Educator Spotlight: Michelle Malalang

Michelle Malalang, an education specialist with Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has completed the NC Environmental Education Certification.

Michelle develops and administers the Wild Watch program, a series of outreach programs for 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th graders that promotes environmental literacy within the framework of the NC State Standards. “Wild Watch is a hybrid of formal and informal teaching, using the BEETLES approach to learning with student led, hands-on experiences both indoors and outside. Being the education specialist for Grandfather combines two of my passions, education and nature, into one rewarding career. My hobbies include always biting off more than I can chew, making life harder (and sweeter) by acquiring domestic and farmyard animals, forever modifying programs because I never stop reading and searching for more information or better ways of engaging students, developing my newfound ability to draw so I can avoid doing housework. I also continually encourage my adult children to expand their world with new experiences, the acquisition of knowledge instead of things, involvement in social and civic organizations and to pull the plug on the isolation of electronic dependency and plug into the real world by making meaningful relationships with people around them.”

Michelle says her favorite part of earning her certification was the networking. “This vast web of like-minded educators and nature-loving citizens that form a partnership connecting people and places across the ecosystems of North Carolina gave me the confidence to teach environmental education. I love being part of this ‘Wood Wide Web’ of ethical and caring folk who create symbiotic alliances with schools, organizations and groups to further our common goal of conservation. Meeting and maintaining the relationships made in workshops gives me hope that we can hold the line against the destruction of the natural world by being the guiding light in the darkness. It is exactly this hope that is needed to keep growing the network of environmentally literate global citizens, and continue to weave, thread by thread, the net that will catch and heal what has been harmed.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, Michelle says it was a workshop taught by now retired education specialist for NC State Parks, Brian Bockhahn. “His lesson was my aha moment. Prior to taking his workshop, I was struggling with how to teach informally. Twenty years of my professional life was as a formal educator in an elementary school. I knew how to effectively teach this way, in this type of setting--but how do I teach a science standard outside in nature, in less than 60 minutes to young learners who I don’t see on a regular basis? How do I assess them for understanding and capture data on the effectiveness of my lesson? Brian gave me tools that unlocked my understanding of environmental education, a subject I never knew existed before moving from Florida to North Carolina. I have only wonder and admiration for EE and the desire to be the best environmental educator I can be, but I didn't know how to take off the formal hat and put on the informal one. Being able to connect with nature through our senses is a powerful way to discovery and peace-- learning to model how to do that for others, is a gift Brain gave to us to share. His lessons taught me how to let go of my anxiety over cramming facts and forcing learning on students so they can generate high test scores that would boost the school grades and my annual year end evaluation. Instead, I began to understand that providing an opportunity to explore, discover, and be curious is essential work. To provide encounters that prompted questions and wonder, is a springboard for children to develop deep, personal connections to nature. This core experience would, in time, inspire them to protect the world they've come to love. This workshop was both an eye and door opener for me. I'd been hitting a wall with my transition to an informal, environmental educator because the baggage I lugged around as a public-school teacher blinded me. The relaxed, playful approach I learned that day influences my current teaching style; it gave me the permission and the freedom to delight in approaching nature with a sense of wonder.

Michelle’s community partnership project combined reading literacy with environmental literacy at Grandfather Glows by employing fireflies as ambassadors. “Their other name, lightning bugs, describes the goal of my partnership. My objective was to ignite the love of nature by sparking a curiosity in young minds—a curiosity destined to light a fire of conscientious conservation and lifelong learning. By providing a space geared for elementary age children that promoted the theme of Grandfather Glows, I gave them an area to relax into learning with a low key, experiential approach. Children had a choice of how they wanted to engage with the materials presented and for how long. The ‘Larva Lounge’ kindled questions, provoked answers, and invited ideas;  behaviors that are goals of environmental education and teachers everywhere. Connecting with children by creating space for them at adult-centered events lets the up-and-coming generation know they matter. It shows children they are an important part of the world and empowers them to make it a better place in small and big ways.

When individuals understand the value of fireflies and the peril many species face due to habitat loss and light pollution; our hope is that they will unite to create communities galvanized to save these silent sparks.”

Michelle says participating in the program changed her approach to teaching. “I have more confidence in what I teach and how I teach it. I have been able to release my need to be in control of every second and every interaction to produce data and test scores that have zero meaning to the child. I am finally able to let go of these external requirements and stressors and instead focus on truly being a guide to children, modeling joy and curiosity about learning. Since I am no longer hamstringed by a system mired in generating an overabundance of data, I can immerse myself and my students into experiencing the natural world which grounds us, heals us, and is an endless source of awe.”

Michelle says she still worries about environmental issues, but she is a cautiously hopeful pessimist. “All the valuable lessons I learned during the certification process kept my head above the dark waters of the present. As long as I focus on the process, the mission, and the vision of EE, it keeps me from despair,  If I concentrate on planting seeds of awareness, and instill confidence in their abilities, the children I teach will blossom into civically engaged citizens of a global community. The knowledge I gained in environmental education, and the people I met on my journey to certification, is the lifeline I needed to keep my optimism for the future alive.

