Tuesday, March 12, 2024

NCDEQ Hosts Local Middle School Students for 14th Annual Statewide Students@Work℠ Program

The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs recently hosted Moore Square Magnet Middle School 7th Grade for the 2024 Students@Work℠ Month. The Students@Work℠ program serves a critical role in our state's work-based learning efforts by helping students explore potential careers and experience positive workplace environments. 

Each March, Students@Work℠ connects hundreds of North Carolina businesses, organizations and agencies with thousands of students statewide. Throughout the month, students interact directly with representatives from various jobs and careers, take part in worksite visits or engage in learning activities to explore a variety of career opportunities. The program is a joint initiative between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Governor Roy Cooper has also proclaimed March as Students@Work℠ Month.

“DEQ looks forward to welcoming the students from Moore Square each year, and it is an honor to be  part of the Students@Work℠ program. This is also an opportunity for our staff to provide activities for the students and resources for their teachers that support their studies in science and the environment. We hope this enhances their appreciation for North Carolina's natural environment and inspires some of them to enter careers in the environmental and STEM fields," noted DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. 

Secretary Biser fields some great questions from the Moore Square Magnet Middle School students. 

During their visit, students toured the DEQ building and learned about the sustainable design features of the downtown Raleigh Green Square complex. They also got an introduction to some of the environmental science used by employees of the department in activities led by Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach, Division of Energy, Land and Mineral Resources; Rebecca Coppa, State Sedimentation and Education Engineer, Division of Energy, Land and Mineral Resources; Brittany Hall, Environmental Specialist, Division of Air Quality; Janina Millis, Community Engagement, Education and Outreach Specialist, Division of Air Quality; Ella Raff, Environmental Chemist, Division of Air Quality and Laura McCoy, Environmental Specialist, Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service Recycling Programs.

Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach, shows students some of the amazing rocks, minerals and even fossils that can be found in downtown Raleigh building facades. 

The students ended their day by participating in a career panels with DEQ employees, including Dr. Tim Ellis, Quantitative Ecologist, Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership; Ella Raff, Environmental Chemist, Division of Air Quality; Steven Rice, Environmental Specialist II, Division of Air Quality; Alyssa Wright, DEQ Assistant General Counsel; Jeff Horton, Western Property Specialist, Division of Mitigation Services and Sara Kreuser, Meteorologist, Division of Air Quality.

Students asked the panel about their careers, their career paths, and challenges for their profession. The DEQ employees gave helpful advice for how to students can connect their passions and interests with potential careers and how students can begin to develop the qualifications necessary for working in STEM fields through internships, job shadowing and other opportunities.

For more information about the Department's participation in Students@Work℠ Month, contact the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs at 919-707-8125. For more information about NCBCE, visit ncbce.org.



Thursday, February 15, 2024

Educator Spotlight: Will Badger

Will Badger, a college instructor and education consultant with Akademeia Tutorial Consultancy, recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. “Much of my teaching involves wilderness literature and eco-criticism, and I felt that earning my certification could help me become a better naturalist and a better teacher of students at all levels.” In his personal time, Will enjoys outdoor activities from hiking and camping to prospecting.

Will says his favorite part of earning his environmental education certification was having a “formally informal” way to connect with environmental literacy during the difficult days of the pandemic. "Even when I was ensconced in my flat feeling relatively disconnected both from nature and my fellow humans, I could look forward to learning online about salamander identification and habitats...it was a wonderful release. Actually, that lifeline may be only my second-favorite part of certification. My favorite was meeting a diverse cohort of fellow environmental educators, in person and online!”

When asked about a certification experience that stood out for him, Will says his favorite lesson was part of the It’s Our Water workshop coordinated through the Division of Water Resources in the Department of Environmental Quality. “The workshop not only offered several useful classroom activities and strategies, but also had an in-stream component that helped me to get to know one of my local waterways. I've always loved playing in creeks, and this module felt like educative play.


For his community partnership project, Will began a nature journaling group. “I founded a group called Triangle Nature Journalling (yep, it used the British spelling with two L's -- I did grad school in the UK, and that usage slipped in without my noticing). We had a small but hardy cohort of journalers, who met at Umstead Park to wander, chat, and write and draw our encounters with nature.” Will says although the group meeting decreased as the pandemic restrictions eased, most of the members are still journaling. “Even if the group was just a way for us to make it through a trying time by connecting to nature, our thoughts, and one another, it was worth it.”

Will says the program changed his approach to teaching, especially the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education workshop. “I appreciated the dedication and creativity of my methods workshop facilitators. They helped me to see state and national standards not as a kind of externally imposed straitjacket, but as a common language that could be used to access funding and promote wider participation in environmental education programs. I plan to take this perspective forward in my teaching, now understanding that standards are a tool that needn't negatively impact pedagogical creativity.”

