The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. (AAZK) is the administering organization of the Lee Houts Excellence in Enrichment (LHEE) Award presented by the AAZK Awards Committee. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding keeper-initiated contributions to the art and science of environmental enrichment. It is hoped that recognition of outstanding efforts by keepers to improve animal care and welfare through environmental enrichment will provide incentive to keepers to continue to be leaders in this important endeavor.

The Lee Houts Excellence in Enrichment was established in 2001 by the AAZK Enrichment Committee. Lee Houts proposed the award to the AAZK Board of Directors. The award was renamed in Lee’s memory, and to honor her many contributions to the field of enrichment, following her death in 2005. The award is presented at the annual AAZK National Conference.

Qualifications

• The nominee may be an individual, group, project or program in any North American zoo, aquarium, or related facility that has improved the well-being of an animal or group of animals through outstanding keeper-initiated enrichment techniques.
• Nominees must have excelled in one or more of the following categories:
  • Innovative techniques developed, implemented and evaluated.
  • Creative fundraising efforts implemented which increased the availability of enrichment items for staff to utilize.
  • Motivation of staff, volunteers and peers through development of an enrichment infrastructure that increased participation in in-house programs or disseminated information to the zoo community to advance the art and science of environmental enrichment.
  • The nominee must be nominated by a keeper.

  Nomination Procedure

  1. List name of keeper(s) who initiated the enrichment, institution’s name, address, phone and Director.
  2. List and document outstanding achievements in one or more of the categories listed under qualifications. Verification of these facts must be signed by the zoo director, curator, or immediate supervisor of the nominee.
  3. The deadline for nominations is MAY 1st of each year.

  Selection Procedure:

  The Awards and Enrichment Committees will independently review each nominee.

Download nomination form in MS Word format

Download nomination form in Adobe pdf format