Educator Spotlight: Stephanie Willis

Stephanie Willis, a docent and volunteer from Guilford County completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Stephanie volunteers with local organizations including the Piedmont Land Conservancy, Haw River Assembly, Piedmont Bird Club, NC Herpetology Society and the Greensboro Science Center. “I love being outside - hiking, camping, observing and identifying plants, animals, fungi and slime molds. I love traveling, cooking, arts and crafts, and listening to music. I've got twenty-plus years of work history with Greensboro nonprofits, working in refugee resettlement and services for immigrants and refugees, supporting AmeriCorps programs, and in HIV prevention and care services. Currently, I'm the Program Evaluation and Operations Coordinator for Family Support Network of Central Carolina.”

Stephanie says her favorite part of earning her certification was the outdoor experiences. “I loved having the opportunity to be outdoors learning about nature and the environment with experts and other like-minded people. The instructional workshop experiences were great too! I learned a lot about the field of environmental education that I never knew about and met a lot of cool people.”

When asked about a certification experience that stood out to her, Stephanie says it was outdoor experience at Ridges Mountain with a group of Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist Volunteer students learning about the areas’ ecology and ecosystems, wildlife, plant communities and land conservation efforts. “We hiked the mountain, explored, shared observations with one another, and at the top of a path near an overlook, many of us heard and then saw an Eastern whip-poor-will. I’d never seen one before. It was really special. This outdoor learning was a powerful experience, much more powerful than if I had attended a lecture or a presentation. Direct connection with nature and learning through experience is so much more likely to motivate involvement to address environmental issues and take action.”

For her community partnership project,  Stephanie is co-coordinating a reptile and amphibian event in April 2027 with the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation department, the Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum, the NC Herpetological Society and the NC Partnership for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation. “I expect the event to achieve the goals of providing an opportunity for community members to interact with and learn more about reptiles and amphibians, especially native animals, and their ecosystems. My hope is that other community organizations and projects are highlighted and that everyone involved will have a fun, memorable experience that may lead to future action and engagement that supports the care and protection of these animals.”

Stephanie says the program changed her approach to teaching. “I used to feel like my role in leading an environmental education experience was to present and convey information or to be present to deliver facts to an audience that was interested in a topic. I've learned how important it is for my role to be more of a guide for participants' experiences, with specific learning goals in mind, but where participants are actively engaged, encouraged to explore and make observations, ask their own questions, and arrive at their own understandings. I always initiate my interactions in an environmental education setting with a question now. I use open-ended, inquiry-based questions. ‘What do you notice? What does it remind you of? What do you wonder? Tell me more about that.’ The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Education workshop has changed my thinking forever. Now, I always notice how environmental opportunities for people are inclusive and accessible, or how they aren’t.”

She also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I have been heartened to know that there are so many educators who have pursued this certification and who are integrating environmental education into their curricula for the benefit of their students and our world. I hope generations of students are able to increase their awareness and knowledge of environmental issues, develop the skills needed to recognize and solve our problems and to take action to address environmental issues.”

 

Educator Spotlight - Susanna Mcllwaine

Susanna Mcllwaine, a nonformal educator in Orange County, recently completed the NC Environmental Education program.

Susanna teaches after-school and summer camps for students in grades 1^st through 8^th on nature and the environment. "I love the challenge of meeting their knowledge and skills and helping them connect the dots to a bigger picture, or a closer view."

She also volunteers as a hike leader for Triangle Land Conservancy, and in invasive removal, trail work and conservation with the NC Botanical Garden, RewildNC and the NC National Wildlife Federation. Susanna's Master Naturalist project involves hands-on experimentation with small-scale habitat restoration: adopting an "Oasis"  at Brumley Nature Preserve and learning to rewild an area left bare by utility line tree work. "What I learned in the program informs my choices, guides deeper learning and inspires me to persist despite discouragement and obstacles. Building on decades of teaching all ages, facilitation, civic engagement, food systems and green infrastructure, I am also excited to see how skills I learned are opening up ideas for new collaborations in these areas."

Susanna says her favorite part of the program was traveling through the state. “I enjoyed getting to know people of many ages, backgrounds and jobs all sharing the love of nature and the environment and the joy of learning together.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, Susanna says it was the Investigating Your Environment workshop offered by the NC Forest Service. “I loved having time to process the learning, to enjoy field trips and hikes and getting to know so many people.”

For her community partnership project, Susanna created materials to provide background information on local history and ecology for hikers and hike leaders at the Triangle Land Conservancy’s nature preserves. “I consulted with fellow hikers, trainees and trail guides about topics of interest to them and resources they knew of.  My project pulls together hard-to-find information in a visually attractive format that informs and inspires. My intention is to raise both detailed and holistic awareness of the meaning of what people see when they hike these trails, bring in a little data, and let people follow their imagination to learn and explore more. I also hope to shine a light on the value of conservation of natural areas for ecological, educational and historical reasons.”

Susanna says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “I learned so much from every leader and presenter I met. The Methods of Teaching Environmental Education workshop was very helpful in synthesizing good teaching practice with the goals of environmental education. The Investigating Your Environment workshop forever changed my teaching practice by showing me how to use exploration, direct experience and data to achieve a student experience that is meaningful with deep understanding and practical application to environmental decisions. I am exploring collaborations to apply skills learned in the certification program to my experience in facilitation, civic engagement, food systems and natural systems." 

When asked if the program changed the way she views environmental issues, Susanna said she is so much more aware of after completing the program. “The classes were rigorous, with some of the best scientists and educators in their fields. I am more aware of the urgency of environmental education for the sake of conservation and human health and wellbeing.”