Will says that the program changed how he views environmental issues in many ways. “There are so many changes that I couldn't possibly express them all here. Perhaps the most important is a central tenet of environmental education that I encountered in my Basics of Environmental Education course several years ago: as environmental educators we are to share our passion for the environment and not any political take or bias. This is a liberating approach since it means that we can ideally connect to people of all backgrounds and help them engage with nature and the environment in life-changing and community-changing -- perhaps ultimately, planet-changing ways. Rather than offer our  audiences/students/colleagues solutions to environmental problems, we teach them how to educate themselves and think critically, so that they can develop solutions.”

Monday, February 12, 2024

Educator Spotlight: Jenifer Jay

Jenifer Jay, a Human Resource Specialist with the USDA Forest Service, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Jenifer was enrolled in the Central Carolinas Master Naturalist Program in Charlotte, which she says launched her into pursuing her Environmental Education Certification. “I volunteered at the McDowell Nature Preserve and presented environmental education programs during their summer day camps for elementary school children and also provided Smokey Bear programs including celebrating Smokey Bear's birthday!” In her free time, Jenifer and her husband enjoy walking, traveling, and spending time with all six of their grandchildren. They also spend a considerable amount of time spoiling their two dogs and three cats.

Jenifer says the program experience that stood out for her was her visit to Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. “This visit stands out for me because of the longleaf pine forest. The longleaf pine ecosystem is fascinating to me because of the diversity of species and the important role fire plays in preserving the ecosystem.”

Jenifer says her favorite part of the certification program was her community partnership project, “A Day in the Forest.”  Students from a local middle school came out to visit the Uwharrie Ranger District in Troy, NC for the day. They went on a two- and half-mile hike through the forest with forest personnel including a forestry technician, a forester, two archeologists, and a wildlife biologist. The hike included identifying and measuring trees; locating and identifying artifacts at an archeological site; and locating and identifying minerals found along the trail such as quartz. They searched for mollusks in a creek and then had a special surprise at the end of the trail by meeting and greeting Woodsy the Owl! “I gave a presentation on “Leave No Trace” principles and were shown how a fire torch is used by one of the firefighters for a prescribed burn! It certainly was a day to be remembered and our purpose was to engage and connect the students with the national forest and educate them on the different career paths they may want to begin charting towards a career in natural resources.”  The program was featured in the local paper, the Montgomery Herald.


When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Jenifer says she felt better prepared to teach. “As I progressed through the program, I noticed I was better prepared when I would present a program. My program outline was clearly defined, and I was adding more experimental exercises to my programs engaging students more through hands-on experiences.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I have been more concerned about environmental issues but most importantly, through the program, it has allowed me to be cognizant about my own attitudes and behaviors toward the environment. I am more empathetic towards people who are passionate about their environmental concerns. I also learned how to navigate through some tough questions that may arise in certain topics and be ready to address those questions.” 

A Day in the Forest at Uwharrie Ranger District

Source: Montgomery Herald Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Twenty sixth-graders from a local middle school learned about forest service careers and hiked with staff on the Uwharrie National Forest January 19. 

Wheatmore Middle School students and staff with Woodsie

Student Advocate Ashley Albertson, of Wheatmore Middle School in Trinity, called Uwharrie National Forest District Ranger Susan Miller this past fall to ask if some of her sixth-graders could come out to the Forest and “get off the pavement.” 

Albertson’s goal was to take the students out to not only have a fun day outdoors, but also to get to meet with Forest staff and learn about what different forest service jobs are really like. She wants her students of all ages to stay motivated to finish high school and learn more about careers that may not be your typical 9-5 office jobs. 

“That doesn’t work for everyone,” said Albertson, a statement which many people in the forest service can agree with. Many staff joke about “being ADD” and find they are more suited to hands on, outdoors work. So Uwharrie staff were happy to join the kids for a hike, connect them to the forest and hopefully inspire some in the next generation to be stewards of their public lands.

The Wheatmore Middle School students, three teachers, Alberston and nine Uwharrie staff hiked the 2.3-mile, long loop of the Denson’s Creek Trail. The trailhead is located behind the Uwharrie office on 789 Biscoe Rd. Throughout the hike, the group stopped for short discussions of the history, plants, timber and fire related information along the trail, giving the students an idea of what each department’s job duties might look like. Two archaeologists discussed evidence ofgold mining, the remains of settlers’ homes and Native American history in the area. The district biologist, fire engine captain and district ranger talked about timber stand management, the longleaf pine and the importance of implementing regular prescribed fires in our ecosystem. At the end of the hike, Woodsy Owl surprised the group, and our HR specialist discussed the importance of Woodsy Owl’s Leave No Trace message. 

