Educator Spotlight: Chris Dransoff

Chris Dransoff, a retired educator, recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. “I retired in 2018 and have done a lot of volunteering at various museums in both Chicago and Charlotte.  In addition to museum volunteering, I have devoted time to environmental education.  I have volunteered for the past several years at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden where I give time weekly to a phenology program and assist in monitoring 50 bluebird boxes. In December of 2024, I completed certification as a Central Carolinas Master Naturalist. I also enjoy playing golf and hiking.”

When asked about his favorite part of the program, Chris says he enjoyed learning about other parts of the state and the resources. "I enjoyed the resources I acquired through the various trainings in which I participated like Project Wild, Project Wet, Project Learning Tree and the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education training. These are fabulous resources and I hope to utilize them in the coming years to help engage others and increase enthusiasm and commitment to environmental issues, awareness and action."

When asked about a certification experience that stood out for him, Chris says it was the depth of the certification experience. “It is a rigorous program that requires a commitment to learning and sharing that knowledge.” He adds that his community partnership project came in a close second for a standout experience. 

For his community partnership project, Chris installed Bluebird boxes at a local elementary school. “For Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, birds are part of the first grade curriculum, so I was able to work directly with the teachers at the school and present to the first grade classes about the importance of caring about birds. The first grade produced a PSA that explained the importance of protecting birds, and the first-grade teachers helped monitor the bird boxes and report the observations through an app called Nature's Notebook. Those reports go to a national database at Arizona State University and are used by scientists to monitor patterns across the country. In fact today I am installing two additional boxes on the school site.  The school has been a great partner!  This is year three of the partnership and we've fledged 37 bluebirds to date.”

When asked if the program changed his approach to teaching, Chris says it further supported his own approach. “As a career educator, I know the importance of hands-on and learner-driven experiences.  With environmental education, this is essential. The environmental education certification process has driven this home even more for me.”

Chris says the program has also supported his views on the environment. “I have been environmentally driven since a young age as a scout and later generally as a camper, hiker and outdoor lover. The program has helped me deepen my understanding of ecological systems and the beauty and wonder of the natural world; and therefore, our duty to protect it by educating others about the delicate balance in nature.”