Join us in congratulating Eli Nixon as our 2025 Environmental Educator of the Year! The RIEEA Environmental Education Awards recognizes those who exemplify dedication and commitment to outdoor learning and recreation.
Eli Nixon (they/them) grew up in South County and currently resides in Pawtucket, RI. Eli has been weaving together environmental education and creative expression for over three decades, starting as a South Kingstown High School student organizing the RI HOPE (High Schools Organized to Protect Earth) conference in 1992. Eli was raised with an early sense of ecological interconnectedness, a theme they now explore through puppet-making, performance, and “low-tech public spectaculah.” From leading organism appreciation flag workshops with Providence fifth graders to launching BLOODTIDE, a DIY holiday in homage to horseshoe crabs, Eli’s projects invite communities to engage deeply with local ecosystems and a survival tactic they call “Primordial Furturism.” You may have encountered the 450-million-year timeline of flora and fauna they stewarded the creation and installation of in the Providence Public Library Stairwell a few years ago. They’ve convened estuary potlucks, urban bike parades, and youth-centered programs on waterways, all grounded in equity, curiosity, and joy. Most recently they have been activating the Public Street Right-of-Way to the Bay with shade structure thatching, clay bird-building, and windsock flying.
Join RIEEA as we recognize and celebrate the awardees at a ceremony on Thursday, October 9, 6:00-8:00pm, at the Save The Bay Center in Providence. There will be lite fare served by a local caterer; open bar with local wine, beer, and soft drinks; live music; and a short program in which the winners will accept their awards.
***Tickets are on a sliding scale to ensure everyone can access the event.