DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN HONORED TO PRESENT TAMARA WOODBURY WITH VISION AND LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION AWARD AT CONSERVATION CELEBRATION LUNCHEON
January 30, 2018Phoenix, AZ ( Jan. 11, 2018) Desert Botanical Garden is honored to announce Tamara Woodbury as the recipient of its 2nd Annual Award for Vision and Leadership in Conservation. The award honors extraordinary individuals for their significant and enduring contributions to forwarding conservation in the Sonoran Desert.
The Award will be presented at the Garden’s annual Conservation Celebration luncheon to benefit its Central Arizona Conservation Alliance initiative.
As CEO of the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC), Tamara Woodbury has been pivotal in transforming this large nonprofit by abandoning the traditional organizational structure and fostering the leadership abilities of each staff member and thousands of volunteers. Her leadership has resulted in unprecedented growth in services and resources, bringing national recognition and research interest to the organization and community. In 2017, GSACPC opened their new $18 million campus in South Phoenix: The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain. The campus was designed to honor the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and remains true to the Girl Scout values of protecting the environment and using resources wisely. Outdoor education and adventure are one of the four focus areas of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. GSACPC runs three other camps in the Prescott and Payson areas where hundreds of Arizona girls have had their first outdoor camping experiences.
“I believe magic happens when people are held in nature,” says Woodbury. “So much of our lives are transactional and mechanistic. Nature pulls the humanity out of us, so I am very honored to receive this award.”
“Under Tamara’s leadership there are so many examples of how she has been an advocate and leader for teaching children about nature and the importance of appreciating and conserving the environment, she truly embodies the spirit of this award and we are thrilled to honor her,” says Ken Schutz, executive director at Desert Botanical Garden.
In 2017, Tamara oversaw the concept, fundraising, design and programming for the Bob and Renee Parsons Center for Girls and Women at the 1.5-acre Camp South Mountain. The new center honors the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and remains true to the Girl Scout values of protecting the environment and using resources wisely. It is both a demonstration and inspiration to the power of conservation for the girls who come there for a variety of programs. The center serves underserved girls who might never have the opportunity to experience and appreciate the outdoors. Tamara also has collaborated with Student Conservation Association (SCA). On work to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. The collaboration elevates outdoor and conservation activities for Girl Scouts.
In addition to the award ceremony, the luncheon will feature National Geographic Explorer, environmentalist and educator, Juan Martinez. Juan is a galvanizing force encouraging youth leadership in nature and conservation. A proud product of South Central Los Angeles, Juan is the Children and Nature Network’s director of leadership development and the Natural Leaders initiative, a network of diverse young leaders working to increase equitable access to nature in their communities.
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Desert Botanical Garden, Dorrance Hall
1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008
COST: Individual Tickets – $150
Tables of 10 – $1,500
Corporate Sponsorships Available
INFO: For tickets or information, contact Darcy Hill at 480 481.8160 or dmhill@dbg.org.
About Tamara Woodbury
Tamara Woodbury has spent her entire career creating the conditions for personal and organizational transformation. Her work in integrated leadership has brought new depth and possibilities in preparing youth and adults for leadership that is sourced from an inner authority and authenticity. She has almost 30 years of professional leadership experience in social sector organizations and has served as a facilitator, trainer and public speaker at many local and national gatherings.
About Juan Martinez
Juan was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles where he directed the Sierra Club’s first environmental justice youth leadership academy. Today, Juan leads the Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders initiative, a network of diverse young leaders working to increase equitable access to nature in their communities. As an ambassador for The North Face, National Geographic Explorer, and TED speaker, Juan travels across the nation empowering young people to explore and advocate for nature in their communities.
About Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA)
Launched in 2012 by Desert Botanical Garden, the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) unites a network of land managers, scientists, planners, policy makers, educators, community members, and conservation-based non-profit organizations to develop, align and elevate efforts to conserve and enhance open space in the Phoenix metropolitan region. Comprised of more than 60 partnering organizations, CAZCA’s vision is a sustainable preserve system that supports healthy ecosystems and provides beautiful, safe open spaces for healthy, vibrant communities. For more information about CAZCA, visit mymountainparks.org
About Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Southwest, featuring 50,000 plants from across the world. The Garden allows visitors to experience the beauty of the desert like never before. For 78 years, the Garden’s commitment to the community is to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition and conservation of desert plants of the world with emphasis on the Southwestern United States.
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