Educator Spotlight: Amanda Strickland

Amanda Strickland, conservation education specialist for Cleveland County Soil and Water Conservation District recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Amanda is a nonformal educator who works with schools and community-based groups and organizations. “I work with people who are interested in learning about our natural resources and how to protect them. I work with all ages and love the opportunity to get students outside to learn about their environment.”

Amanda says her favorite part of earning her certification was attending programs and meeting people working in the environmental education field. She says the experience that stood out for her was her community partnership project. “My community partnership project is an ongoing project that has been a learning curve for me. A lot of effort has gone into this project, and I hope to continue it into the future.

For her project, Amanda worked with teachers, parents and Rutherford County 4-H agent Cynthia Robbins to form a new 4-H club, the Wilderness Habitat Education Program team at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, a public charter school in Rutherford County. “I was approached by several parents and a teacher about starting this club for elementary age children to help get them outside, make observations and learn more about nature and their environment and our impact as humans on our environment.”

Amanda taught the students how to identify different animal and plant species and what they need to thrive in their habitats. Another bonus is that this knowledge will help these students with their End-of-Grade (EOG) testing in science and in reading. We spent time with students and helped them gain practical knowledge that they can retain, and I think that is fantastic. This benefits the community and offers some like-minded students the opportunity to form strong bonds with one another and maybe become our future environmental leaders!”

Amanda says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “It has taught me how to be better organized and how to better develop programs that meet the standards of environmental education. I like the structured way of developing and teaching programs that I learned as well as alternate ways to teach topics and variations of the same program that can be adapted to age and competency level of the audience.”

Amanda looks forward to preparing these students for the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Education Program Competition in the spring. 

Educator Spotlight: Adrian Chamberlin

 

Adrian Chamberlin recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. Adrian is a nature instructor for two municipal parks in Wake County - Walnut Creek Wetland Center with the City of Raleigh and Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve with the Town of Cary.

As a nature instructor, Adrian is responsible for educational programming, but his duties sometimes also include being a private chef for animals, a Chinese privet slayer, and a box turtle wrangler. “Primarily, I teach middle school students through the Neighborhood Ecology Corps environmental literacy program, run by the City of Raleigh. When I'm not flipping rocks in streams or trying to identify plants, I enjoy reading, writing, and playing video games.”

Adrian says his favorite part of the program was “seeing the same people in workshops and getting to check in on their professional and certification journeys. It made the process fell collaborative and makes the field feel like a tight-knit network of collaborators and friends.”

When asked about the certification experience that stood out for him, Adrian says it was completing the Basics of Environmental Education through a college course. “It was the first time I was able to engage with a variety of different educators in an academic setting. Until then, my classmates had been almost exclusively my age (18-22), but there was a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, many of the latter having well-established careers. The unique feeling that we were simultaneously students and teachers garnered a lot of mutual respect, and it was deeply empowering as someone surrounded by people more accomplished than me.”

For his community partnership project, Adrian developed a series of nature programs, “Out in Nature,” designed to welcome people in the local LGBTQ community and to encourage them to explore their interest in nature in a safe space. “As an openly queer person in natural resources, there was not a lot of representation in my programs or mentorship, but I discovered a lot of myself through learning and the outdoors. I wanted to provide that for others. Our most successful session was the adult audience, which included chances to play indoors and out, and discuss how our identities connect us to nature.”

Adrian says the program changed his approach to teaching. “As my educational background is in Wildlife Biology, I had a lot of the knowledge needed but lacked ways to engage with it outside of just rattling off facts. Through the program, I received so many different resources for activities and methods of approaching different audiences. Now, I'm able to create much more structured, targeted programming, that balances the “edu-tainment” aspect of informal education.

The program also changed the way he thought about environmental issues. “In wildlife and conservation biology (among basically every other field), there's a lot of contention with best practices, level of importance to issues, and how to most effectively engage with stakeholders. With that comes a lot of strong opinions, and that tended to show through in my education, then how I approached teaching. I also did a lot of activism work throughout schooling, where hard stances need to be taken for change to happen. As someone with a lot of feelings and opinions, this is something that's been difficult to balance, when our job as educators is to create informed citizens about the issues without telling them what to think. In this process, however, I've also been able to open my mind to more nuance regarding environmental issues and how others view them as well.”

Educator Spotlight: Abigail Ridge

 

Abigail Ridge, Education Programs Coordinator for the North Carolina Forestry Association, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Abigail graduated from NC State University with a BS in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology and minors in environmental education, entomology and plant biology. Students who minor in environmental education at NC State University are given the opportunity to earn their NC Environmental Education through a partnership between the university and the Department of Environmental Quality.

In her role with the association, Abigail develops and implements education programs including the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience. She participates in statewide career development events and education conferences and helps administer the association’s scholarship program. Abigail has also helped coordinate the development of a high school forestry course for NC Agricultural Education and with the adoption of the ForestryWorks Forest Worker Credential Program. This credential is for students who plan to go directly into the workforce after graduation and those going on to higher education for either forestry or another natural resource based major.