After the hike, the group moved to the Forest’s work center, where the engine captain and a senior wildland firefighter showed kids the fire engine, some of our firefighting tools and how we safely conduct prescribed burns or respond to wildfires by burning a pile of leaves as an example. The firefighters put the leaf burn out using the engine’s hose and water supply. Next, the group met with the recreation staff, looked at different recreation and maintenance tools, and learned from staff about maintaining campgrounds and trails and working with visitors.

Finally, the group returned to the district office to receive goodie bags and check out some Native American artifacts, quartz crystals found on the forest, and our taxidermied fox squirrel and red cockaded woodpecker. Both the squirrel and the woodpecker are part of the longleaf pine forest habitat, their presence or lack thereof indicating the presence of good longleaf pine habitat. In the office, the kids met with our law enforcement officer, learning about safety in the forest, as well as visitor services and support services staff in order to learn about the kinds of jobs you can get involving both working with the public and managing internal and financial affairs. Many federal and state forest service jobs are in offices and are essential to keeping the forest operations running smoothly. Even those who may not want to be outside all day can apply their skills to jobs in the industry.

Suzanne Miller and Jenifer Jay

Additional info: For North Carolina National Forests HR specialist, and one of the A Day in the Forest event organizers, Jenifer Jay, creating and implementing the project went toward the completion of her North Carolina Environmental Educator’s License. She hopes to use her license to bring more educational opportunities, including programs such as A Day in the Forest, to people of all ages. 



Thursday, January 25, 2024

Educator Spotlight: Marguerite Bishop

Marguerite Bishop, an instructor at Gaston College recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Marguerite teaches general biology to science majors and non-majors. She also volunteers with local elementary schools to provide STEM-themed outreach.

Marguerite says that her favorite part of the certification program was visiting state parks with her family. “My kids were often tagging along when I was completing field experiences for my outdoor hours. We all have developed a greater love for salamanders, plants, the iNaturalist App and exploring through this process.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, she says it’s difficult to choose one. “All of the different experiences had value and have added to my knowledge of the natural world and how to introduce, teach and engage others with the world that surrounds them.”

For her community partnership project, she designed and installed a learning garden and outdoor classroom at Nashville Elementary School in Nash County. “I learned how to build a retaining wall and install fencing. I also gained an appreciation for a tractor and an auger so that postholes don't have to be hand dug. I think what made this project even more special is that it was accomplished during the beginning of COVID when everyone was so nervous and scared. It was great to have an outlet during this time that my kids could also help with to get us through a period of real uncertainty and feel like we were doing something good while living through this dark period.”

Marguerite says that participating in the program changed her approach to teaching. “As a biology instructor I often take my students outside and have them interact with the natural world to observe, question and analyze. Through this process I have learned about barriers that people might have to the outdoors and how to help guide students through these interactions to help make these experiences easier.”

She also says the certification changed the way she views environmental issues. “Through the EE certification program, I think about environmental issues with more hope. The program opened my eyes to a lot of people and programs that are trying to raise awareness of and mitigate the impact of environmental issues. I didn't know the community was so big before the certification program.”


The North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program is administered by the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in partnership with organizations and agencies across North Carolina. https://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification

 

Educator Spotlight: Miranda Norlin


Miranda is the summer camp director for The Learning Community School and an instructor with Muddy Sneakers and she recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening and milling wood on the sawmill that she and her wife recently purchased. Miranda grew up exploring the creeks, woodlands and fields of Western North Carolina and enjoys sharing the outdoors with other people. “I love exploring the outdoors with people of all ages to build curiosity and connection to the outdoors.”
Her favorite part of the certification program was the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Environmental Education training she took through Environmental Educators of NC (EENC) and applying what she learned to her teaching practice. Miranda says the UDL course she took as part of the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “The UDL course shifted how I plan and structure my day and teaching. As part of it I developed my "planner banner" which is a visual organizer tool to allow students to see the plan for the day and share their priorities and interests while still allowing for flexibility on the part of the educator.” For her community partnership project, Miranda worked with Shining Rock Classical Academy to plan a nature trail on their campus. She used a survey and conversations with teachers to address their goals and concerns. She scouted out possible trail routes and recommended key species that could be identified by the students. She also provided recommendations for how the teachers can use the trail to teach their students. Miranda is grateful to be part of the wonderful community of environmental educators in North Carolina and looks forward to continuing to work with and learn from them through NCEE and EENC offerings.

The North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program is administered by the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in partnership with organizations and agencies across North Carolina. https://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Educator Spotlight: Margot Lester

Margot Lester, CEO and owner of The Word Factory marketing agency, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. The Word Factory has been in operation for more than 30 years and provides messaging and strategy consulting and brand journalism services, corporate and individual writing training, and advocacy work for national brands, universities and nonprofits.

