Augusta, ME — Well known naturalist and Hampden resident Judy Kellogg Markowsky was given a 2011 NRCM Environmental Award for Lifetime Achievement. Judy, who passed away in August, was known and loved for her work as an environmental educator, sharing her knowledge of birds, insects, plants, and other creatures in the Penobscot River watershed with students of all ages. (Read full citation at end of this page.)
“NRCM gives its Environmental Award to those who have a passion for the nature of Maine, and a willingness to fight the hard fight to protect it,” says NRCM Executive Director Lisa Pohlmann. “Judy Kellogg Markowsky spent much of her life achieving that goal. Her legacy is a gift to the people of Maine, and we are proud to add Judy to NRCM’s list of Environmental Award winners.”
Judy, an NRCM member for 25 years, grew up in the Bangor area along the Kenduskeag River and began making her long crusade for the land, water, and wildlife of the region in 1987, when she was hired to run Maine Audubon’s “Secrets of the Forest” program for school children. Along with her fellow volunteers in the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon, Judy helped establish the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, serving as its director from 1997 to 2009.
Although busy with family, writing, travel, and teaching, Judy was dedicated to efforts to conserve and restore important natural features in the Penobscot Valley. She played an important role in the campaign to project the Penjajawoc Marsh from development. For decades, Judy spoke in fierce defense of the Penobscot River and understood the tremendous ecological benefits of reopening more 1,000 miles of the watershed to Atlantic salmon and other native sea-run fish. Judy advocated for the project at public meetings and invited the staff of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust to participate in numerous events at Fields Pond.
In 2009, Judy was honored by the National Women’s History Project as one of 100 women who showed exceptional vision and leadership in environmental protection. Other honorees include Rachel Carson, Lois Gibbs, Jane Goodall, and Dana Meadows.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine presented its Environmental Award at the organization’s annual meeting on Friday, September 23, to Judy’s brother and former NRCM board member Zip Kellogg, who accepted it on behalf of Judy’s family, many members of which were present. NRCM gives the award each year to individuals who have made a real difference at the local, regional, or state level in the protection of Maine’s environment.
At the meeting, Judy’s work was also acknowledged by Senator George Mitchell, keynote speaker at the NRCM event. Senator Mitchell praised Judy’s hard work and dedication to making the world a better place.
FULL CITATION
Judy Kellogg Markowsky
2011 NRCM Environmental Award for Lifetime Achievement
for her lifetime contributions as a conservationist and environmental educator,
and for her passionate work to protect the Penobscot River watershed.
Juliet “Judy” Kellogg Markowsky grew up in the Bangor area along the Kenduskeag River. She embraced the natural world–a passion she shared with her family and friends and with thousands of students of all ages. Judy was an environmental educator, hired by Maine Audubon in 1987 to run its “Secrets of the Forest” program for school children. She opened students’s eyes to the birds, insects, plants, and small creatures that live in the Penobscot watershed.
Along with her fellow volunteers in the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon, Judy helped to establish the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden. She was its founding director, serving in that role from 1997 to 2009.
Throughout the years, Judy juggled family, writing, travel, and teaching. She also supported efforts to conserve and restore important natural features in the Penobscot Valley. Judy played an important role in the campaign to project the Penjajawoc Marsh from development.
Judy was a member of NRCM for 25 years, joining our organization about the same time that her younger brother Zip served on NRCM’s Board of Directors. But it was many years later, after Maine Audubon and NRCM became partners in the Penobscot River Restoration Project, that our paths crossed regularly. For decades, Judy had spoken in fierce defense of the Penobscot River, and she understood the tremendous ecological benefits of reopening more 1,000 miles of the watershed to Atlantic salmon and other native sea-run fish. Judy advocated for the project at public meetings and invited the staff of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust to participate in numerous events at Fields Pond.
In 2009, Judy was honored by the National Women’s History Project as one of 100 women who showed exceptional vision and leadership in environmental protection. Other honorees include Rachel Carson, Lois Gibbs, Jane Goodall, and Dana Meadows. Judy’s place on that list is well deserved, and we are proud to add Judy to NRCM’s list of Environmental Award winners.