Abigail says her favorite part of earning her certification was the opportunity to explore different parks in the Raleigh area that she could later visit on her own. “Obtaining the environmental education certification has given me the opportunity to step outside of my typical job requirements and to gain valuable information. It also meaningful to be part of the larger environmental education community and will be beneficial to have as my career progresses.”

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out for her, Abigail says it was a birding experience at White Deer Park in Garner. “The instructor was an absolute delight and treated everyone the same regardless of their level of bird knowledge.”

For her community partner project, Abigail collaborated with her colleague, Jessica Ireland, who was also working on her certification, to install a native pollinator garden at Follow the Child Montessori School. “We partnered with the school to plan workdays for faculty and families to establish the garden and we planned a celebration for all the students. This provided the community with a wonderful hands-on, outdoor learning space for their botany and entomology lessons.”

Abigail worked with a local nursery to secure native pollinator plants and developed a planting guide based on the site. “The school was excited for the opportunity to engage teachers and students in ongoing learning opportunities related to pollinators, habitat, and botany. Abigail learned from discussions with the Director of Curriculum at the school that their curriculum contains a focus on botany and therefore, the garden would be an excellent experiential addition.

“This garden is beneficial as a resource to the community as an outdoor learning experience for the students. The garden will also provide teachers with hands-on materials for teaching botany lessons for the students during the school year.”   

Educator Spotlight: Jessica Ireland

Jessica Ireland, director of education programs for the NC Forestry Association, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Jessica oversees the education and workforce development program for the association and their more than 4,000 members. “Our programs include the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience, a week-long professional development program that provides teachers with first-hand experiences learning about North Carolina forests, sustainable forest management, and the forest products industry. In addition, we oversee the AN53 course in North Carolina, a semester-long Career and Technical Education forestry course for high school students that includes a certification. We also work closely with Project Learning Tree in North Carolina, teach forestry-based environmental education programming to all age levels, and develop forestry educational materials.”

Jessica said that her favorite part of the program was networking with professionals in the field. “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to engage with environmental education and natural resource professionals across the state working in all facets of both fields. I learned so much from interacting with these individuals, including learning about flora and fauna and gaining ideas for new ways of thinking and teaching about natural resources. I thrive on collaboration and engaging with other professionals, so the opportunity to do this throughout the certification was extremely beneficial to me.”

For her community partnership project, Jessica teamed up with fellow educator Abigail Ridge on a pollinator garden project at Follow the Child Montessori School in Raleigh. “I received a notification from my neighborhood about my community being established as a Monarch Waystation, so I did some research into this initiative. I learned that, in 2017, the City of Raleigh was established as a Bee City USA, which means the city is committed to creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, working with community partners and providing support for pollinator projects around the city.”

Jessica said the Montessori school’s campus was the perfect place for a pollinator garden. “The campus has a wonderful outdoor learning environment that consists of a variety of play and learning areas that foster imagination and development for the children, including climbing areas, bars, sand play areas, a learning greenhouse, and gardens. The gardens on the campus are annual gardens, so I really liked the idea of establishing a perennial garden with native, pollinator-friendly plant species to provide opportunities for ongoing learning and to nurture conservation values related to the importance of native plant species, pollinators, and the role that humans can play in supporting healthy pollinator populations.”

Jessica says the program changed her approach to teaching. “My participation in the certification program really brought home for me the importance of taking into consideration the experiences and backgrounds of the individuals I am teaching. I've always known that 'knowing your audience' is important, but I think I mostly thought about this in terms of the age level, what subject they wanted to learn about, etc. I believe that getting an understanding of the knowledge as well as the values and interests that each individual brings to the program is important. Providing a space for participants to share this with others is an opportunity for everyone to learn and practice the skill of truly listening to understand. This is something I have been working to better incorporate into all of my teaching and programming.  

Jessica says her experience changed the way she views environmental issues; she said it helped strengthen some of her beliefs. “I have always been someone who values collaboration, so I wouldn't say that the program changed me in this way, but it further solidified my belief that it is critically important for all stakeholders to be engaged in exploring ways to address environmental issues. I get frustrated when I see one group blaming or bad-mouthing another group. We need to respect multiple perspectives and positions on the issues and understand that these are based on the underlying interests. When we can find common interests, we can work together. We may not agree with everything another person or group believes, but we need to be open to listening and taking into consideration their perspectives. I think my experience, throughout my participation in the certification program, of interacting with environmental educators and natural resource professionals across the state and listening to the way they present a topic really brought home for me the importance of collaboration when it comes to environmental issues.”

In AWE of DEQ Educators

Last week, four educators from the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) led a “State of AWE Workshop” for K-12 classroom teachers and nonformal educators at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Lab in Beaufort.