Margot is an avid woods walker and beach lover, stormwater geek, interpretative signage nerd and nature writer. “My vocation and avocation came together when I discovered I could teach what I know about communications, writing and advocacy in the context of nature, the environment and climate action. It's still kind of hard to believe how well they dovetail.”

When asked about her favorite part of the program, Margot says she has met terrific people through the program and has made many friends. She also “ really loved getting to visit parks and other facilities around the state, like Singletary State Park and Gorges State Park. It not only fed my interest in education and interpretation, but it deepened my connection to my home state and its incredible natural resources.”

Margot notes that one of the certification experiences that stood out for her was the workshop on frog calls with Becky Savage and Karen Clark of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. “Because I was driving all over North Carolina to get my site visits in, I could identify the herps in those areas. My visit to Gorges just happened to coincide with mountain chorus frog season. These little frogs have a seriously limited range in Clay and Cherokee Counties, and I was lucky enough to be staying with a friend right in the middle of their prime habitat. It was so cool to identify what we were hearing and to understand how rare the experience is for most people in the state.”

For her community partnership project, Margot created two nature journaling posters and a set of prompts for the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Williamson Preserve. One poster briefly reviews the benefits of being in nature and invites visitors to refocus their eyes, tune their ears and look for repeating patterns in nature. The other introduces visitors to Project Pando, a volunteer-driven farm that grows native trees that will be given for free to the public. “The project benefits public health by guiding visitors to slow down and immerse themselves further into nature, which enhances the mental and physical health benefits of being outside. The guided observations also create a connection to the preserve, explaining its role in native tree restoration. The posters inspire hikers who are curious about nature connection and journaling and may even motivate people to hit the trail to explore these activities and discover a new way to engage with the natural world.”

Margot says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. She says that the workshops provided by Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) on inclusion, cultural sensitivity and accessibility really influenced her teaching. “I now do a people and place acknowledgment before my programs and include resources from a much more diverse group of experts. I plan my outdoor sessions with mobility in mind and try to optimize my materials for accessibility readers. I'm also exploring the possibility of translating my advocacy, climate action and nature journaling content into Spanish.”

The certification had an impact on the way she views environmental issues, too. “Interacting with people at events and trainings made me realize the need for empathy and hope in our communications about environmental and climate issues. Not toxic optimism or glossing over the real issues but sharing the hard parts and then showing tangible acts -- big and small -- that have impact. That's where the hope comes in. Doing my own work on these two topics helped me see the vital role of storytelling and personal narrative to break down barriers, bridge gaps and move people to action.”

Monday, January 8, 2024

Abigail Fuesler, Graduate Student at Western Carolina, Completes Her NC Environmental Education Certification

Abigail Fuesler recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Abigail is the Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Brevard College, and a graduate student working on her M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education at Western Carolina University. Abigail serves on the Pisgah Area SORBA (Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association) Board of Directors and is also certified as a Leave No Trace Level 2 Trainer. In her personal time, she enjoys reading, puzzles, podcasts, road trips, game nights, mountain biking and canoeing. 

Abigail says her favorite part of earning her certification was the site visits. “The wonderful state parks in North Carolina have really innovative visitor centers, and I loved learning from experts about the topics they are passionate about.” She says the teaching component of the certification really stood out for her. “It was time consuming since I don’t have a classroom or a job that involves teaching regularly, but it is at the core of this certification.”

For her community partnership project, Abigail coordinated the 2022 Adventure Education Conference at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly which drew 200 people, mostly college students. The attendees could choose to attend workshops on topics including trail maintenance, AmeriCorps, careers in outdoor fields, spending time in nature to reduce stress and even more niche topics like how to become a camp director or how to through-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. “My hope is that the young people in attendance had an impactful experience that could change how they approach their career in the outdoors.”

Abigail says she takes more time to prepare for teaching after completing the program and she says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I see Leave No Trace, sustainability and having an environmental ethic as being inextricably connected to the everyday experiences of my life, like how I walk to work, pack my lunch or shopI look forward to using the skills and knowledge I learned through the program to encourage others to adopt environmentally minded practices in their day-to-day life."


Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Dana Miller, a Haywood County Middle School Teacher Recently Completed Her NC Environmental Education Certification

Dana Miller, a Haywood County middle school teacher recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. She says the program enriched her learning, made her a better educator and provided invaluable networking opportunities.

Dana is currently the STEM teacher for grades 6 through 8 at Canton Middle School. “I provide students with hands-on challenges that enrich their understanding of applied science and mathematics while sharpening their problem-solving and teamwork skills. I also serve as the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Specialist for our students by working with core teachers to differentiate instruction for gifted learners and teaching an elective course specifically for gifted learners. In my free time, I love cooking a good meal, reading in my hammock, hiking for a great view, listening to live music, and being with my loved ones, including my two pups, Montana and Cooper.”

