Ed Day, Rockland County Executive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2018
Contact: John Lyon (845) 638-5645
New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day presented the County Executive's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award to New City resident Laurie Seeman. For nearly 2 decades Laurie Seeman has been advocating for Rockland's environment and educating our youth about how they can help.
In 2002 Laurie founded the not-for-profit Strawtown Studio. Creating place-based art and science programming that serves as a new model in environmental learning and stewardship for youth and families. She has found an innovative way to bring children, community, nature and art together. Strawtown's Nature-Connected teaching method is a sensory approach to learning which helps students develop a love for nature and see themselves as a part of it.
"I want to thank Laurie for developing and nurturing the next generation of environmental advocates in Rockland," said County Executive Day. "Preserving our beautiful county for future generations is something my administration takes very seriously."
Inspired by her work outdoors with children, in 2007, Laurie
began to directly advocate for the environment, becoming a water advocate on the Rockland Water Coalition and opposing the proposed desalination plant at Haverstraw Bay on the Hudson River. Her tireless work succeeded in the halt of the
desalination plant and awarded the Rockland Water Coalition the 2015 EPA Environmental Champion Award.
In 2010 Laurie founded the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance, a community action group committed to promoting environmental awareness, partnerships and practices that restore and preserve the health of the Sparkill Creek from its headwaters on Clausland Mountain to its confluence with the Hudson River in the Piermont Marsh.
"Laurie is a true advocate, one who believes in a top to bottom approach; cooperating and finding common ground with anyone interested in our environment," said Day. "Her ability to build bridges and bring people together is remarkable."
Laurie Seeman was named the 2018 County Executive Outstanding Environmental Volunteer.
A pink dogwood tree was planted in her honor at Kennedy Dells County Park.
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