The “State of AWE (Air, Water, and Earth)” workshop highlighted some of the incredible education programs offered by several NCDEQ divisions. This professional development opportunity gave educators content and lessons on topics such as soil, sediment, geology, and air and water quality.  Educators participated in fun activities that they can use to meet the required K-12 standards, in both the formal classroom or in nonformal settings such as museums, parks, and science and nature centers.

Janina Millis, Community Engagement, Education and Outreach Specialist with the Division of Air Quality shared her “Whirling Swirling Air Pollution” activity that looks at the various sources of air pollution, but also explores the ways that individuals can make daily changes to improve air quality. Educators also got the chance to explore the outdoors and look for lichen through a Lichen Citizen Science Survey, emphasizing the role of lichen as bioindicators for air quality.  

Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach with the NC Geological Survey provided educators with hands-on activities for plate tectonics, rock identification, soil analysis, and even beta tested her latest activity, an earth science escape room, to great reviews.

Rebecca Coppa, State Sedimentation and Education Engineer with the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources shared two activities from the Project WET (Water Education Today) curriculum and challenged the educators to complete a stormwater bingo hunt developed by the Clean Water Education Partnership.

Lori Davis, Education Coordinator for the Division of Coastal Management took educators on a field trip to the Rachel Carson Reserve to learn first-hand about coastal ecology.

When asked about their favorite part of the workshop, one educator said, “Visiting the Rachel Carson Reserve and discovering new plants and animals. Also learning new lessons about geology, water quality, and air quality that I can use!”

Other educators said the workshop was “wonderfully done” with “awesome presenters” and commented on the geology activity. “I loved learning about the ingredients that make up rocks. That was such a unique and understandable way to present that idea.”

This program provided teachers with credits for Professional Educator’s License renewal in addition to credit for the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program.

You can find out more about the department’s educational programs at https://www.deq.nc.gov/outreach-and-education

Educator Spotlight - Marie Noel

Marie Noel, a volunteer docent from Guilford County, recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification Program. Marie is a retired registered nurse but has always been interested in the environment. She volunteers for Haw River Assembly, the City of Greensboro’s water resource department, the All Souls Natural Burial ground and the NC Native Plant Society. “I give presentations and do outdoor education regarding the importance of native flora and fauna to the ecosystem, the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and local water quality issues. I am hoping to do more public education as a naturalist in the future.”

When asked about her favorite part of the program, Marie says it was all the learning opportunities. “I loved the opportunities for learning that I would have never been exposed to if I hadn't decided to earn my certification. I have learned so much about North Carolina wildlife and ecosystems. I have met so many like-minded, wonderful people.”

Marie says the experience that stood out for her was the Growing Up WILD program because it fostered a love for working with children. “The program was fun, and I have shared the book, activities and program information with many elementary teachers. It also introduced me to the idea of involving parents to continue nature education at home. Most of my past teaching history is with adults and this program helped me be comfortable with including younger children.”

For her community partnership program, Marie created a native plant pollinator garden at All Souls Burial Ground. “The garden is open to the public and can be used for education workshops and as an example of a native pollinator garden. The garden is heavily populated with pollinators and is a good example of the biodiversity of insects and birds when native plants are used. The garden is between the burial ground and a church parking lot so it can be enjoyed by many. Its presence has led to an increased awareness of the importance of native plants to the biodiversity of an ecosystem, and of the importance of identifying and controlling invasive plants and staying open minded to a less formal style of landscaping. It was also an excellent learning project for me in understanding how to organize various groups to work together and how to encourage volunteers.”

Marie says the program changed her approach to teaching. “  As a non-formal volunteer educator, I had a lot to learn! Since participating in the certification program my teaching has become more interactive and hopefully, more interesting. I use less lecture style teaching and more hands on and interactive teaching. I have learned how effective it can be to let people work through problems and reach solutions on their own. I also gained a much deeper understanding of the difference between educating and advocating. Sometimes education can be spontaneous and happen in the moment, and I feel the focus on flexibility during the program has helped me be more effective in those moments. I was pleasantly surprised to realize through the program that what applies to children often applies to adults too! Adults love games, play and hands-on activity as much as the children and the knowledge gained is more likely to be retained.”

The program also changed the way Marie views environmental issues. “I have always been very serious about environmental issues which can lead to someone being "preachy". I realized that promoting the fun, beauty and enjoyment of nature is a vital first step. Once people appreciate nature and all it offers, they begin to care, and environmental issues become more of a priority. It is vital that children are exposed to the outdoors early if we want new generations of environmentalists and stewards. I still am very concerned about the state of the environment but have learned a new approach to facing the issues. The En-Roads Climate Interactive program also made me aware that no single solution is going to solve issues, it takes multiple approaches and a lot of cooperation to make significant changes.”

 

Educator Spotlight: Anna Scotton

Anna Scotton, an educator at Lake Johnson Park in Raleigh, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Before beginning a new position with Lake Johnson Park and with the Girl Scouts, Anna worked as a high school biology and earth science teacher at Durham School of the Arts. “I really loved getting to know my students and teach about my favorite topics in science every single day. However, I am taking a break from teaching in the classroom to get back outside and into the field of environmental education.” In her personal time, Anna likes to dance, garden, needle felt, read and write, sing karaoke, and pet her two cats - Pickle and Pangea!