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Dana says it was getting access to all sorts of great lessons she can do with her students and meeting a network of dedicated, talented environmental educators that inspires her to continue growing as a teacher.


As far as an experience in the program that really stood out for her, Dana says, “Seeing wolves in Yellowstone on the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Educators of Excellence Institute trip is hard to beat, but I think my community project was a turning point for me professionally. I needed to complete my project during the pandemic, so it offered me a unique experience to serve my community during a time of need. It pushed my creativity in a way that was both challenging and rewarding.”

For her community partnership project, Dana created an At-Home Adventure Kit program for upper elementary and middle school students in her community. The program provided participants with free boxes filled with instructions and materials for five to eight environmental education activities each month. The boxes helped serve students who were learning remotely during the pandemic and may not otherwise have had those hands-on learning experiences.



Dana said the program changed her approach to teaching. “I think participating in this program has equipped me with activities, lessons, and resources that I can use with learners of all abilities and ages. It has taught me that simple experiences in nature are where environmental literacy begins, so don't be afraid to take learners outside and to indulge their natural curiosity. Some of my favorite workshops were the NC Museum of Natural Sciences virtual programs. I learned so much about my own backyard and it made me realize how rich those experiences can be.”
The program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I have a better understanding of local environmental issues than I did before participating in the program. This program required some travel, which meant I got to experience different parts of the state and participate in place-based environmental education experiences.”

Monday, November 20, 2023

DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser Awards Environmental Stewardship Initiative Program Manager Yolanda Gibson with Environmental Education Certificate


Secretary Biser awarded Yolanda Gibson with her NC Environmental Education Certificate today. Yolanda started working on her certification while teaching environmental science and biology at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury. She recently took a position as a program manager with the Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) in DEQ’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service. As one of the program managers, she supports members of the ESI Program with sustainability initiatives.

Yolana enjoys hiking, exploring nature, baking, and challenging herself to find new ways to engage audiences through experiential learning and hands-on experiences. “I love revamping recipes for my daughter that has severe food allergies and spending time working at a local food pantry.”

Yolanda says her favorite part of earning her environmental education certification was attending workshops and meeting people with similar interests. “There were so many wonderful experiences, but attending the Swans, Bears and Wolves Workshop probably stood out the most. Opportunities to go out in the field and participate in hands-on experiences are rare; so, having access to this workshop was extremely beneficial. Although I have completed my certification, I am scheduled to attend the Coastal Conservation Workshop this August and cannot wait to go!”

“It is an honor to award Yolanda with her Environmental Education Certification,” said Secretary Biser. “Completing the program is a wonderful achievement and the added bonus is that she has joined the DEQ staff and brings her commitment to environmental education to her work with the Environmental Stewardship Initiative.”

For her community partnership project, Yolanda installed a native pollinator garden and small wildlife viewing station at Kensington Elementary School in Union County. She wanted to create an outdoor space for environmental education. “My vision was to create a green space within the school setting providing students with an area for learning, reflecting, and journaling. This project allows for engagement between important members of our community, our teachers, and students. The garden is a beacon for connectivity, becoming more environmentally conscious, and inspiration in expanding environmental awareness throughout the community. The garden provides a space where participants can glean ways to garden sustainably, providing immeasurable benefits to countless organisms and the environment. The school community members will benefit from a space that fosters inclusivity, decreases stress, and increased socialization opportunities.”


Yolanda says that the certification program changed the way she taught. “Having access to tools, resources, and opportunities to participate in hands-on learning has been instrumental in changing my approach to teaching. These educational aids allow for experiential learning events. I feel more comfortable with not ‘having all the answers,’ but still being able to facilitate programming that promotes inquiry-based learning.”

She also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “Discussing environmental topics can be depressing and sometimes it seems individual efforts are insignificant. Furthermore, there are no easy solutions to these daunting issues. Through my experiences with this program, I have witnessed how the smallest efforts are significant. Planting the pollinator garden took weeks to finish, but over that short period of time I could see so many benefits from one garden, one effort, one act.”

Yolanda says that her Environmental Education Certification will help her in her new position as she prepares for a lead trainer role to help companies increase their environmental stewardship efforts through the ESI Program.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Educator Spotlight: E.J. Dwigans

E.J. Dwigans, an Educational Ranger with the NC Forest Service at Holmes Educational State Forest in Hendersonville recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification.

E.J. helps manage the 235-acre property that includes educational exhibits as well as picnic and camping facilities in addition to providing public and school programming. “We educate students of all grade levels as well as the general public about a variety of nature related subjects including forest management, fire ecology, water quality, wildlife, and the history of our site going back to the 1930's.”

