Commonwealth of Virginia Pursues District and State-level Environmental Literacy Plans - Credits Guidance from North Carolina's Plan and Office of Environmental Education

An insightful and inspiring article was recently published in the Bay Journal about the Richmond Public Schools Environmental Literacy Plan. The article also details the current development of the Virginia State K-12 Environmental Literacy Plan, which has been mandated by Virginia's General Assembly. 

The Virginia ELP efforts are being led by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Office of Environmental Education, which visited the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in 2023 to learn more about the development of the North Carolina K-12 Environmental Literacy Plan. North Carolina's ELP was first released in 2010 and was revised in 2024.

“The Office of Environmental Education at the Virginia Department Of Conservation and Recreation is thankful to Lisa Tolley and Marty Wiggins from the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs for their guidance and encouragement while developing Virginia’s first Environmental Literacy Plan,” notes Lori Schoenwiesner,  Environmental Education Specialist with the Virginia DCR Office of Environmental Education.  North Carolina Environmental Education Program Manger Lisa Tolley has also addressed meetings of the Virginia Association for Environmental Education by video about the North Carolina ELP, and the NC office continues to consult with their counterparts in Virginia. 

View the NC K-12 Environmental Literacy Plan.

One example of how the plan was applied in North Carolina and continues to have a positive effect at a school and community: 
Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School Named Top Magnet School of Excellence

The North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is part of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. This program administers the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program, and manages several other programs that serves educators, students and the public. Learn more at https://www.eenorthcarolina.org/about-office-what-educators-say

NC Project WET Coordinator Daniel Honored During DEQ Earth Day Volunteer Event

Today, employees from the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources participated in a stream clean-up at Walnut Creek Wetlands Park in recognition of Earth Day. DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson was there to thank DEQ employees for their public service and to recognize one of their colleagues, Lauren Daniel, for her contributions to water education in North Carolina. "It's great to celebrate Earth Day week with our fantastic DEQ staff who are working to help build a stronger, healthier North Carolina for all. I'm proud of their dedication and service to our state," said Wilson.

Lauren coordinates water education programs for DEQ’s Division of Water Resources which includes the national Project WET (Water Education for Today) curriculum and the NC Stream Watch program which encourages citizens to learn about and care for our state’s streams. Lauren has been instrumental in developing new programs including the NC Water Education Pen Pal Program, NC Climate Education Network, NC Creek Week Network, and monthly Water Education Virtual Coffee Talks.

Lauren recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification, a nationally recognized program that requires 200 hours of professional development including workshops, outdoor experiences, teaching and a community partnership project.

Secretary Wilson presented Lauren with her NC Environmental Education Certificate. "Congratulations to Lauren Daniel on earning her North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate. This is a well-deserved honor, and I'm grateful for her work to support and mentor teachers and students across the state."

Lauren says she enjoys meeting people working in North Carolina’s environmental education field. “As an educator, I am fortunate to work with some amazing people. While working toward my certification, I also learned about the incredible environmental education programs North Carolina has to offer. As a state coordinator for Project WET, I get to work with other state water education leaders. I've learned that NC offers a gold standard nationally for programming from the centers and parks across our state to the network of environmental educators involved in connecting students of all ages to our natural resources.”

Lauren says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Before I participated in this certification program, I thought that using the environment as an educational tool was like a creative, one-off way to teach our state's grade level standards. Now, I believe that using the environmental as an educational tool is the best way to teach because it connects people with tangible, relevant experiences to build an understanding of the natural world.”

Lauren was also recently named 2025 Project WET Coordinator of the Year by National Project WET. Lauren is the President of the National Project WET national Advisory Council and chairs one of the four Project WET Teams for Facilitator Engagement Support.

“My role as the Council President on their Advisory Council allows me to provide input from a state perspective directly to the headquarters of Project WET. It also allows me to work alongside other states to learn about their environmental education programs, share ideas for supporting environmental education networks, and prioritize ideas for how water education can support educators inside and outside the classroom.”

As a member of the Facilitator Engagement Team Lauren works with other state leaders to identify the needs of facilitators, determine barriers to programming, and to lead a team to develop solutions to meet these ever-changing needs.

