Educator Spotlight: Lindsey Baker

Lindsey Baker recently completed the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program. Baker works with K-12 STEM teachers at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CESTEM). Baker coordinates professional development workshops and runs a technology library with equipment that is available to regional teachers for free.

Baker developed the N.C. State Park Photo Scavenger Hunt Challenge for her community partnership project, a requirement for environmental education certification. Baker started the program hoping it would be a way to use technology to help get her peers outdoors and into state parks. What began as a small grant and project in 2013 grew into a statewide initiative with the help of Friends of State Parks. The program has been implemented in every state park and recreation area in North Carolina. Baker says the challenge was designed to be a zero-impact, self-guided activity that encourages park visitors of all ages and backgrounds to get outside and engage with nature. “This is a project that utilizes the spirit of competition with a sense of adventure. Anyone can use any kind of camera and in any one park, you must take photos of 12 out of 15 categories which include flora, fauna, a selfie with a Ranger, and a beautiful overlook, etc.”

Baker says that the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Being able to participate and observe the environmental education workshop instructors was very valuable to me. I learn from others and by watching others. Seeing all of the different instructors and how they taught a variety of subjects was very interesting to me. This has helped show me better ways to teach and things to avoid when teaching.”

In addition to the workshops being one of her favorite things about the program, Baker enjoyed being able to visit new parks and other environmental education centers. She says earning her certification changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “I think there are many sides to each environmental issue and going through this certification process helps you to be able to understand the science content behind the issue and then gives you the people-skills to be able to talk about the varying viewpoints. If we are going to help solve the environmental issues we face, then as educators, we better have a strong sense and skill of environmental communication.”

For more information about CESTEM, visit their website at http://uncw.edu/cestem. For more information about the N.C. Environmental Education Certification, visit the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs site at www.eenorthcarolina.org