Anna says her favorite part of earning her certification was doing the outdoor environmental education experiences and the site visits. “It was great to have an incentive to visit some of the environmental education centers across North Carolina that I have wanted to see. North Carolina has so much to offer!"

When asked about the experience that stood out for her, Anna says it was the Advanced Air Quality instructional workshop. “I visited The Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob near Maggie Valley, and it was such an immersive experience. I experienced gorgeous mountain views, met fellow educators, and learned through hands-on activities that I took back to my students.”

For her community partnership project, Anna co-directed the Fall Arts Festival: Dia De Los Muertos as the lead for community engagement and education. “I helped the Fall Arts Festival student ambassadors develop educational materials, prepare for the day of the festival, and facilitate education stations. Our education stations connected festival attendees with the cultural significance of monarch butterflies to the holiday, as their annual migration to Mexico symbolizes the spirits of ancestors returning home. With this, we taught about the life history of this special butterfly in hopes to engage community members to plant milkweed and other flowering natives to support monarchs. Following the festival, the school Garden Club planted a pollinator garden, which continues to grow today!”

Anna says the program helped her build the confidence needed to develop and teach age-appropriate lessons. “I have learned that the same curriculum and topics can be adapted in vastly different ways to engage and impact a specific audience. After taking the workshop “Trees and Me” which adapts Project Learning Tree to an early childhood curriculum, and then taking a Project Learning Tree workshop developed for high schoolers that focuses on climate and climate change, I feel equipped to understand the developmental needs of different age groups and how to serve them best.”

Anna says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. She realized that individuals also have a role and responsibility for environmental issues in addition to corporate and governmental systems. “These roles must be considered when teaching the public about environmental issues and civic duty. I have learned how important it is to instill a connection with nature before focusing on environmental issues, but I have also learned that real change can come about when individuals are empowered and equipped with knowledge and skills through environmental education. It is important to me as an educator to ensure that learners feel neither defeated by placing all the blame on systemic issues, or shame by placing all the blame on individuals, regarding environmental issues, but to help learners see the full picture and their role within it.”

Educator Spotlight: Bryce Tholen

Bryce Tholen, the environmental education coordinator and stewardship assistant for the NC Coastal Land Trust, recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification.

Bryce especially enjoys getting students outdoors. “I connect with schools across multiple coastal counties to offer free in-class teaching programs as well exciting field trips to various preserves, gardens, and forests. I have many hobbies that include outdoor recreation, from surfing to hiking to fishing and hunting, so being able to share my love of the outdoors with students across North Carolina is truly special.”

Bryce says his favorite part of the certification program is the amount of information he learned. “Throughout earning my certification, I took courses on everything from the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion workshop and Methods of Teaching Environmental Education to butterfly identification. In hindsight I am amazed about the variety of information I learned throughout this process.”

The experience in the program that really stood out for Bryce was the bat and amphibian identification course he took at Carolina Beach State Park.  “The tools used to identify bats based on their echolocation was fascinating. And learning the sounds of all the local toads and frogs was great too.”

For his community Bryce coordinated both the environmental education activities and the volunteers for Wilmington’s “Fire in the Pines” festival in 2022. The festival educates the local community about why prescribed burns are important for the longleaf pine ecosystem and includes a small, prescribed fire demonstration. Bryce organized field trips with local Title I schools to Halyburton Park and they participated in an outdoor field trip hosted by local organizations including The Coastal Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, The City of Wilmington, The NC Forest Service, and The NC Longleaf Coalition. “The fire in the pines field trips were exclusively offered to these schools for free. We wanted to provide outdoor educational opportunities for students who do not generally have the resources to participate in such field trips.”

Bryce says the program changed his approach to teaching. “Beyond increasing my knowledge of many topics, the program has also taught me better teaching methods. The way I approach each student is different than before I started my EE certification.”

Educator Spotlight: Abbie Joines

Abbie Joines, a senior at NC State University in agricultural science and a substitute teacher for Alleghany County Public Schools, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Abbie also is a volunteer with the Alleghany 4-H program and the leader for a water education club called the Alleghany 4-H River Otters. In her personal time, she enjoys being outdoors hiking, kayaking or playing pickleball.

Abbie says her favorite part of earning her certification was connecting with educators in the environmental education field and learning about all the career opportunities in the field. “The knowledge and advice that I have gained from talking to other educators while completing this certification has been so valuable to my success within any environmental educator role that I have played. I have connected with other educators that share the same interests as me, and that values teaching about the environment as much as I do.”

The experience in the program that stood out to Abbie was the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience. “This experience allowed me to connect with other environmental educators from different backgrounds and learn new ideas about teaching forestry. I learned about the forestry industry in North Carolina and the Project Learning Tree curriculum. I enjoy incorporating the PLT curriculum into programs that I do with Alleghany 4-H participants.”