In her personal time, Lauren likes to drive boats and explore the NC coastline as well as rivers. She enjoys painting, building forts with her son, exploring all 17 river basins in our state, and meeting new people and hearing their stories.

The Environmental Education Certification is administered by DEQ’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. For more information about DEQ’s water education programs, visit the Division of Water Resources website. For more information about the NC Environmental Education Certification visit the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs website. 

Click on the slide and scroll down to read what educators are saying:

Educator Spotlight: Elizabeth Miles

Elizabeth Miles, an elementary school teacher at Waxhaw Elementary School in Union County recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Elizabeth is the Sustainable Energy Teacher at the school where she creates hands-on environmental education experiences that connect students with nature. “By exploring natural resources, especially renewable energy, my goal is to inspire young scientists, foster environmental awareness, and encourage innovation in sustainability.” In her free time, she enjoys playing the ukulele, reading and spending time with her husband, their two children and their dog.

Elizabeth says her favorite part of earning her certification was discovering North Carolina’s incredible natural diversity. “I was amazed by how much I didn’t know about the local flora and fauna! With every class I took and park I explored, my knowledge grew. This experience has given me a deeper understanding of how to teach my students and equip them with the tools to be curious, informed, and empathetic toward our changing Earth.”

When asked what stood out for her about the certification process, Elizabeth says it was the connections she made. “I had the opportunity to network with passionate individuals dedicated to deepening our understanding of nature. These relationships have not only enriched my own perspective but have also enhanced the learning experiences I bring to my students.”

For her community partnership project, Elizabeth connected Waxhaw Elementary with Wingate University to create a hands-on environmental education experience for 5th graders. Through a grade-wide field trip to Wingate's Campus Lake, students explored ecosystems, built food webs, and engaged with college mentors. “This project deepened their understanding of environmental science while inspiring future studies in sustainability. By collaborating with university students and faculty, we strengthened the bond between elementary education and higher learning, making science more accessible and exciting. The field trip experience was formalized into a curriculum that can be mass-produced and utilized for years to come, ensuring long-term impact.” The project was highlighted in stories by Wingate University and Union County Schools. 

Elizabeth says the certification program led to changes in her approach to teaching. “The program transformed my teaching by reinforcing the importance of outdoor learning and hands-on experiences. I now take my students outside more often, allowing them to connect with nature in meaningful ways. By immersing them in the environment, I help them develop a sense of wonder and responsibility for the world around them. I believe we can’t expect future leaders and thinkers to protect our planet if they don’t first form a personal connection to it. This program has given me the tools to inspire that connection and foster a deeper commitment to environmental stewardship.”

She also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “After this program, I’ve shifted my perspective on how to approach environmental issues in the classroom. I’ve learned that my role as an educator is to provide students with facts and allow them to form their own opinions. There’s a clear difference between activism and environmental education—my job is not to tell students what to think, but to give them the knowledge and experiences they need to make informed decisions. By fostering a deep connection with nature, I can empower my students to create meaningful change on their own terms.”

Educator Spotlight: Amy Jordan

Amy Jordan, a Schools in Parks Specialist for NC State Parks recently completed her Environmental Education Certification. Amy is based at Lake Norman State Park and works in the community to support park programming and outreach initiatives. She says the goal is to get people out to the parks to see first-hand why NC State Parks are so amazing. In her personal time, she enjoys exploring with her two dogs and husband on the weekends, planting flowers, hiking and baking sweet treats to share. She is always up for learning something new and is a proud co-parent of 15 baby chicks.

Amy says her favorite part of earning her certification was the opportunity for new experiences. “I most enjoyed the variety of experiences that let me explore and connect with so many resources across our beautiful state.”

She says the experience that stood out to her was a NC Museumof Natural Sciences’ Teacher Trek. “I was able to attend a "swamp treehouse adventure" Teacher Trek with the Museum of Natural Science where we explored the Cashie River in Eastern NC on a canoe and camped on a platform amidst the plants and animals of that amazing ecosystem. I connected with colleagues from across the state in a fascinating way! Being in the swamp allowed so many learning opportunities in the field and gave me ideas I could come back immediately and use.”

