Submitted by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans.

How do trees promote protecting the Earth? By handing out leaflets! How do islanders do it? By handing out the Finnies! It’s that time of year again…when we recognize those individuals, educators, and businesses who have created or maintained a commitment to protecting the land and sea with a Finnie!

It might be award season, but the Oscars and Grammys have nothing on the Finnies. Know someone who’s the Taylor Swift of stewardship? Nominate them for a Good Steward Award! The categories aren’t Best Actor or Picture, but rather Youth, Individual, Educator and Business.

Since 2008, the Good Steward Awards, affectionately known as “Finnies,” have been sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans in recognition of individuals, families, teachers, students and businesses who are not conservation professionals and who have shown long-term dedication to preserving the land and sea of the San Juan archipelago in their daily lives.

Award recipients will be presented with large carved “Finnies,” locally handcrafted fish-shaped creations. Award presentations will be in April, as the Islands celebrate Earth Day.

Submit nominations here: www.stewardshipsanjuans.org/good-steward-awards. Nominations are due by March 31!