Educator Spotlight: Elizabeth Warfield

Elizabeth Warfield, an educator at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Elizabeth provides educational programming and is also a group coordinator at Grandfather Mountain. “I get the chance to work with people doing environmental education as well as help groups plan their programming and schedules for their visit. I get to work in the woods, with animals, and at the top of a mountain, which is a truly phenomenal experience.”

Elizabeth says her favorite part of earning her certification was the career growth and networking. She credits the program with helping her find a job. “The program gave me the opportunity to expand the professional development in my career path, and I made so many wonderful  connections. I never thought environmental education would be my career path until I started working at Grandfather Mountain and started this certification. Ever since diving headfirst into environmental education, I fell in love with it and I knew this is exactly where I want to be.”

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out to her, Elizabeth says it was the NC Forest Service’s Investigating Your Environment workshop. “The workshop was an enriching and educational experience. I truly loved the site visits because they gave me the courage to go out and adventure at other facilities on my own and to learn what other places are doing with their education and interpretation programming.”

For her community partnership project, Elizabeth coordinated a Youth Climate Summit at Grandfather Mountain for middle and high school students. Elizabeth partnered middle and high schools in Western North Carolina and with the Wild Center, a natural history center near the center of New York state’s Adirondack Park. Brad Panovich, the chief meteorologist for WCNC-TV in Charlotte was the keynote speaker. “The summit gave students an opportunity to expand their passion for caring for the environment, to meet friends who shared their same concerns and to work on making an impact in their communities.”

Elizabeth says the certification  program changed her approach to teaching. “I learned how to lead with more open mindedness and broad concepts to let students really explore every possibility that the environment has to offer. I have also become more experienced in program development and pivoting on a dime. I have become more adaptable than before when trying to make programs work for my groups.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I feel so much more hope towards the environment and that even when the world may be making poor choices to protect our environment, there a tremendous amount of people that care and want to learn more about how they can make a difference and that is beautiful to me. I used to feel more doom and gloom about the state of the environment when I was doing research but in education I feel more inspired because I get to be on the team of people encouraging hope into the next generation and I have truly benefited emotionally from that.”

Educator Spotlight: Cassandra Johnson

Cassandra Johnson, a Schools in Parks Specialist at Pilot Mountain State Park completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Cassandra says her position allows her to help keep the park a wild and wonderful place while pursuing her passion for outdoor education.

Originally from Virgina, Cassandra has spent a decade in North Carolina and now shares her enthusiasm for the state’s geology, weather, birds and storytelling with park visitors. “As one of the eight Schools in Parks Specialists in the state my job can include natural resource work like trail maintenance, treating invasives, and prescribed burns as well a lot of work creating education opportunities. I get to create new programs like my favorite, Rock Scavenger Hunt, and help lead programs for thousands of people all year. My role also allows me to work one-on-one with a group of teachers each year as the Schools in Parks Program includes a year-long teacher training opportunity for a handful of lucky teachers. When I'm off the clock you can find me rollerblading, flying kites, cooking vegan treats, and at a hockey game (Go Canes)!”

Cassandra says her favorite part of the program was the networking and traveling to new places in North Carolina. “I really loved the opportunity to get to see different parts of the state, get inspired by other educators and truly have fun learning outdoors with others! So often, I'm the one teaching so it was incredibly helpful to get to step back and be the student and learn from so many wonderful and knowledge people.”

When asked about a certification experience that stands out to her, Cassandra says she had two favorite experiences. “I loved being able to be outdoors and working hands-on with other outdoor educators and seeing myself start off with no experience and walk away feeling like I really gained a new skill. I attended an advanced interpretive training workshop  on butterflies and struggled to keep up - juggling field guides as the pros called off species without a second look. This past month I attended my second workshop and was amazed at how much more confidence and skill I had picked up with identifying our local butterflies. I also loved just setting the goal to do nothing but get out and explore especially outside your own backyard!”

For her community partnership project, Cassandra worked with several local organizations to host an event called RaptorFest at Pilot Mountain State Park. This event is all about counting migrating raptor species as they pass by, learning why these birds are important and the conservation efforts in place to protect them and just building excitement around getting to see and experience the migration! We had three partners: Owls Roost Wildlife Education, Charles H. Stone Memorial Library, Forsyth Audubon and together we developed family friendly games and activities, counted birds for the official database, created opportunities for participants to meet live ambassador birds, and encouraged people of all ages excited to look for these migrating hawks. Our efforts to get people interested in the annual migration has definitely been a success. With this event we've had people excited to walk away now knowing the migration passes right over them. Many people experienced bird watching for the first time in their life and learned tell different species of hawk apart while being within a foot of a live hawk! The first year we ran the program 300 participants attended, and we can't wait to see it further grow!”

When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Cassandra says it encouraged her to create more time for enjoying a space when she is leading a program. “I teach in state parks surrounded by amazing views and exciting plants and animals. Slowing down and allowing for more exploration during programs gives me time to process throughout the day and to create one-on-one connections, something I have brought back to my teaching style thanks to getting to see it modeled by others during workshops.”

Cassandra also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “The certification process made me feel more hopeful about several environmental issues that I traditionally glossed over when teaching because it felt like I had nothing positive to say on the subject. Participating in citizen science efforts, getting more in-depth perspectives and experiencing conservation-minded workshops and opportunities made me overall more hopeful, informed and excited to educate others.”