For her community partnership project that is required for certification, Abbie designed and installed educational signage on water quality topics at Alleghany Memorial Veterans Park. The signs give an overview of the stream at the park and include the components of the stream, the stream’s water quality, efforts to restore the stream, and macroinvertebrates and the biodiversity of the stream. “I partnered with Alleghany Parks and Recreation to utilize a community space for the signage to be displayed. I also partnered with Alleghany 4-H by creating a Stream Strides scavenger hunt.”

Abbie says the program changed her approach to teaching. “Before participating in the certification program, I had very little experience with environmental education and teaching. I started my certification during the summer before my senior year in high school while interning with the Alleghany Cooperative Extension staff. I feel that this certification helped me to learn about the importance of experiential learning and sparking a student's curiosity about what they are learning. Throughout this certification, I have learned about curriculum, standards, objectives, and evaluation.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I think about environmental issues completely different than before I started this certification. Now I think about environmental issues with a systems approach, and I look at the complexity of issues. Instead of looking at a big picture environmental issue, I look at the different aspects of an issue, and what can be done on small and large scales to improve the issue.”

Educator Spotlight - Dena Sheets

Dena Sheets, an elementary teaching assistant at Piney Creek School in Alleghany County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Dena has also served as an Envirothon Advisor to middle school students for the last two years. Prior to her teaching position, she worked for the Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District as an education coordinator where she started the certification program. In her personal time, she likes to spend time with her husband, Dustin, and her daughters, Heidi and Amy on their farm riding ATVs, camping, hiking, and playing in the water, fishing, tubing, or kayaking. She is also an active member of Sparta First Baptist Church.

Dena says her favorite part of earning her certification was meeting people from all regions of the state. “It's nice to see familiar faces when attending trainings, or visiting state parks, but my favorite thing of all about earning my certification is being able to share what I have learned with the students. I hope and pray that I might cultivate interest and passion for the outdoors and for conservation in some of these students.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, she says it was the workshop she attended at Carolina Beach State Park. “We walked the trails, found Venus flytraps, and caught crabs in the marsh. Being from the mountains, I had never been on a hike like that. I also enjoyed the workshop at Fort Macon State Park and working in groups to develop imaginary beach developments. Some of us were members of the chamber of commerce. Some of us were members of environmental groups. Some of us were general contractors. It was fun and educational.”

For her community partnership project, Dena did a “From Seed to Plate” educational garden program. “I worked with NC Cooperative Extension and Piney Creek School to enrich lesson plans by providing supplies for teachers and students to be able to start vegetables and fruits inside from seeds, and then eventually we moved those plants outside to raised bed gardens. I believe this project will affect our community by teaching the students that vegetables and fruits don't simply come from stores. I also believe this project may bring awareness to students and adults that anyone can grow vegetables and fruits, not just farmers and large producers.”

Dena says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Through this certification process I have learned that, in my opinion, hands-on is the best approach. I believe learning hands-on helps the students retain what has been taught. I also believe it sparks more interest and gives the students a sense of success because they are doing things with their own hands, through their own hard work.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “My mind has been opened to issues I never considered "environmental issues" before. Participating in workshops such as JEDI and En-ROADS has taught me that our environment is affected by so many factors, not just the weather or physical factors. I have changed my way of thinking about how to teach environmental issues after becoming aware of the fact that some students do not have green spaces at their homes, or at their schools. Factors such as that never crossed my mind before starting this process.”

 

Educator Spotlight: Jennings Storie

Jennings Storie, an education manager for the Catawba Riverkeeper and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Jennings oversees field trips for both organizations and for the CREEK (Community Resources in Education, Engagement, and Kayaking) program with Catawba Riverkeeper. Jennings says the nature walks, pond sampling and kayaking are the parts of her work that she enjoys the most. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to facilitate positive outdoor experiences with the hope that the students I have worked with will be encouraged to love and protect the environment around them." In her personal time, she enjoys volunteering with the animals at the Schiele Museum of Natural History, camping with friends, and looking for shark teeth on the beach.

Jennings says the site visits were her favorite part of earning her certification. “I always had a few  certification forms ready to go in case I stumbled upon an aquarium, museum, or zoo. It was fun to have another motive to visit some of my favorite places, and to talk with the staff that worked at them. I often would find some environmental education places on trips that had already been planned, which made it an even more fun experience to be able to bring my friends and family along, so they could learn with me.”

The experience in the program that stood out for Jennings was earning her “Dune Ranger” badge at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The badge is part of the Junior Ranger Program offered through NC State Parks and even though the program is created for kids, Jennings said it works for adults too. “During my site visits, my husband and I, discovered the Junior Ranger Program and even though it is directed towards children, it was a great way to learn about and connect different environmental topics to certain places for all ages. We were able to learn all about the ecosystem around the sand dunes and even do our best at drawing some of the native birds there. The 'Dune Ranger' badge was the first one we earned with our friends, and it was a memorable experience to have the opportunity to be sworn in by the park ranger at Jockey's Ridge.”