For her community partnership project, Amy brought new life back to the outside learning area at Woodland Heights Elementary School, a K-5 public school in Iredell County. “My project was "building gardens and inspiring minds" and it was a true partnership among parents, students, teachers and our community. We worked together to refresh and renew a school outside learning area and provided teacher professional development enhancing environmental education initiatives at the school. We also created a monthly eco club to create a school garden, explore environmental education and host monthly community presenters on water quality, gardening, plants and animals, nature journaling, and additional topics in environmental education.”

Amy engaged members of the community and partnered with the schools PTO, Lowes Home Improvement, Lake Norman State Park, Iredell Soil and Water Conservation District and a local master gardener to make a big impact. “It empowered the classroom teachers by giving them some skills and background to try environmental education activities with their students and to have names and contacts of local partners that can support their teaching of the science standards.  Some private businesses like Lowes Home Improvement and individual presenters were able to share their passions and support and in-turn, built important relationships within our community.”

Amy says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Most importantly the environmental education certification program solidified my teacher "toolkit" by building field experiences, best practices and highly engaging strategies to support student learning, as well as my own!”

Her views on environmental issues also changed because of the program. “I believe I now consider more perspectives on environmental topics and look at the bigger picture. I knew many best practices in general education and teaching, but the certification program led me to see the connections between and bridges across curriculum areas. I also can now connect traditional formal education with informal environmental education leading to high student engagement and motivation.”

Amy says the certification program helped her change careers. “I really feel prepared, and I can honestly say I am as proud of gaining this certification as I was for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees earlier in my life. I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities it has provided!”

Educator Spotlight: Lindsey Blanchard

Lindsey Blanchard, a park technician with Historic Yates Mill County Park, recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification.

In addition to her role at the park, Lindsey is also a science communicator and museum educator in Raleigh. “I educate the public in many ways about the natural world through my personal social media accounts where I share all things paleontology, and by leading guided tours of historic sites around Raleigh, working with park volunteers to help them serve their community, and encouraging young minds to find peace in the outdoors.”

Lindsey says the workshops were her favorite part of the certification process. “I loved all the workshops! I feel like my brain is overflowing, but in the best way possible. There is so much knowledge to be learned from others in this field, and it's so inspiring to practice skills with them and hear their stories. I think the workshops have really encouraged me to be a life-long learner, and I can't wait to continue taking them and finding new things to learn about.”

When asked about the certification experience that stood out for her, Lindsey says it was the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Educator Treks. “I participated in a few Educator Treks with the museum, and those were beyond incredible. Those experiences gave me an opportunity to learn from scientists who are doing the work we're educating about, and I feel so much more prepared to share about why it is important to learn about the environment. I was able to talk with a red wolf biologist, talk with National Park rangers, NC Forest Service rangers, public historians at NC Historic Sites, and so many more on these trips. These trips gave me the opportunity to learn skills that I can use in my own work in parks.”

For her community partnership project, Lindsey developed new fossil programming for students. “Since my main area of knowledge is in paleontology, I felt like this was a great opportunity to share my area of passion with others. To do this, I worked with local community groups including summer camps, students participating in the Science Olympiad, and homeschool groups to really fine-tune my program and jump start this education. These groups helped me by sharing their feedback, and I helped them by preparing them for their Science Olympiad and encouraging careers and education in STEM fields. I have since continued this programming at Historic Yates Mill County Park and have been able to share it with hundreds of students in just a few months.”

Lindsey says the certification program changed her approach to teaching others. “I have learned how to be a student in environmental education, and that really helped me to understand the best practices for teaching. By participating in workshops and trainings, I was able to put myself in the student's shoes and experience the wonder of the outdoors myself. There are so many ways that students can learn, and many of these workshops taught me about universal and accessible design. I hope to continue to build on those skills so that all types of learners can find joy in the outdoors.”

She also says the program changed they way she thinks about environmental issues. “By visiting so many sites and hearing from parks and museum workers, I really learned how important those sites are. I think it is so important to visit sites because it gives you a sense of understanding in the work within the environmental world that is happening. Sometimes the sites are viewed as non-essential or just for fun, but they are providing an important service by protecting our natural and cultural resources. There are endangered species being protected in parks, habitats being restored, and so much more. Participating in site visits really allowed me to learn how to educate the public more on these issues and share why parks are important.”