Doug Hulmes, M.S.
Professor of Environmental Studies and Education
Doug's teaching integrates natural sciences with historical and cultural perspectives that illustrate how people's attitudes toward nature influence ecological sustainability. He helped design the College's environmental education curriculum. Doug has received numerous awards, including the 1990 National Wilderness Education Award, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service; the Educator of the Year and President's Appreciation awards from the Arizona Environmental Education Association in 1994; and the City of Prescott Earth Day Award in 2003. Recognized for his portrayal of John Muir, Doug was invited to perform for the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in Washington, D.C., in 2004.
"I am interested in how cultures relate to nature, and teach classes in Mexico, Scotland, and Norway. I am dedicated to instilling a sense of compassion, wonder, and responsibility toward life and the environment through the study of nature and ecology."
Biographical Sketch
After receiving his masters, Doug gained invaluable knowledge and experience working as a park ranger and interpretive naturalist at Canyonlands National Park. He returned to Prescott College in 1978 to help administer a Youth Conservation Corps program and also assumed responsibilities of teaching in the Environmental Studies program, where he designed the program emphasis in Environmental Education. Over the past 30 years he has worked on numerous environmental issues including the 1984 and 1990 Arizona Wilderness Bills, and has been a member of the board of directors of the Arizona Wilderness Coalition for many years. In 1990 Doug was the co-recipient of the National Wilderness Education Award sponsored by the U. S. Forest Service and the Izaac Walton League. During the fall of 1991, Doug spent his sabbatical in Norway teaching at Olavskolen Folkehøgskole, where he assisted as an instructor in Friluftsliv (free air living), and helped to incorporate ecological awareness. In 1994 Doug received the Educator of the Year Award and the President's Appreciation Award from the Arizona Association for Learning in and About the Environment (A.A.L.E.). In 1996 Doug was a guest Professor at Telemark College where he instructed in Norway’s first interdisciplinary environmental studies program. Since 1992 Doug began performing John Muir under contract with the Arizona Humanities Council. In May of 1998, he received an award for outstanding presenter at the National Wilderness Rangers Conference. Doug was a keynote speaker at the Arizona Ecumenical Conference: Caring for Creation, held in April of 2003. In 2004, Doug was invited to perform John Muir at the 40 year celebration of the Wilderness Act in Washington D.C. Most recently, Doug performed John Muir at the American/International School in Paris, France, and also for the United Methodists Leadership Conference in Santa Cruz, California. He was a co-recipient of a More Kids in the Woods grant sponsored by the National Forest Service. He is presently researching the mythology, folklore, and traditions of Sacred Trees of Norway and Sweden, as examples of mythopoetic traditions that encourage moral and ethical regard towards nature.
Education
EducationEducation and Environmental Studies
M.S., George Williams College, Environmental Education and Administration, cum laude, 1976; B.A., Prescott College, Environmental Sciences, 1974.
Research
ResearchSacred Trees of Norway and Sweden
Publications
PublicationsFrom Tompte Wisdom to Friluftsliv: Scandinavian Perspectives of Nature. Chapter in Nature First, Ed., Bob Henderson and Nils Vikander.
Sacred Trees of Norway and Sweden: A Friluftsliv Quest.
An Autoethnographic Exploration of Norway: Nature and Culture
Awards
Awards1990 National Wilderness Education Award, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service; the Educator of the Year and President's Appreciation awards from the Arizona Environmental Education Association in 1994;
2003, the City of Prescott Earth Day Award
2004: Doug was invited to perform John Muir for the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in Washington, D.C.
2013: SNAP Award from the Journal of Sustainability Education