Educator Spotlight: Michelle Fehlman

Michelle Fehlman recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification. Michelle homeschooled her children until high school and is a small business owner of a soap company that specializes in making goat milk soaps and lotions. Michelle raises goats on a small farm in Union County. When not volunteering or working, Michelle likes to run, bike and has completed several competitive races.

Michelle hopes the Environmental Education Certification will help her find a job where she can impact young people's attitudes about the environment, whether through an agency like the 4-H program, or as an independent teacher hired to present environmental education to groups of young people.

When asked about her favorite part of the program, Michelle said it was learning more about wildlife, forestry and environmental education. “I liked the few week-long activities that I attended, such as Investigating Your Environment, Envirothon, and the Haw River Learning Celebration, because I was able to immerse myself in these topics.”

For her community partnership project, Michelle started a 4-H club called the Forestry, Wildlife, and Environmental Education club. “I have been conducting a related activity after each monthly meeting of the club. I selected these from the myriad of activity guides that I acquired during my certification, and from individual club member's input about topics. I have been able to reach and teach several Union County youth about wildlife and environmental education. If I am able to kindle some lifelong desires to make a difference with regards to the environment in these youth, I will have accomplished what I wanted to.”

Michelle says participating in the certification program gave her a greater understanding of the different ways in which children learn. “It gave me different tools to use depending on the age and the attention level of the youth involved. As I continue to reach more children, I now have a huge toolbox to pull from to give me ideas and different methods of teaching.”

She says the program changed the way she looks at environmental issues. “I am more aware of what I can do to lessen my individual impact on the environment. All ages need to be educated, but it is essential that we start raising our children to be prudent users of our natural resources. I learned so much about our environment and natural world and I also realized how much we take it for granted as always being there.”

Educator Spotlight: Andrew Page

Andrew Page, a nonformal educator from Mecklenburg County recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. Andrew works with the NC Wildlife Federation as a contractor for their Great Outdoors University program. They provide field trips for children in grades K-12 to parks. He works primarily with the Boys and Girls Clubs taking children on nature hikes, canoeing, fishing, bike riding and on other outdoor activities. 

Andrew says he was introduced to Environmental Education Certification through the Master Naturalist Program with Mecklenburg Park and Recreation. The experience in the program that stands out for him is taking the NC Forest Service’s workshop, “Investigating Your Environment.” Andrew said, “This week- long workshop was a great opportunity in the mountains to learn many different teaching methods and to spend time with like-minded individuals.” 

For his community partnership project which is required for certification, Andrew organized a tree planting event. “With the help of TreesCharlotte, the neighborhood planted 37 new trees throughout the common areas in our townhome community.” 

Andrew says the program changed his approach to teaching. “One of the many changes includes how to engage those who choose not to participate. Most educators I met shared that by putting those who won’t participate "in charge" of leading a group, or some other leadership role, it gives them purpose. This method has proved to be true in all cases, including field trip groups with students and outings with my nephew.”

When asked if the program changed the way he thinks about environmental issues, Andrew said that it did change his perspective. “I previously thought of paper products as "tree killers." While they do come from trees, the Sustainable Forest workshop opened my eyes to how trees are regrown when doing so responsibly.”

NCDEQ Hosts Wake County Middle School Students for 13th Annual Statewide Students@Work℠ Program.

The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs recently hosted the 7th grade from Moore Square Magnet Middle School for the 2023 Students@Work℠ Month. The Students@Work℠ program serves a critical role in our state's work-based learning efforts by helping students explore potential careers and experience positive workplace environments. 

The 2023 Students@Work℠ initiative is connecting 270 businesses, organizations and agencies with approximately 25,500 students statewide. Throughout the month, students interact directly with representatives from various jobs and careers, take part in worksite visits or engage in learning activities to explore a variety of career opportunities.

“DEQ is honored to continue our partnership with Students@Work℠ and share the diversity of careers in our department. We appreciate the enthusiasm of the students and teachers and enjoy providing them with activities and resources to support their studies in science and the environment,” notes DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. 

During their visit on March 9th and 10th, students toured the DEQ building and learned about the sustainable design features of the downtown Raleigh Green Square complex. They also got an introduction to some of the environmental science used by employees of the department in activities led by Rebecca Coppa, State Sedimentation and Education Engineer with the DEQ Division of Energy, Land and Mineral Resources, Janina Millis, Community Engagement, Education and Outreach Specialist from the DEQ Division of Air Quality and with assistance from colleagues, Megan Davis, Coordinator of Teacher Education and Taylor Prichard, Teacher Education Specialist with the Museum of Natural Sciences which shares the Green Square complex with the department. 

The students ended their day by participating in a career panel with DEQ employees, including Dr. Frannie Nilsen, an environmental toxicologist with the Secretary’s Office; Elliot Tardif, a meteorologist with the Division of Air Quality; Shelby White, a biologist with the Division of Marine Fisheries and Alyssa Wright, the Assistant General Counsel for the department.

Students asked the panel about their careers, their career paths, and challenges for their profession. The DEQ employees gave helpful advice for how to students can connect their passions and interests with potential careers and how students can begin to develop the qualifications necessary for working in STEM fields through internships, job shadowing and other opportunities.

The Students@Work℠ program is a joint initiative between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. 

For more information about the Department's participation in Students@Work℠ Month, contact the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs at 919-707-8125. For more information about NCBCE, visit ncbce.org.