Educator Spotlight: Michelle Beasley

Michelle Beasley, an Environmental Specialist with the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources in the NC Department of Environmental Quality recently completed her Environmental Education Certification. 

Michelle works in the post construction stormwater program in the department’s Wilmington Regional Office, but she began pursuing her certification before starting her current position. “I was very involved with a local nonprofit that supports two state parks and became interested in pursuing additional education at NC State University and certifications to assist with my nonprofit work.” 

Michelle has two undergraduate degrees from NC State, a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership in the Public Sector (with minors in Agribusiness Management, Biological Science and Science, Technology and Society) and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (with minors in Science Communication and Environmental Education). “I love to learn and would love to advance my education even further in the near future.”

Although Michelle currently reviews stormwater applications and permits, she hopes the environmental education certification will benefit her in the future. “I can see the certification being of great benefit in the future, if I to decide to change my career path and move into a more public facing, educational role. In my free time, I love to spend time with my daughter and my dog! I also greatly enjoy exploring local city, county and state parks as well as spending as much time as possible enjoying the coast!”

Michelle says her favorite part of earning her certification was taking in-person workshops. “Not only did I enjoy the content of these workshops, but it also provided the opportunity to meet training staff as well as other participants from a diverse professional background. I was pursuing certification as a personal goal, but it was fantastic to meet formal educators who were pursuing certification to assist with STEM/STEAM education within the classroom. It was also my first introduction to state mandated curriculum guidelines that needed to be met. I also had the opportunity to meet other public sector professionals from city, county and state government agencies. The NC-EE certification process played a huge factor in my decision to return to NC State to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences.”

When asked about her favorite experience, Michelle says there were so many. “I really love entomology and herpetology, so these types of workshops always made a very big impact on me. However, workshops like the birding ID workshop, a skill I had never practiced or appreciated prior to the workshop, provided exposure to new and exciting facets of the nature that surrounds me. If I had to pick one, single experience though, I guess it would have to be the Sea Turtle Exploration Workshop at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Meeting Shelldon, the green sea turtle, made quite an impression!”

For her community partnership project, Michelle created a walking tour of downtown Wilmington for the National Association for Interpretation’s Certified Interpretive Guiding course. On the third day of the training, Michelle led participants through 14 stops of historical, natural and cultural relevance throughout downtown Wilmington. “The training course provided instruction on the history, definition and principles of interpretation as well as how to use tangible objects to connect participants to intangible and/or universal concepts. The walking tour was tasked with providing both a literal demonstration of the training material as well as a natural, historical and cultural references to the location of the walking tour.”

When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Michelle says she took for granted the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes of educational programming. “The amount of planning, research and education that goes into an event plus the amount of work in tracking feedback and suggestions from participants after the event, is now so much more obvious to me. This is just one example of how the certification program helped me to understand the literal, more tangible “bigger picture” of environmental education regarding time, effort and resources. The certification program also allowed me to see intangibles, exposing the principles below the surface level of the topic/activity that planted seeds of knowledge and advocacy that will continue to grow and evolve much more into the future.”

Educator Spotlight: Sarah Gleason

Sarah Gleason, an environmental educator and systems specialist at The NC Arboretum, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

In her role at the arboretum, Sarah facilitates environmental education programs for students ages 2 - 14 on topics such as wildlife, stream ecology, soil, weather and more. “When I am not facilitating programs, I am behind the computer helping participants register for programs, promoting our programs through website updates and flyers, or developing and adapting curriculum.  Outside of work my favorite thing to do is be outdoors. I love gardening, hiking, and looking for animals big and small!”

Sarah says she thinks the program will have a huge impact on wherever she takes her career next. “The program has opened my eyes to the vastness of the environmental education field, helped me make connections across the state and strengthened my skillset.” She also says this was her favorite part of earning her certification. “My favorite part of this certification is how it embedded me into the world of environmental education in Western North Carolina in a way that I don't think I could have done on my own. Despite working in the field and going to conferences with my job, there is a level of knowledge and basic understanding of other environmental education organizations across the state that I wouldn't have had. I feel as though completing this certification has given me a greater understanding of how environmental education works statewide and made me feel more a part of the larger goal.”

When asked which certification experience stood out to her, Sarah says it was the Project Learning Tree workshop she took at the Western NC Nature Center. “I absolutely loved how hands on the workshop was. Rather than talking about all of the activities, we did as many as we could fit into the class time and authentically did them. It lead to more in-depth debriefs about why the original format works, doesn't work, how we could alter it. I walked away with a greater understanding of how to approach a lesson plan, analyze it and adapt it to my audience.”

For her community partnership program, Sarah took over The North Carolina Arboretum's partnership with Kids in Parks to get the Track Trail program running again. “I ensured that information was accurate, Kids in Parks was involved in Arboretum events and materials were accessible to visitors of The Arboretum. This provided a consistent and free invitation for kids and families to interact with nature in an educational way.”

Sarah says the program changed her approach to teaching. “I now approach teaching with the knowledge that every single student and teacher is coming with a different background, set of skills and barriers to learning. When I started adapting programing to meet more learning styles, I noticed how effective my teaching was and noticed a greater participation level across students. I am continuously looking for ways to make my teaching styles more approachable and accessible. I hope to keep learning and changing the way I teach to make environmental education truly for everyone.”

