A primary architect of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program, founder of the Appalachian Laboratory, and an outstanding educator of teachers in the environmental and outdoor education programs within the public school systems of Maryland, Don Emerson was a pioneer in conservation education in Maryland.

He began his conservation education work by creating the first nature trail in Allegany County at the Mt. Savage School site. In addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in natural resource conservation at Frostburg State University, Professor Emerson spent his summers offering teaching workshops on conservation education at the University of Maryland, College Park and Western Maryland College.

Professor Emerson received the 1991 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award for the many accomplishments throughout his career that have promoted environmental education efforts.