E.J. says his favorite part of the program was meeting other nonformal educators from across the state and learning from their experiences. “Listening to some of the limitations and challenges others face at their site has helped put some of the things I consider problems here at Holmes ESF into perspective.” He particularly enjoyed the overnight workshops such as the Investigating Your Environment and Project Learning Tree facilitator trainings. “I've made some great friends in the EE community by talking around a campfire after hours.”


For his community partnership project, E.J. rejuvenated an old nature trail at Atkinson Elementary School in Hendersonville to turn it into a tree identification trail. This was a large project that involved collaborating with the school to remove dead trees, removing invasive species, clearing the trail of overgrown vegetation, and laying gravel on the trail. E.J. says his main priority was to provide a tree ID guide along the trail focusing on ten species of trees. “I made ten wooden tree ID signs with numbers corresponding to the information on the trail guide. The signs include the common and scientific name of the species. From the trail, only the number is visible, and you flip the sign to see the name of the tree. The tree ID guide I provided to school staff includes information for identifying the ten trees on the trail.”

E.J. said the project was a continuation of an already great partnership between Atkinson Elementary School and Holmes Educational State Forest. “Although the school is close, field trips are not always an easy thing to initiate. With the newly restored Tree ID trail, school staff can expose students to environmental education within a brief period and without having to arrange buses for a trip off site. The project also turned out to be beneficial to the non-profit group Muddy Sneakers. After talking with their educators, they will now be using the trail and creek when they visit Atkinson for fifth grade education.”

E.J. said that no one at the school could tell him the name of the creek that flowed through the property and that the trail crossed over so he handmade a "Perry Creek" sign for the bridge crossing the creek and provided educational resources to school staff to help them teach students about their local watershed.

When asked if the program led to any changes in his approach to teaching, E.J. said, “Throughout the certification process I have continually added things to my skill set allowing me to reach my target audience more effectively. The leaders of every workshop I attended were great and it seemed like I would always pick up a new teaching method from one of the instructors that I had not thought of before.”

E.J. says the program also changed the way he views environmental issues. “I've advocated for environmental issues since I was a kid. If anything, this program has expanded my understanding of complex environmental issues and helped me think more realistically when it comes to solutions as opposed to reading about an issue and its suggested solutions without knowing anyone that is affected by the issue.”

Monday, September 11, 2023

Wake Teacher Earns NC Environmental Education Certification and Receives NCWF Environmental Educator of the Year Award

September is a big month for fifth grade teacher Terri McLeod. After several years at Kingwood Montessori STEM Magnet School, she's starting the new school year at Green Hope Elementary and can add the title North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator to her many educational accomplishments and adventures!

Terri also received another big honor this month--she was presented with the Environmental Educator of the Year award at the 59th Annual North Carolina Wildlife Federation Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet on September 9th.

As Terri's award nomination says, her "love for nature and sustainability, along with her incorporation of environmental education into the curriculum, has sparked a transformative and lasting impact, fostering a deep appreciation for science and the natural world among students from diverse backgrounds. Terri’s infectious enthusiasm and mantra of 'Science is everywhere' resonate throughout the school, igniting a love for learning and the environment."

That same "infectious enthusiasm" moved Terri to enroll in and complete the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program, a program administered by the Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. Lisa Tolley, program manager for the office  recognizes Terri’s dedication to providing hands-on, outdoor learning experiences for her students. “Terri’s enthusiasm for the environment and science and her love of learning is evident in her teaching and her many accomplishments. From working with the Museum of Natural Sciences to create natural habitat and outdoor learning spaces at her school to providing resources and professional development to other teachers, Terri exemplifies what it means to be an environmental educator.

Terri says the Spring in the Mountains Educator Trek to Purchase Knob with educators from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences was an incredible experience for her. So, it was fitting that her last workshop for her certification was a Ground Level Ozone training at Purchase Knob on her birthday.

Terri notes that her favorite part of the process was the people. " I loved meeting others who are passionate about the environment and with sharing this knowledge with others. I loved seeing all the different aspects of EE that others participated, like: municipal programs, informal educators, non-profits, government agency, parks, museums, camps, outreach programs and so much more. This wide variety was eye opening and exciting."

Terri notes that the program broadened her mind and breath of understanding of the different aspects of environmental science and environmental education. "Participating the the EE Certification Program helped me in so many ways, but most importantly it helped me take my approach from advocacy to education....I always knew this in theory but needed the help to bring it into practice."

One of Terri's favorite workshop experiences

Megan Davis from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences with Terri and students during construction of the schools UTOTES habitat, which served as Terri's project. 



Monday, August 28, 2023

Jennie Emmons, a high school teacher from Durham County recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.


Jennie has been a teacher for 12 years and next month she will be taking a position as an environmental specialist with the NC Department of Environmental Quality. “I love to learn, and I am always trying to learn something new. I am passionate about natural history, and I love to hike and identify every plant along the way. I also love to travel, I have lived in Puerto Rico and recently  traveled to Canada, Belize and Rome, Italy.”