Sarah says her views on environmental issues has changed. “I find myself thinking a lot more about funding. I always recognized that money played a role in environmental issues and the approach to fix them, but I don't think I understood how impactful funding was on a micro scale. Every environmental education organization is dealing with funding challenges, and it feels that we are being fought against, while being told that the work we are doing is "so needed and important." It is a huge challenge and a very frustrating part of environmental education and environmental issues as a whole.”
 

 

Educator Spotlight: Jay Stokes

Jay Stokes, an environmental educator at Haw River State Park, recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification. Jay says the certification program helped them find a job. “In this position, I get to meet students all over the state and teach them about the incredible planet they live on. When I’m not teaching, I can be found snuggled up with my three cats and a crochet project in hand.”

When asked about their favorite part of the program, Jay says it was the networking. “My favorite part was meeting all the other awesome educators. The courses take you to parks, museums and libraries that I may have never visited. The people working at those places, and attending those events, really showed me what environmental education can be, and that the community is larger than you think.”

Jay says the experience that really stood out was a road trip with several other educators working on their certification. “We went to Goose Creek State Park to camp and stopped at all sorts of places on our way back for the travel portion! The community that comes from working on this certification really is indescribable.”

For the community partnership project, Jay created and hosted an environmental trivia night at a local business in downtown Greensboro. “It was so much fun, and participants got to put their knowledge to the test. I plan on continuing this project, “Stumped: Environmental Trivia,” to keep reaching my community and spreading awareness about the environment.”

Jay says the program changed their approach to teaching. “I really had to think about how I can reach different audiences. I really want to create programming for younger adults, but for a while I couldn't figure out how. For example, with my community project, it took me time to figure out that I need to go to the audience sometimes! You also need to be patient. It's not going to happen all at once, it takes consistency.”

Jay also says it changed the way they think about environmental issues. “It’s going to sound cheesy, but this program gives me hope. It can be easy to get bogged down by all the bad in the world and just ignore it. Seeing all the people that care, and that care enough to take the time to learn how to get others to care, has changed my attitude quite a bit. Pessimism won’t fix our issues. Empathy and care will help our environment, and I saw that so many times.”

Educator Spotlight: Krista Brinchek

Krista Brinchek, a science specialist at Abbotts Creek Elementary School, has completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Krista serves more than 800 students each year! “I developed my curriculum through an environmental lens to teach the NC Science Standards and connect students to the natural world.”

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Krista says the program profoundly shaped her growth as an educator. "It has deepened my knowledge of North Carolina's diverse flora, fauna, and natural systems while connecting me with an incredible network of educators across the state. Through these relationships, I have collaborated with environmental education professionals, gained valuable instructional best practices and strengthened my ability to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences that connect students with the natural world."

When asked what certification experience stands out for her, she says it was the workshops with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. “Through the certification process I was able to attend numerous workshops with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences which not only connected me with educators from across the state but gave me a deep dive into content knowledge about our unique flora and fauna in our state. My favorite experience was attending the museums Educators of Excellence Magical Migrations trip to Mexico!”

For her community partnership project, Krista spearheaded a nature-inspired professional development workshop in Cullowhee at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching. “The workshop brought together a diverse team of environmental education professionals to design and deliver meaningful learning experiences for formal educators. Through this collaborative effort, teachers gained hands-on strategies, field-based experiences, and connections to local environmental resources that empowered them to integrate environmental literacy and outdoor learning into their classrooms with confidence.”

When asked how the program led to changes in her approach to teaching others, Krista says it was the skill building. “This program and the workshops attended gave me so many new skills to incorporate hands-on learning within the classroom. The instructional workshops provided ready to implement lessons that not only taught environmental education concepts but directly connected with science standards.”

 

 

Educator Spotlight: Tiffany Huffman

Tiffany Huffman, Park Superintendent at Bakers Mountain Park in Catawba County, has completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Tiffany says she wears a lot of hats in her role. “Our staff does everything that is required to keep our parks running: maintenance, cleaning restrooms, trail work, giving directions, and more. My favorite part of the job is doing educational programming to teach others about the environment around them. The most interesting fun fact about me and my work is that I am one of four licensed hummingbird banders in the state. I enjoy all things outdoors- hiking, kayaking, walking, etc. as well as reading.”

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Tiffany says she enjoyed the entire program. “My favorite part was going to workshops and learning from other educators and being able to bring back activities and ideas for my own work.”

Tiffany says the part that stands out to her is the NC Forest Service’s  week-long “Investigating Your Environment” workshop. “I often said, ‘It’s like summer camp but for adults’ because the workshop was such a fun week. The workshop gave me a ton of resources and ideas for activities that I can do with students and adults to enhance programming.”

For her community partnership project, Tiffany transformed an existing trail into a “Nature Exploration Trail.” She installed signs that can be changed out seasonally to convey an environmental message to elementary-aged students and their families. “These signs all center around a central theme and have an activity at each station to engage students. This project will provide an incentive for families and individuals to explore the trail more and learn more about their environment. It also provides a resource for teachers at the elementary school next door to use to get students outdoors without the cost of a field trip.”

When asked if the certification program led to any changes in her approach to teaching, she says it demonstrated the importance of engaging participants when teaching and the techniques for effectively capturing your audience’s attention. “ I could see the difference in how engaged participants were when I started using hands-on activities. I also learned a lot from other educators on how to do this effectively so that students were engaged, focused on the task and not distracting others. This program has taught me the importance of giving all the facts to students and participants and letting them come to their own conclusions rather than just telling them what to think.”