For her community partnership project, Jennings created a backyard habitat area that included a bat box, bug hotel and a lizard lounge. “Once the habitats were built and installed, I hosted two programs for the community to discuss what animals they might find in their backyards and how we can protect their habitats.”

Jennings says the environmental education certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Since my certification program started while I was in college, it has been great to look back and see how much I have learned and changed in that time. I remember learning lessons through various workshops, and how amazed I was at the amount of information that I gained from them. Now, that I am working in environmental education, I am excited to host my own programs to help other people take a closer look at what is around them and share my love for the nature. Environmental education is beneficial and needed for all ages, so I am happy to be able to do my part and try to create positive outdoor experiences for others.”

Jennings says the program also changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “When I started the certification, I honestly did not really know about many environmental issues or topics. Going through the classes, workshops, site visits, and teaching programs myself has really opened my eyes to all the amazing things the environment does. It makes me even more passionate about teaching environmental education, so that other people can see why conservation is so important.”

Educator Spotlight: Christi Tosatto

Guest post! This NC Certified Environmental Educator Spotlight about Christi Tosatto was written by Morgan Davis, the 2024 NC Dept of Environmental Quality mentee from the Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program through the NC Department of Administration. Thanks Morgan!

Christi Tosatto, a volunteer docent with the National Park Service, credits the NC Environmental Education Certification for her position at Saguaro National Park near Tucson Arizona. Tosatto and her husband spent several years traveling full-time throughout North America. They return each spring to go back to North Carolina where she volunteered at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education as an educator for three years until it closed in 2022. Tosatto, a registered pharmacist, says the Environmental Education Certification helped her start this post-retirement career.

Tosatto’s favorite part about earning her certificate was meeting many different educators that shared her passion for the environment. She especially enjoyed the collaboration between formal and informal educators. She also enjoyed her Certified Interpretive Guide training. She said, “My Certified Interpretive Guide training was my hands-down favorite. Stephanie Berggrun is an inspiring gifted instructor, bringing to life the history and art of interpretation. The philosophy and methods I learned in her class will always be a critical part of any of my own future teaching experiences''.

When Tosatto was asked about an experience that stood out for her, she said it was the workshop with the NC Forest Service. “I was fortunate enough to spend an entire fun-filled week away at “camp” at their Investigating Your Environment workshop at Crossnore, learning so many new concepts and skills with a fantastic group of instructors and fellow educators. Teaching Methods up at Grandfather Mountain was another favorite, hours of quality interactive instruction in a truly magical setting.”

For Tosatto’s community partnership, she worked with the owner of the Red Gates campground to make their camp more welcoming to wildlife, provide EE programs for their guests, and certify the park as a Monarch Waystation and Certified Wildlife Habitat. 

Tosatto thinks that being in the EE Certification program led to a different approach to teaching. She says that, “Coming into the program I was already conservation-minded. Program content and the perspectives of instructors and educators helped me further appreciate the delicate balance between strict conservation and recreational utilization. When citizens have positive experiences interacting with their natural environment, perhaps hiking, fishing, or hunting, they are more likely to respect and advocate for it.”

Educator Spotlight: Stephanie Francis

Stephanie Francis, a nonformal educator in Western North Carolina, recently completed her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification.

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Stephanie says it was the outdoor environmental education experiences. “I loved all of the outdoor experiences I took and getting to go outside and naturalize and become better acquainted with the world around me.”

Stephanie says her community partnership project was the experience that stands out for her. “My project was a special experience. I got to reconnect with one of my former employers, and provide a service for her that she had been wanting to do but didn't have time for in her busy schedule.”

For her project, Stephanie worked with the interpretive ranger at Paris Mountain State Park in South Carolina to create an educational sign for the Sulphur Springs stream access site at the park. The park, which sees 500,000 visitors a year, was having trouble with visitors building rock dams on the stream.  In addition to the signage that educates visitors on the animals living in the stream and explains why it's important not to move the rocks, she also hosted a program at the park that included a stream study and a dismantling of rock dams created by previous visitors. “The participants that came to my event received in-depth information on specific stream organisms and why those specifically benefit from the ecosystem the rocks in the stream provide. We believe that most of the people building dams and cairns in the creek are not aware of the ecological ramifications to the stream ecosystem. This project will introduce them to the fact that animals depend on the rocks for survival, and that they should stay in place.”

Stephanie says the one of the most impactful courses she took was the Universal Design for Learning workshop offered by Environmental Educators of North Carolina. “I have taken the concepts I gained from that course into all of my teaching since then, giving students more freedom of choice and hopefully making my content more accessible for all.”

Stephanie says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “It has become clearer to me that the best way to inspire environmental change is to create opportunities for people to have positive experiences in the environment.”

 

Educator Spotlight: Christine Ricci

Christine Ricci, an Education Specialist for the NC Waterworks Operators Association, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Christine helps facilitate training for the state’s water professionals and in her personal time, she loves to read, explore state parks and visit her friends and family. 

