N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs Receives Environmental Educators of N.C. Outstanding Partnership Award

The N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs' Tracey Ritchie and Libby Wilcox (center) accept the EENC Outstanding Partnership Award from EENC's Sarah Fuller (far left) and Keith Bamburger (far right).

The N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs recently received the 2010 Outstanding Partnership Award at the 2010 Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) Conference in Blowing Rock. The office received the award in recognition for its longstanding work in partnering with EENC to raise the perception of environmental education as a whole and by providing the EENC members with support and leadership.

The Outstanding Partnership Award recognizes organizations who have partnered with EENC to support the mission and growth of EENC and environmental education within the state. Several of the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs’ programs support and expand on the EENC mission: the Environmental Education Certification Program, the NC-EE email listserv and the http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/ website all support the efforts of EENC and its members. The office has also involved EENC members and leadership in updating the EE Certification Program, in the ongoing development the N.C. Environmental Literacy Plan, and the recently completed North Carolina Environmental Education Plan. Both the office and EENC work constantly and vigilantly towards a more environmentally literate public and provide high quality environmental education opportunities for teachers, students, peers and the general public.

Each year EENC publicly recognizes environmental educators, EENC members, organizations, and partners for their valuable contributions to environmental literacy, the field of environmental education, the EENC organization, and environmental well-being of North Carolina. EENC's mission is to promote excellence in professional development and facilitate networking opportunities, inspiring educators to create an environmentally literate citizenry. Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action.

Please contact Keith Bamberger, EENC Membership Co-Chair (828-296-4553), or the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs (919-733-0711 with questions or for comments.

N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs' Wilcox Receives EENC Outstanding Service Award

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) recently awarded Libby Wilcox, Environmental Education Certification Program Consultant with the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, their 2010 Outstanding Service Award. Libby has managed the N.C. Environmental Education Certification program for eleven years and has been instrumental in developing the skills of hundreds of certified educators and in developing high-quality environmental education programs.

Each year EENC publicly recognizes environmental educators, EENC members, organizations, and partners for their valuable contributions to environmental literacy, the field of environmental education, the EENC organization and the environmental well-being of North Carolina.

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes an EENC member who has served in key leadership roles and has made a significant contribution to future the mission of EENC. North Carolina was the first state to create a professional development program for environmental educators and Libby has overseen the program since 2000. In that role she has worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities and support professional development across the state. As program coordinator she has helped nearly 1,000 individuals obtain their certification and works with agencies, parks, organizations and programs to ensure the professional development classes and workshops they offer meet the highest standards of environmental education.

Libby will be retiring in early 2011. Congratulations on a well-deserved award and a successful tenure as EE Certification Program Manager!

The first EENC awards were given in 1995, and people from all regions of the state and careers have been recognized over the last fifteen years. EENC's mission is to promote excellence in professional development and facilitate networking opportunities, inspiring educators to create an environmentally literate citizenry. For more information about the EENC Awards, contact Keith Bamberger at 828-296-4500 or keith.bamberger@ncdenr.gov

Museum educator Liz Baird named EENC's Environmental Educator of the Year

(N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Press Release)

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) have named Liz Baird Environmental Educator of the Year. EENC is the state's nonprofit EE professional development organization, whose mission is to promote excellence in professional development and facilitate networking opportunities, inspiring educators to create an environmentally literate citizenry.

Baird is director of education for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. This award recognizes an educator who stands out among environmental educators, exemplifies excellence and lends credibility to the field. Through valuable contributions, they are regarded as a “dynamo” that other environmental educators strive to emulate. As director of education at the Museum, Baird engages students and teachers across the state and around the world with unique and innovative natural science experiences. Throughout her 15-year tenure, she has affected the lives of thousands of teachers who, in turn, affect the lives of thousands of their students.

Read more about Liz and her award on the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences website!