CANSCAIP Members

Judith Hill Benson

Author

1048 Spadina Cr. E.
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 3H7
Phone: (306) 653-4339
Email: jg.benson@shaw.ca
Web: www.lights.com/cgi-bin/saskwrites/search

Born: September 12, 1942. Joliet, Illinois
Married 30 years to Geoff; two children; three grandchildren.

Biography

Judith studied at The University of Illinois, The University of Michigan (Honors BA in Education), University of Manchester, England (grad studies) and The University of Sask (Diploma in Education of Exceptional Children), plus courses in writing and English at U of S. Her 25 year school teaching career began in Manchester and ended in Saskatoon. After retiring in 2002, Judith devoted more time to her volunteer organizations in the field of Environmental Education: SOS Elms and SOEEA (SK Outdoor and Environmental Educ. Assn.) Interests are writing, commiserating with other writers, singing in the University Community Choir, camping, hiking, reading, jazz, crosswords, cats, Scrabble, visiting granddaughters and family.

Published Works

Books (Early chapter)

The Noise in Grandma's Attic (ISBN 1-895836-55-7), Hodgepog Books, 1998, reprinted 2002, gr. 2. Butterfly Gardens (ISBN 1-895836-71-9) Hodgepog Books, 1999, gr. 4.

Stories and features

“Something to Crow About” KNOW magazine (2007); "Emily's (Hat) Trick", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (Jan 27, 02) for Canadian Literacy Week feature.

Articles

In Envisage “Ten Reasons to Attend a Winter Colony” (Jul/Aug ’06) “Mystery Readers Workshop” (2007) (Treehouse Parents Magazine, "Winter’s for the Birds", (Winter 2003). Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (Nov. 4, 02) "Career Planning for Teens" for Canada Career Week feature; United Church Observer, "Making a Musical Sensation" (June 2001); Blue Jay Magazine "The Other Mewasin Trail" Green Teacher Magazine "School Yard Enhancement: Butterfly Gardens" and "Protecting Our Urban Forests" (Winter 1996-97) Poetry: Blue Jay Magazine, "Grain Exchange" (June 1996) Grain, "Sky" (Winter, 1988); Cahoots (2007); Educational Materials: "Elm PI (Private Investigator) Journal" and interactive school program. 1996, 2000 printed with funding from SOEEA; reprinted with funding from SOS Elms Coalition 2004.

Edited: Saskatoon Natural Grasslands Ecological Guide 2005.

Assisted Editing: Teaching Green, The Elementary Years K-5 (2003)

Recorded:

"Janet" CBC Radio One, Saskatchewan Voices (2000) "Fishing Story" CBC Radio One, Morningside (1995); "Ernie Coombs" CBC Radio One (20 ); "Dutch Elm Disease Control", "Elm Firewood", Public Service Announcement scripts (PSA's) for SOS Elms Coalition (2003) "Saskatchewan Pioneers" for cable television 1984. Wrote, Directed, Narrated "Saskatoon's American Elms: A Legacy for the People and the Planet" 21 minutes. April 2007)

Performances

Author readings, sometimes with puppets, always with props, throughout Saskatchewan, plus Edmonton, Alberta; Plainfield, Illinois; Klamath Falls, Oregon; Bellingham, Washington; Saline and Royal Oak, Michigan.

Awards

For Volunteer and Educational work in environmental settings, Meewasin Valley Authority Conservation Award (1995); "Young Writers Programs" Hilroy Fellowship for Innovative Teaching (1990); Bernie Melanson Environmental Education Award (2005).

Other Memberships

Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Children's Writers Round Robin, CANSCAIP, SOEEA. On Board of Directors: Green Teacher Magazine, SOS Elms Coalition, Meewasin Valley Authority Education Advisory Committee, Saskatoon Nature Society, Friends of the Sask. River Valley, Grandmothers4Grandmothers, Saskatoon Chapter.

Available For

Storytelling with puppets, author panels, author readings, book reviews, workshops on setting up classroom young authors programs, speaking about the writing process; including conservation themes into writing.


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