Ashley Hamlet, an education coordinator for Sylvan Heights Bird Park, recently completed the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program. Ashley teaches programs on birds, ecology and wetland conservation, coordinates the park’s summer camp, leads guided tours, and does outreach in eastern North Carolina.
Ashley says the favorite part of the certification program was learning from other educators from all over the state. “I’ve met some incredible people and everyone brings their unique experience to the table.” Of her experiences in the program, Ashley says that the knowledge of resources component stood out for her. “It required me to get out and visit some of our wonderful Environmental Education Centers I don’t always get a chance to see. I love traveling to EE centers to see the work that others are doing and after I experience these wonderful places, I can recommend them to others!”
For her community partnership project, Ashley partnered with the City of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department to create a pollinator habitat within the Rocky Mount parks system on an area of unused green space near the community gardens to attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and other insects. “The pollinator habitat was designed to not only increase the biodiversity of the park, but to also give park visitors and local organizations access to the habitat for use in educational classes, activities, and citizen science projects. I enjoyed being able to create a project reflecting my interests and also creating a beautiful habitat in a vacant space. Several of Rocky Mount’s parks have designated open space that was acquired through the FEMA buyout program after the severe flooding damage the community received during hurricane Floyd. These areas, including a portion of Sunset Park, must remain as open space as a part of flood hazard mitigation and are routinely mowed to maintain only grass. As I learned this information, creating pollinator habitat seemed to be a beneficial way to utilize some of the park’s green space, provide habitat for pollinators, and beautify a portion of the park.”
Ashley says participating in the certification program helped her expand her “teaching toolbox.” “Through the classes I’ve taken in the certification program, I’ve learned teaching techniques for environmental education that incorporate science – but also reach into other areas like art, math and language arts. The flexibility of environmental education is the fun part! You can employ any number of different active and hands-on teaching strategies to reach your audience.”
Ashley says the program also changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “The certification program has expanded my view on environmental issues, not only in gaining a better grasp on the science behind the topic but also on the interpretive side. As science-minded professionals, I think we can sometimes struggle to explain complex data to the public. The certification program has made me more aware of the need for interpretation and given me the tools to tackle those issues. The training helps you to see both sides of the issue.”
For more information about the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program visit http://www.eenorthcarolina.org
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