2020 WBFN Education / Scholarship Awards
2019 WBFN Scholarship Awards
Emma Zoldy Receives WBFN Scholarship Award
Karen Drew presented Emma Zoldy with a $ 1000.00 scholarship from Willow Beach Field Naturalists at the annual awards presentation at Cobourg Collegiate Institute on June 26, 2019. Emma has served on the C.C.I. Environment Club for four years and has been active in many school and community environmental activities . In 2016 and 2017 Emma attended the Ontario Nature Youth Summit in Orillia as well as being a member of C.C.I’s Student Council. She is currently a member of Sustainable Cobourg and has received this year’s Distinguished Award for the Environment at the Town of Cobourg Civic Awards. She plans to attend Queens University this year to study kinesiology.
Thomas Burgess Receives WBFN Scholarship Award
Frank Godfrey presented a $1000.00 scholarship award on behalf of Willow Beach Field Naturalists to Thomas Burgess at the awards ceremony for the graduating class of St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School on Thursday, June 27, 2019. Thomas earned high honours in each of his four years at SMCSS. He received the Award of Excellence in the school’s “AAA Achievement Award” level, as well as achieving Bronze, Silver, and Gold in the international “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program”. Thomas will be studying Conservation Biology at Trent University.
2019 WBFN Education Awards
Port Hope High School Environmental Club: Back row: Ron MacDonald (principal), Mackenzie Cuthbert (coop student), Abbey Morrison (Environment Minister), Sein Kim, Molly Klintworth (Trent university student teacher) front row Tim Tottenham (President – WBFN) and Krista Coughler (teacher) 
Stockdale Public School Intermediate students receiving Willow Beach Field Naturalist Education Award: Emma, Rhys, Alyssa, Stephanie, Kaleb and Chris. They are supported by Principal, Ms. Van Egmond and parent, Ms. Navrot. 
St. Mary’s Elementary, Campbellford, The Green Team with Ms. Gerelus and Ms. Hislop 
Northumberland Christian School, Ms. Van Barneveld and the dedicated Environmental Club 
Cobourg Collegiate Institute, Environmental Club: Ms. Drew, Ms. Oster, Courtney, Lauren, Tyson, Kaitlyn, Emma and Warren
WBFN has operated a number of different education award programs over the years to foster the interests of young people in the natural world and enhance their knowledge of the environment. In December 2003 the WBFN Executive enacted a program whereby local Port Hope and Cobourg elementary and secondary schools could apply for up to $250 for a nature-based project. Important changes were made in 2008 expanding our range of schools to include all of Northumberland County and increasing the number of $250 awards to three from two.
Successful Award Recipients since 2009
| Year | Schools | Where Funds Used |
| 2009 | Plainville PS | Bird house building workshop |
| 2009 | Notre Dame CES, Cobourg | Vegetable garden |
| 2009 | Camborne PS | Scientists in School program |
| 2010 | St. Mary’s CES, Campbellford | Reusable stainless water bottles |
| 2010 | Plainville PS | Naturalization of area adjacent school |
| 2010 | Notre Dame CES, Cobourg | Incubator to hatch chicks |
| 2011 | Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Centre and Alderville Black Oak Savanna Education program | Education programs |
| 2012 | Plainville PS | tree |
| 2013 | CDCI East High School | Environment Club – composting bins, field trip |
| 2014 | Dale Road Senior PS | Naturalization of yard |
| 2014 | CR Gummow PS | Naturalization of yard |
| 2014 | CDCI East High School | Water bottle refill centre |
| 2015 | Grafton PS | Grace Bowen memorial garden |
| 2016 | Cobourg Collegiate Institute HS | Learning and Life Skills class program on pollinators |
| 2016 | East Northumberland Secondary School | Keynote speaker for Aboriginal Awareness program |
| 2016 | Northumberland Christian School | Outdoor theatre space, classroom and aboriginal awareness location |
| 2017 | Spring Valley PS | Butterfly garden |
| 2017 | Roseneath Centennial PS | Outdoor education space with bird feeders and seed |
| 2017 | CR Gummow PS | Monarch waystation |
| 2018 | Port Hope HS | Bee Friendly project |
| 2018 | St. Mary Grafton Catholic Elementary | Butterfly, frog and bee houses |
| 2018 | Northumberland Montessori school | Native plant garden |
- 2019
- Cobourg Collegiate Institute: Designing and building recycle bins, education and follow-up waste audit
- Stockdale Public School: ‘Greening Our School Grounds’ with a living willow play structure
- Northumberland Christian School: last stage of a three-year project to establish a Black Oak Savanna habitat on the school grounds
- St. Mary’s Elementary, Campbellford: purchase materials, seeds and soil for a new garden
- Port Hope High School: Community Organic Garden project
- 2018
- Port Hope High School: Bee friendly project
- St. Mary Grafton Catholic Elementary: Butterfly, frog and bee houses
- Northumberland Montessori School: Native plant garden