Christine says her favorite part of earning her certification was the variety of the training offered. “I learned from a variety of professionals in a variety of ways and about many different things. This meant I never got bored, and I was able to pass much of it on to students and colleagues.” 

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out to her, Christine said it was the Project Restore Educator Trek Waterdog Warriors offered by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This trek allowed educators to search for the federally threatened salamander, the Neuse River waterdog while learning from biologists and participating in field monitoring and restoration of the species. 

For her community partnership project, Christine worked with another educator from Gaston College, Marguerite Bishop, to design and install a learning garden with an outdoor classroom at Nashville Elementary School. “This garden is still in use, and I still help with it. Students still come up to me and say, "I remember you...you taught me about..." I love that this project helped students get outside and foster a love of the outdoors. It also means a great deal that the school makes a point of using the garden.”

Before: The area before Christine's project

After: The garden and outdoor classroom

Christine says participating in the program changed her approach to teaching. “The program has helped me expand my environmental education curriculum and has given me other ways to approach how I teach specifically when it comes to issues around social justice.” 

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “The biggest change is understanding how environmental issues impact those in lower socioeconomic classes. I always knew it impacted them more but how much more, I wasn’t aware of.”

Educator Spotlight: Haley Bock

Haley Bock, an AmeriCorps service member with Resilience and Climate Corps North Carolina, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification

Haley’s AmeriCorps host site is the Piedmont Triad Regional Council where her service supports their Stormwater SMART program. Haley is involved in program planning and educating communities about stormwater, water quality and conservation. 

Haley’s favorite part of earning her certification was networking, learning new things and being able to travel across the state for different opportunities. “The program helped me network throughout the state for a future career.” 

When asked about a certification experience that stood out for her, Haley says it was the Swamp Treehouse Adventure Educator Trek with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The experiences allow educators to camp along the Cashie River at the Town of Winsor’s treehouse cabins while experiencing a blackwater river and learning about the bottomland hardwood swamp habitat. 

For her community partnership project, Haley collaborated with Keep Davidson County Beautiful to organize a cleanup on Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. “The event engaged local community members to help cleanup their community.” 

Haley says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “I learned strategies for teaching different age groups and learning how I can adjust my communication skills with different groups of people.” 

She also says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “I learned a lot of things I never knew before, so it gave me a broader view on some environmental issues. I know that learning about native an invasive plants has stuck with me along with composting and recycling.” 

Educator Spotlight: Holly Theobald

Holly Theobald, a nonformal educator from Harnett County recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Holly enjoys teaching people of all ages and backgrounds through interactive, place-based instruction. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening, making tea blends and exploring nature. 

Holly’s favorite part of the certification program was meeting and connecting with other educators across the state. “It was a joy to learn from them and to share with each other our love of the natural world.”

For her community partnership project, Holly planned for the installation of a future garden at Highlands School in partnership with the Highlands Biological Foundation and Old Edwards Hospitality Group. “Once installed, this garden will serve the students at Highlands School by providing them with an educational garden for inquiry-based learning where they can learn how to grow organic produce.”

Holly says participating in the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “I have a much stronger skill set when it comes to developing and facilitating educational activities because of the certification program. I have learned so much – from new curricula to different interpretive techniques. I have more confidence in myself as an educator, which in turn, impacts how effective I am when I deliver programs.”

When asked if the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues, Holly said it was helpful to connect with other educators. “It is through effective education that we can help others understand how the natural world works, and how we may make positive changes that will improve the planet." I do not feel as daunted by these issues knowing that there are numerous people who also want to help the planet through education that will impact the next generation. Participating in the certification program has given me the opportunity to connect and learn from educators and environmental leaders across the state which enables me to facilitate such education.”

Educator Spotlight: Kate Gavaghan

Kate Gavaghan, an environmental educator at Blue Jay Point County Park in Wake County recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Kate says the certification program helped her find her current position at the park which is part of Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Kate says the program’s variety and flexibility allowed her to choose workshops and other experiences that fit her schedule and educational needs.

When asked about a certification experience that stood out for her, she says it was the weekend Educator Treks offered by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. “The treks provided fantastic instruction in wonderful natural settings in addition to the company and knowledge of fellow educators.”

For her community partnership project, Kate created three pollinator gardens with her local Boys and Girls Club of Wake Forest. “I established a garden and outdoor club, solicited monetary and in-kind grants and worked with the kids to select the species to plant. Together we created a new natural landscape that is functional and beautiful.”

In terms of how she views environmental issues Kate says the program offered more resources. “I have been working in environmental protection for over 30 years, so I would not say the program changed my awareness of pressing issues. It did, however, give me another avenue for outreach, communication and action.”

Kate says the program changed her approach to teaching. “The certification program enhanced my comfort and skills in delivering outdoor, experiential programs. All my classes at the park are outdoor, hands-on programs and I benefited greatly from workshops that emphasized this approach.”