 

Educator Spotlight: Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson, program coordinator and camp director for Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation has completed his NC Environmental Education Certification.

Matt says his favorite part of earning his certification was the networking and friends he met in the program. “As a small parks and recreation division, being able to work with other larger organizations such as NC State Parks and Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has been rewarding. Not only are we making great partnerships, but we are showing our citizens that we are up to snuff in our own education programs.”

When asked what certification experience stood out for Matt, he says it was the Project Learning Tree workshop. “I had the pleasure of co-hosting a Project Learning Tree course with new friends at the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. It stands out to me because I enjoyed working as a team to complete a common goal.”

For his community partnership project, Matt started a volunteer trail guide program on Beech Mountain. “This program has training sessions based on, flora and fauna, first aid, Beech Mountain history and environmental concerns. The guides lead hikes every other week from May to October. This has been a great program because it brings local knowledge to the town's citizens. As a result, we have better communication with local residents and more civic engagement. The people want more environmental programming now more than ever!”

Matt says as a result of the program he uses interactive games when teaching summer camp programs.  “I've learned that having fun learning with games and intrinsic questions retain better with the kids than anything.” He also says the program changed how he views environmental issues. “I think a lot more about the local ecology and financial impacts.” Matt says a good example of this connection is the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like bug that is responsible for decline of eastern and Carolina hemlock trees.  “People come to Beech Mountain for the natural beauty and healthy environment and that is connected to our economy since we are a tourism-based town.”

Educator Spotlight - Emily Behr

Emily Behr, a youth education program manager at the NC Botanical Garden, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Emily says the program allowed her to change careers. “I lead a team designing and delivering nature-based education programs for kids, from summer camps to preschool programs to school field trips. Outside of work, I co-lead a native pollinator garden restoration project at the Haw River State Natural Area, and I am on the board of Directors for EENC (Environmental Educators of North Carolina) and Friends of the Lower Haw State Natural Area. I am also a part of the NC Master Naturalist program.”

Emily says her favorite part of earning her certification was the opportunity to reflect on her role as an educator and to network. “I appreciated having a structured framework to reflect on my own growth as an educator, rather than just accumulating experience without stepping back to think through it and grow. I also really appreciated the chance to connect with other environmental educators across the state."

When asked about an experience in the program that stands out for her, she says it was the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education Workshop at Grandfather Mountain. “It helped affirm that this was the career path I wanted to pursue. I met great people and learned so much. It felt so aligned and really ignited a passion in me to follow this work and certification.”

For her community partnership project, Emily led a native pollinator garden restoration at the Haw River State Natural Area’s 15-501 access point in  partnership with the Friends of the Lower Haw River State Natural Area and NC Master Naturalists volunteers. “The project restored degraded habitat into a functioning pollinator corridor while giving volunteers hands-on ecological restoration experience — turning an overrun green space into an active site for community stewardship and environmental learning. It is a work in progress that is going to take years to complete, but one that I feel proud to be a part of. It will be an asset to the community a we integrate interpretive signage, beautiful native landscape and hands-on experiences.”

Emily says the program changed her approach to teaching. “The certification pushed me to be more intentional about outcomes first — starting with what knowledge, connection to nature or conservation mindset I want a program to build and designing backward from there. It also made me more deliberate about building in reflection and evaluation, both for my own programs and for the staff I supervise. Lastly, I learned how important unstructured moments are. They allow kids to be scientists themselves, embracing curiosity, wonder and play.”

She also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I feel empowered. The certification process reinforced that environmental education is about building relationships between people and place that make conservation feel personal and applicable. It shifted how I think about impact: I feel that I now have tools to not only make an impact in my personal life, but also to encourage the next generation of environmental stewards.”

Educator Spotlight: Christine Biela

Christine Biela, a teacher at Stuart W. Cramer High School in Gaston County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. “I teach Earth and Environmental Science, North Carolina Wildlife, AP Environmental Science and Honors Forensics. I love creating hands-on, place-based learning experiences that connect my students with the natural world and help them understand how science applies to their everyday lives.”

Christine says the certification program advanced her career by helping prepare her for a successful career transition into secondary science teaching. “The program allowed me to become very familiar with North Carolina ecosystems, wildlife and community science programs, all of which I have been able to integrate regularly into my classroom.”

Christine says her favorite part of earning her certification was learning about the different ecosystems and biodiversity of North Carolina. “Because I had only recently moved to North Carolina, the certification program helped me discover the incredible natural resources, wildlife and conservation organizations that make North Carolina so unique. I also appreciated how practical the workshops were, giving me activities and resources that I could immediately bring back to use with my students.”

When asked what certification experience stands out for her, Christine says it was the site visits and programs. “Visiting so many incredible environmental education sites across North Carolina and participating in community science programs—like Terrapin Tally, NABat and Box Turtle Connection—were the most memorable parts of the EE certification program. It was inspiring to learn directly from people working in the field and to see the wide variety of organizations dedicated to local conservation, research, and education.”

For her community partnership project, she partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Stevens Creek Nature Center and Catawba Riverkeeper to develop an educational workshop centered on water quality and conservation of Charlotte’s endangered freshwater mussel, the Carolina heelsplitter. “The program introduced participants to the importance of native freshwater mussels, their role in maintaining clean water and actions individuals can take to help protect local watersheds. My goal was to help participants recognize that even lesser-known endangered species play an important role in healthy ecosystems, and that local conservation begins with understanding our own watersheds.”