Jennie says her favorite part of earning her certification is attending the Environmental Educators of North Carolina’s conference. When asked what certification experience stood out for her, she says it was a trip with her students. “Taking my students on hiking trips to the Eno River and having them dip net in our retention pond at the school for macroinvertebrates. I loved seeing them experience those things for the first time.”


For her community partnership project, Jennie worked with 5th grade students at Excelsior Classical Academy to write a Keep NC Beautiful Window of Opportunity Grant for a pollinator garden. The students were involved with all aspects of the project. “This project helped 5th graders learn more about pollinators and their needs and it also got them out of their comfort zone. They did research, planned engaging lessons, and presented those lessons to students of varying ages. Not only did students share this commitment and passion among their peers, but they also shared it with other grade levels and other adults. It carries on even today as I chat with them in the hallways about the work we did for this grant and how we can do other things to inspire our school community to value and care for our environment.” Jennie says the lesson about pollinators reached around 400 students from ages five to 10 years old. 



Jennie says the program changed her approach to teaching. “Students gain more by getting their hands on what they are learning, and it helps them build better connections to what they are studying. I also learned that it is ok to just let kids sit still in nature. Even high schoolers.”


Thursday, August 17, 2023

Educator Spotlight: Chelsie Bobbitt

Chelsie Bobbitt recently completed her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. Chelsie is the administrator and education coordinator for Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District. She has an associate degree in animal science and is currently a senior at NC A&T Greensboro working on her bachelor’s degree in agriculture professional services. Chelsie grew up on a beef cattle farm in the mountains of North Carolina and she shows beef cattle at the local and state level. In her personal time, she loves being outside on the farm and playing with her sweet puppy Benji.

Chelsie says her favorite part of earning her certification was exploring new places in North Carolina. “I enjoyed meeting new people that have the same goals as I do and making new friends that I can call and ask for advice.”


For her community partnership project, Chelsie created a community garden with grant support from AppHealthCare. While teaching at local schools, Chelsie realized that many of the students did not know where their food comes from. “This really opened my eyes because I live in a small farming town and I grew up on a cattle farm, so it is natural for me to know where food comes from, but many students had no idea. I came back to my office and did some digging on this problem and realized it was a bigger issue than I thought. I did some research to figure out what I could do to fix this issue, and this is how I came up with the community garden.”

Chelsie started her project by teaching students at three elementary schools about the life cycle of plants, what plants need to survive and how to grow food. She says when the community heard about the project, people started donating supplies. “I had several classes with 4-H kids in the garden and families would stop by and pick veggies, and whatever was left over, I would take it to the local food closet. I chose to put the garden in the middle of town next to the park because the park is a very popular place during the summer and if families are at the park, they can just walk right over to the garden without having to drive.”

In terms of her approach to teaching, Chelsie says the program helped her realize how important hands-on lessons can be when teaching. She says the program also changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “I never studied environmental issues before this program and now I think about them all the time. I look for ways I can help the environment by teaching others about local environmental issues.”  

Monday, August 7, 2023

DEQ Secretary Recognizes Liani Yirka, Education Program Coordinator at Sarah P. Duke Gardens


NC Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser visited Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham to award Liani Yirka with her North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate. 

Yirka is the education program coordinator for the gardens and in that role, she coordinates and provides outdoor nonformal environmental education programs and engagement opportunities for learners of all ages and abilities.  

Yirka is passionate about educational opportunities that are inclusive, comfortable, and welcoming to all abilities, languages, socio-economic status, and identities. She creates educational programs using universal design principles with this goal in mind. 

Secretary Biser and staff from the DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs enjoyed a tour of the native plant garden that overlooks a piedmont prairie habitat, a space that Liani often uses for teaching programs. They were also joined by Liani’s supervisor Kavanah Anderson, director of learning at the gardens.

Liani notes that at first, many visitors do not realize the significance of the biodiversity found in the native plant garden and prairie habitat because it doesn’t look like a traditional landscaped garden. For that reason, the space provides an opportunity to educate both children and adults about native plant populations and the indigenous people who care for them. 

Liani said that her favorite part of earning her certification was learning from, and with, other educators. “I deeply respect and admire others who have dedicated their career to advancing this field and to supporting both learners and other educators as they learn about the natural world. It has also been a real treat to visit environmental education centers across the state,” she says. She also notes how much she enjoyed learning from the playful pedagogy workshops offered through the NC Zoo. “Linda Kinney is a treasure to the NC Environmental Education community, and I have enjoyed embracing the child in me and learning with this perspective,” says Yirka.