Educator Spotlight: Jessica Draughn

Jessica Draughn, a communications specialist for the Town of Leland recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. 

In her role as communications specialist, Jessica says she enjoys creating engaging content and helping to make sure communication with the community is accurate and informative. In her personal time, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, birding and looking for more opportunities to teach environmental programs with local community groups. 

Jessica says the certification helped advance her career. “Obtaining my Environmental Education Certification has allowed me to network with educators and environmentalists nationwide, many of whom are in jobs or careers they have created themselves. It’s helped me realize that you don’t necessarily have to find jobs and sometimes, the job finds you.”

She says her favorite part of earning her certification was learning and exploring lots of amazing places throughout the state. “I’ve slept in a treehouse above the Cashie River, hiked through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and learned how to pin butterflies at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. I had forgotten how fun field trips were as a kid, and these last two years have allowed me to experience that feeling all over again.”

When asked what experience stood out for her, Jessica says it was the classes she took with Gail Lemiec at the Fort Fisher Aquarium. “Gail is an incredible educator with a wealth of knowledge, and I feel so lucky to have taken Sea Turtle Exploration, Project Learning Tree, and Aquatic Wild workshops with her. She is so passionate about what she does, and it shows through the workshops she works so hard to provide to educators like me.” 

For her community partnership project, Jessica worked with a local Girl Scout Troop and the Town of Leland to install bat boxes in Westgate Nature Park. “This project was unique because the girls constructed the bat houses themselves from kits and donated the bat houses to the town. The public can view these bat houses at Westgate Nature Park, in the nature classroom at the end of the walkway. Our goal with this project was to bring awareness to the local bat populations in this area of the state and show that anyone can make a difference, no matter how small it may be.”

Jessica said the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “As a non-formal educator, I had no formal teaching experience until this program. I have a background in film studies, but I always knew that I would end up doing something related to environmental education. This program allowed me to learn more about what it takes to teach and learn from others and has helped me build the confidence I needed to do it. I will always give educators a round of applause because it's not for the faint hearted. It is a fantastic gift to give others the knowledge you have gained along your journey, and it's not something I will ever take for granted. I can't wait to continue taking classes and workshops from other educators because I know there will always be something new to learn.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “Through this program, I have become more invested in local environmental issues and work to help provide environmental education in an area that is quickly becoming increasingly developed. With more people moving to this part of the state daily, it's important to offer programs that help them feel connected and informed on how their footprint affects the area they now call home.”

Educator Spotlight: Brittany Watkins

Brittany Watkins with the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina recently completed her Environmental Education Certification.

Brittany is the community engagement manager for the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, a non-profit land trust that serves eight counties in Western North Carolina. Part of the conservancy’s mission is to "cultivate communities that value conservation" which Brittany says is at the core of everything she does. “My main responsibilities are to manage our volunteer and education programs which both aim to engage learners of all ages in land conservation through guided outings and stewardship workdays. I feel extremely lucky that I get to invite people into the woods with me to learn how to ID plants or maintain trails and call it "work." Somehow, I turned my favorite hobbies into a career, and I hope to inspire others to do the same!”

Brittany says her favorite part of the certification process was connecting with other environmental education program providers. “Sharing stories with fellow educators about programs that worked as well as ones that didn't, helped validate my experiences and fed me the encouragement I needed to keep going!”

When asked what experience stood out for her, Brittany said it was attending the Environmental Educators of North Carolina’s annual conference. “I was blown away by how many people were there and how diverse their backgrounds and goals were. There were university professors, community group leaders, K-12 teachers, and nonformal educators, like me, from all over the state. I just remember leaving with a feeling of hope and inspiration that so many people are passionate about expanding environmental literacy and helping others to get curious about our environment!”

For her community partnership project, Brittany developed and hosted a summer camp program for 6–12-year-olds called, “Our Big Backyard” that encourages exploration of the natural world through a week of outdoor adventures and nature-based crafts. “The goal of the camp was to connect underserved kids with local greenspaces like South Mountain State Park and Lake James and to introduce them to conservation partners like the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the NC Extension Center. Since 2021, “Our Big Backyard” has expanded to a year-round program that offers field trip and in-classroom activities, as well as public environmental education workshops to learners of all ages within FCNC's service area.”

When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Brittany said that she learned that teaching is not preaching. “This is one of my biggest takeaways from the certification program. If we want to feed people's natural curiosity, we have to provide enough guidance to spark their interest without suffocating them in facts. Learning should be fun and explorative, not rigid. I try to weave in time for questions and lots of hands-on activities into every educational event I host now.”

Brittany says the certification program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “The EE program taught me that we can't scare people into caring about environmental issues. Instead of focusing on everything people do to hurt the environment, I now try to focus on what actions people can take to help. Actions big and small - from learning to compost, to writing an elected official about the need for more restrictions on riparian buffers, all count towards a better future for us all. But, most importantly people have to be inspired to take any action at all. And I think that is the goal of environmental educators, to share our passion for the outdoors and hope to ignite that fire in others.”