Pictured L to R: Assistant Park Manager Jacob Bennett, Friends of MacArthur Beach CEO Veronica Frehm, Environmental Champion award winner Benji Studt, Park Manager Andy Flanner
North Palm Beach, FL (March 13, 2024) – The 2024 John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Environmental Champion Award was presented to Benji Studt, Public Outreach Supervisor at Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM), at Nature Fest, the park’s annual outdoor festival, which took place on March 9, 2024. The Jr. Environmental Champion was awarded to 16-year-old Beau Kimler. The Environmental Champion and Jr. Environmental Champion Awards are presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards the preservation or betterment of Florida’s natural environment.
Benji leads ERM’s Outreach and Science Communication team with the goal of inspiring real connections between the residents and visitors of the Palm Beaches, and the incredible public lands system that makes this area so special like John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. His passion shows up on camera through many different appearances on shows like “Wild Palm Beaches,” “Hooked on the Palm Beaches,” “On the Town with Frank Licari” and “Travels and Traditions with Burt Wolf.” Through his role at ERM he has introduced thousands of visitors, students, and local residents to Palm Beach County’s only state park.
“Benji Studt is an incredible advocate for the natural areas in Palm Beach County,” says Veronica Frehm, CEO of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. “His voice and his work amplify our mission to preserve, restore, and interpret the natural and cultural assets of the Park. We share a common goal to foster environmental stewardship and engage the community to create positive connections with our natural world so they can better protect it. We are honored to recognize him as our 2024 Environmental Champion.”
The 2024 Jr. Environmental Champion, Beau Kimler, has volunteered with the MacArthur Beach State Park Citizen Science Nest Excavation Team for five years. On this team, trained volunteers and rangers excavate loggerhead sea turtle nests to determine nest productivity. Excavation includes digging up the nest after the turtle eggs have hatched and conducting an inventory of hatched/unhatched eggs as well as evidence of hatchling mortality. Beau is the youngest member of this volunteer team and has dedicated over 50 hours to assisting our sea turtle research.
“We are so grateful to have had Beau as a part of our Citizen Science Nest Excavation program. At just 16, Beau is our only youth member of this volunteer research team! We are happy to recognize his dedication to sea turtle conservation efforts at our Park,” said Alaina Miller, Park Services Specialist.
About The Awards:
The Environmental Champion annual award honors an individual who has made exceptional contributions towards the preservation or betterment of the natural environment of Palm Beach County and/or the state of Florida. This contribution can be made through scientific research at any academic level, environmental activism, education, or personal dedication to any manner of environmental subject, theme or issue. Any environmental organization or individual may make a nomination. We accept both youth and adult nominations. The nominations are then voted on by the Nature Fest Steering Committee and the award is presented at a ceremony during Nature Fest.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach County’s only state park, is situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The Park is made up of 436 acres of pristine coastal land and contains four different communities or habitats including seven species of plants and 22 species of animals on the endangered or threatened list. For more information about MacArthur Beach State Park visit, macarthurbeach.org.
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