Liani says the program changed her approach to teaching. “I now have the skills and joys of creating programs that are student-led, observation based, where I do not need to know all the facts because we can explore "what does it remind you of," and "what do you notice?" as a way of reaching and learning together. I have gained these skills and techniques through my participation in the environmental education certification program,” she says. 

In addition to many hours of professional development, the certification program requires a community partnership project. For her project, Liani collaborated with the Durham School of the Arts to provide monthly art-and-science connection programs for Occupational Course of Study students with Autism. “Each month students would connect to the natural world they encounter during other visits to Duke Gardens through an art project that increases their fine motor skills, listening and comprehension skills, ability to follow precise direction, and create artwork that they can showcase both at Duke Gardens during a public festival, and at school. The capstone of this 5-month project was a short video/photo montage shared with the Durham School of the Arts community that showcases the students’ projects at Duke Gardens, including a culminating mural that will be displayed in the Duke Gardens classroom for years to come,” says Yirka. 

“Liani is an example of the type of outstanding educator that we are fortunate to have in North Carolina. I’m honored to recognize her work in the field to make environmental education more inclusive for all North Carolinians,” says Secretary Biser.” 

Yirka plans to continue to advocate and work towards an environmental education community of practice that embraces intersectional identities and supports marginalized communities. I want environmental education to be inclusive to BIPOC communities, embrace environmental justice issues, and teach and learn with identities that are not the dominant narrative. I see so much progress on this front in our field and will continue to incorporate this into my own practice.”

Educator Spotlight - Chelsea (Cea) Flowers

Chelsea (Cea) Flowers recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. For the last four years, Cea has worked as a core field instructor/naturalist for Muddy Sneakers, a non-profit organization that partners with public schools to deliver high quality, hands-on outdoor science lessons that correspond to state standards. “It was an amazing experience to see students light up as they explored outdoors all while making connections to what they were learning in the classroom.”

In the summers, during the off-season, Cea wears a variety of hats. She taught an undergraduate class in public history, designed, and led a summer camp for a local non-profit community farm and worked on her own flora and fauna inspired pottery. She is currently seeking a new environmental education position, particularly in programming and advocacy.

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Cea says she can’t pick just one, but the Project Learning Tree Southern Forest and Climate Change workshop facilitated by Renee Strnad, with NCSU Extension Forestry is at the top of her list. “It had been a while since I'd done a carbon sequestration exercise! That was a big favorite since it's just this immensely important geological action that I think every single person should have the opportunity to learn more about! It's kind of a big deal and fascinating.”

Cea says she enjoyed every one of the hands-on workshops she attended. “I really appreciated the ones that explored the intersections of class, race, and gender within our environmental history so, for example, the Equity and the Environment workshop stood out. I also really loved workshops that focused on pedagogy and methodology like Methods of Teaching Environmental Education. The organization I was working with had a very diverse group of students, with varying levels of comfort in the outdoors, so that workshop was very useful. One thing that held true from every single workshop, whether it was Aquatic Wild, bat monitoring, or a methodologies class was how much community connection can be built. You’re meeting so many people with all these different backgrounds and dreams. You’re learning from other attendees about what’s happening across the state-programs, resources, educational centers, and projects. By engaging with this community, I’ve gathered a lot of inspiration and made some wonderful personal and professional relationships. Also, being following by an elk at dusk while attending the Advanced Air Quality – Ground Level Ozone workshop in the mountains was a highlight!”

For her community partnership project, Cea installed two pollinator gardens in the coastal plains, one on the grounds of the Robeson County Public Library in Lumberton where she is originally from, to encourage more interaction with the outdoors, and the other at a rural elementary school in Chadbourn where the staff is enthusiastic about connecting students to nature. I chose to do my project in this area because while beautiful and marked by unique topography and its rich diversity of plants, many of the communities here do not have access to resources available to other areas like the Triangle. I wanted to give these spaces the attention they deserve.”


Cea says the program helped her to gain confidence in her knowledge of natural resources and ecological systems. “My degrees were in humanities, with an MA in public history. And although I supplemented that with some elective college classes in environmental history and science, and then sought a variety of workshops and internships relating to ecology and ethnobotany, I don’t have a hard science degree…yet! But joining the certificate program kept me immersed and committed to continuing that education and gave me a lot more confidence passing on knowledge and curiosity to others. But as importantly, it gave me teaching strategies so that I could adapt my approaches to different learning styles and interests within the unique challenges that can come from outdoor education. I’ve also learned so many effective and fun activities that can be used spontaneously on a walk or over several days. I use quite a few with my friends and their kids and one day for my own.” 

Cea says the program also changed the way she looks at environmental issues. “I believe some of the workshops I took reaffirmed the importance of recognizing how systemic issues affect individual capacity for environmental interaction” so she tries to encourage the students she works with to be stewards of the environment.