EE Certification Community Partnership Wins N.C. DENR Sustainability Award

Jack Singley, a ranger at Eno River State Park, recently won the 2nd Place Individual Project Award in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Sustainability Contest. The N.C. DENR Sustainability Awards are given annually to N.C. DENR employees, divisions and sections that excel in projects or solutions that save natural resources and increase efficiency in the workplace and community.

Jack's submission was also his Environmental Education Community Partnership, which is required for the completion of the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program. The purpose of the Community Partnership Project is to provide candidates with the opportunity to take on a leadership role in a partnership that will have a positive effect on the community and that will increase environmental awareness and understanding.

Jack's project tackled the problem of short cut trails at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh. "Short cut trails" are unauthorized trails made by park visitors. They can be a safety hazard and can also cause serious damage to the natural ecosystems the parks preserve. Jack's project enlisted volunteers to restore native vegetation to areas that had been damaged by short cut trails. The volunteers also helped install educational signage about short cut trails to aid in preventing them in the future. The sign was made from an abandoned kiosk from another part of the park, which saved both money and resources.

Congratulations Jack!

All Certified Environmental Educators (and their communities) are winners in our book. See some of their projects at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification--criteria5.html