Christine says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “The certification program reinforced the importance of place-based and experiential  learning. Rather than simply teaching environmental concepts, I now place an even greater emphasis on helping students build meaningful connections with the natural world through local examples, outdoor experiences and community partnerships. The program also introduced me to many outstanding environmental education resources that I continue to incorporate into my classroom each year.

Christine also says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues.  “While I always knew that local and place-based environmental education was important, the certification program helped me appreciate how many opportunities there are across North Carolina to connect students with conservation efforts happening in their own communities. The program also gave me a much deeper appreciation for the state’s extraordinary biodiversity, and I now share that excitement with my students. They are often amazed to learn that North Carolina is home to the only wild population of endangered red wolves and the greatest diversity of salamanders anywhere in the world. It helps them realize that globally significant conservation isn't something that only happens somewhere else—it happens right here in our own state. The program reinforced that environmental issues can sometimes feel overwhelming on a global scale, but local stewardship and community partnerships allow students to see that their actions can make a meaningful difference. It also deepened my appreciation for the many agencies, nonprofits and educators working together across North Carolina to protect our state's natural resources.”

Educator Spotlight: Cristal Lugo

Cristal Lugo, an elementary school teacher, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Cristal teaches English as a Second Language at Sycamore Creek Elementary School in Wake County. “I teach English to multilingual students in kindergarten through 5th grade. My hobbies include visiting museums, traveling, collecting cancellation stamps from national parks, reading non-fiction history books and wearing different fashion styles.”

When asked about her favorite part of completing the certification program, Cristal said it was discovering so many meaningful, hands-on ways to help her students develop English, grade-level content knowledge and academic vocabulary at the same time. “As an ESL teacher, one of my primary responsibilities is pre-teaching the academic vocabulary and content my students will encounter in English Language Arts, science and social studies. My goal is for them to walk into their classrooms feeling confident, understanding what they are learning, and actively participating alongside their peers. The workshops I attended provided me with an incredible collection of lessons, resources and outdoor learning experiences that made this possible.

Many of Wake County Public Schools' elementary ELA units focus on environmental topics, and Cristal says allowing students to explore those concepts through hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom significantly strengthened their vocabulary development and reading comprehension. “Through nature journaling, investigations, discussions and collaborative experiments, my students practiced using both social and academic language in English while also drawing on their home languages to deepen their understanding. These experiences created a welcoming, low-stress environment where students felt comfortable taking risks, asking questions, making mistakes and learning from one another. One of the most rewarding outcomes was watching my English learners become leaders. Because they had already experienced the content through hands-on learning, they entered their general education classrooms with confidence and were often able to contribute ideas, answer questions and support their classmates. Earning this certification has transformed my teaching by giving me practical strategies that not only deepen learning but also empower my students to succeed academically.”

For her community partnership project, Cristal collaborated with the art and technology teachers at her school for an annual art and science night. “I partnered with 12 local organizations that aligned with our students’ science and ELA curriculum to provide hands-on learning experiences focused on topics such as wildlife, conservation, natural resources, sustainability and environmental science. Like many schools, some of our students and families face barriers such as transportation, time constraints and the need to take additional time off to provide these types of experiences for their children. By bringing these organizations directly to our school, we increased equitable access to environmental education opportunities. This project strengthened community connections while giving all of our students and families meaningful opportunities to learn from local experts through engaging, real-world experiences.

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Cristal says it showed her the power of creating learning environments that served as a “second teacher.” “Visiting so many museums, state parks, nature preserves and educational facilities allowed me to see how interactive displays can make learning engaging, meaningful and accessible for all learners. These experiences inspired me to transform my own classroom by incorporating more interactive displays and opportunities for exploration that encourage student curiosity and connection to the content. I hope to continue expanding this vision beyond my classroom by creating more interactive learning spaces throughout our school, including hallways and outdoor areas. My goal and hope is to help make our entire school environment a place where students can learn, explore and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.”

Cristal says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “What has changed my perspective the most through this certification program is the opportunity to connect with so many people who are deeply passionate about the environment and environmental education. Seeing so many educators, organizations and community members working to protect our environment and promote the common good by empowering others with the knowledge and skills to become environmental stewards has given me hope. This program has reminded me that meaningful change is possible when people come together to educate, advocate and act. It brings me hope for my own children, for my students and for the future of our planet.”

Educator Spotlight: Stacy Darwin

Stacy Darwin, a public school librarian with Abbotts Creek Elementary School in Wake County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. “I have been a librarian for the last 14 years and in my spare time I love to travel, hike, and explore countless hobbies. I have two young adult children that also keep me busy and active.”

Stacy went through the program with a cohort of public school librarians. "Krista Brinchek, a science teacher at our school, had the genius idea of creating and supporting a cohort of school librarians. We call it L.E.E.F. - Librarians as Environmental Education Facilitators. This original cohort has elementary, middle, and high school represented through myself, Erica Flory, Evelyn Bussell, and Tammy Weller. As librarians, we are the curators and collaborators of all things curriculum. Combining wonder, curiosity, and critical thinking is the backbone of what we do every day. We reach a significant number of students in our unique positions while also supporting teachers with resources. We can also work with administrators to provide additional professional development for teachers on how environmental education can support the new science standards. The cohort has been a wonderful way for us to network and see the connections from kindergarten through 12th grade. I value the friendships I have made with these inspirational women."

