all that I have without good mentors who pushed me to grow. The same goes for wonderful co-workers like Renee Vail, DNR co-worker and dear friend, who I’d like to thank for nominating me for this high honor in my field.” 

In Kohn’s current position, she helps lay the foundation of water resources by educating tomorrow’s stewards about the importance of conserving the land and water and taking care of it for future generations. Many “first experiences” for the DNR have been spearheaded by Kohn; some of which have earned her three DNR Commissioner Awards. This work includes: 

• Creating several new educational experiences and coordination efforts benefiting the Mississippi River  

• Engaging students at several schools to plant pollinator habitat at their school grounds 

• Planning a large-scale water diversion project through Fresh Water’s Water Steward Program  

• Creating Water Day at DNR building at the State Fair 

• Creating Pollinator Day at the DNR building at the State Fair  

• Developing Water and Wildlife Education Days where elementary age students and diverse community group youth are invited to participate in opener celebrations at Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant, Deer and Fishing Openers, where they learn about wildlife, habitat, water quality and fishing.  

• Running the state-wide Frog and Toad Calling Survey and working with citizen scientists to collect data through GIS mapping and recording.  

Kohn is currently working on the Minnesota Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. In 2023, Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and DNR leaders and staff convened a work group of state agency employees and partners. Kohn is part of this work group that is identifying gaps in existing programs and recommending changes to increase opportunities to serve additional underserved Minnesota youth through the Outdoor Schools for All legislation. 

“Reflecting on my work, I really have done a lot, but I’m not done yet!” Kohn said with a chuckle. “I could not have done this without incredible mentors, co-workers, the support of my husband and daughters, plus the impactful work of leaders in the field like Aldo Leopold, Mike Link (first Director of the Audubon Center of the Northwoods and my graduate professor) and Carol Henderson of DNR’s NonGame Wildlife Program. I dug a little bit and found out that Mike was the first-ever recipient of this Lifetime Achievement Award, so to be recognized on the same level as him is truly humbling.”  

Janine goes on to share, “Lastly, foundations are so important, and full credit goes out to my amazing parents, Ron and Maxine Newhouse for inspiring me to question, explore and get outdoors daily! I truly believe parents play a vital role in these connections and they pave our paths for the future.”