When asked about her favorite part of the certification program, Stacy says it was learning about NC’s environment. “I'm a native Texan and taught in Tucson, Arizona, for four years. I was having a difficult time gaining the amount of knowledge I had about those environments here in North Carolina. I love being able to share fun facts with students, family and friends. This experience has made me more aware of the uniqueness of our state and how I can play a role in protecting it.”

Stacy says the experience in the program that stood out to her was the “Got Elk?” program. “I learned so much at the workshop, and I really pushed myself to experience more than I would have on my own. I had no idea I would become so excited about snails and lichen while also observing the beautiful elk!”

For her community partnership project, Stacy worked with a fellow certification candidate, Jen Muttillo, to research, write and record eBooks for first grade students so they could access age-appropriate nonfiction material about the plants of North Carolina. “I have witnessed our students use these books during research for past two springs and it is encouraging to see students empowered to interact with text that is on their levels. I also got wonderful feedback from our first-grade team.”

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Stacy said it made her more comfortable teaching outdoors. “I enjoyed outdoor learning being modeled by so many different instructors. I eased my fears in taking students outside to learn and has really encouraged me to share information with other teachers!”

Educator Spotlight: Stacy De Witte

Stacy De Witte, a retired NC middle school science and math teacher, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Stacy says the program helped her start and “encore” or post-retirement career. “I currently work part-time with Piedmont Environmental Alliance as one of their Environmental Educators. For the majority of my job, I go into middle and high school science classrooms to share programming about environmental issues and ways that students can participate in stewardship.”

Stacy says her favorite part of the program was collaborating with other educators around the state – both in the classes and during her final project. She says one workshop was the certification experience that really stood out to her. “I took Project WET (Water Education for Today) in Durham for three days through the City of Durham Stormwater Division. That was probably my favorite workshop of all the experiences to date. It was so well-run and organized. I made the decision to get my Project WET training to be a facilitator at that point and followed through this past February.”

For her community partnership program, Stacy created water education backpacks for teachers, scout leaders and environmental educators to check out. “The water exploration bag project engaged community members by bringing together educators, environmental organizations, local government and the public library to create a shared resource that supports environmental education throughout Forsyth County. Representatives from the City of Winston-Salem Stormwater Division, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, and the Forsyth County Public Library collaborated to develop, fund, promote, and distribute the backpacks. The bags have already been used by more than 100 students this summer at Kaleideum and Reynolda Gardens summer camps. Students have been so excited to get out in the creeks and streams in the community to see what kind of diversity lives in their waterways.”

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Stacy says it expanded her reach from the classroom to outdoor camps and other organizations. “The program helped me see beyond the classroom and helped other educators incorporate much of what I learned in the different workshops. I’m hoping to extend this knowledge by being a Project WET facilitator.”

Educator Spotlight: Savannah Lytle

Savannah Lytle, the Southwestern Watershed Outreach Coordinator for MountainTrue recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In her role at MountainTrue, Savannah works directly with the region’s water quality programs, including Adopt-A-Stream, microplastics monitoring, and the Swim Guide in addition to other education programs. “I lead education and outreach programs that help connect communities with local environmental issues and conservation efforts. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, developing my naturalist skills, and spending time outside hiking, backpacking and paddling. I also love baking, crafting and exploring new places with my husband.”

Savannah says her favorite part of certification was participating in the guided outdoor experiences. “These experiences gave me the opportunity to explore and learn about North Carolina's natural environment firsthand. Through a variety of trainings, I developed a deeper appreciation for everything ranging from mosses to insects. From the coast to the Southern Appalachians, North Carolina is an incredibly diverse and beautiful state, and these experiences helped me see and appreciate that diversity in new ways.”

When asked what experience in the program stood out to her, Savannah says it was participating in a variety of instructional workshops. “The workshops challenged the way I plan environmental education lessons and introduced me to new strategies for making them more engaging and effective. In particular, the Universal Design for Learning training changed the way I approach lesson planning. I now intentionally incorporate accessibility considerations into all of my environmental education lessons, so they are more inclusive for every learner.”

For her community partnership project, she collaborated with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and Cape Fear’s Going Green Magazine to host Wilmington's first community science festival. “The festival created a central place for community members to learn about local community science projects directly from the organizations that lead and support them. Attendees could explore volunteer opportunities, learn how project data is being collected and used, receive information about required training and connect with project leaders to ask questions. By increasing awareness and participation, the festival aimed to expand volunteer recruitment, strengthen community engagement and broaden the reach of local environmental monitoring efforts.”

Savannah says the program changed her approach to teaching in many ways. “One of the biggest ways is that I now better understand developmental stages when I work with various age groups and am able to better tailor my lesson plans to meet their developmental needs and keep students engaged. Additionally, I have a stronger understanding of the importance of evaluation and assessment, recognizing that they can be used in a variety of ways to measure program effectiveness and improve educational programs.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I now have a much better understanding of the difference between environmental education and environmental advocacy. I appreciate that environmental education is about helping people explore environmental issues from multiple perspectives and use critical thinking to form their own conclusions, while environmental advocacy focuses on promoting a specific viewpoint or course of action. Understanding this distinction has helped me be more intentional about how I approach my work at an environmental advocacy organization and recognize when each approach is most appropriate to use!”