Learning the Language of Impact - My Mentorship with the Lady Cardinal Program at DEQ

Guest Blogger, Samara Tarek, Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program July 2025

This summer, I’m participating in the Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program, a four-week, full-time internship that places high school girls in state government agencies across North Carolina to explore careers in public service and STEM. Currently, I’m working at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Through this experience, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many different areas of government, education, communication, and science.

Each week, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a different division. I’ve seen how much effort goes into the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the state government running. Whether it’s hiring future leaders, sharing information with the public, or building educational programs, it’s clear everyone I’ve met truly cares about the people and places they serve.

My first week was with the Human Resources division. I worked on a project to help DEQ improve how it connects with students across the state. Right now, DEQ primarily works with select  colleges for outreach and recruiting. Alongside them, my purpose was to help expand that reach.

I created a database of all the colleges and universities in North Carolina and surrounding states. I researched each school’s background, programs, and student communities to help DEQ find connections between those schools and its work. The goal of the project was to make it easier for DEQ to connect with students who may have been out of reach. Especially students at rural or underrepresented campuses who have not heard about state internship or job opportunities before. It felt rewarding  to know this project could help more students access careers in environmental work.

In the second week, I joined the Public Affairs division. One of my main tasks was reviewing the DEQ website to find broken links, outdated pages, or missing information. I went through a long list of web pages in a database and helped update anything that needed fixing.

Though the task seemed simple at first, beneath the surface, I learned the  importance of communication. A working website helps the public understand what DEQ does and how to access its services. Fixing a link or updating a document may not seem like a big deal, but it makes a real difference for someone trying to get information. This week helped me appreciate how much thought goes into public communication and digital accessibility.

In my third week, I joined the Environmental Education team within Public Affairs. They may be a small group, but the work they do reaches students, teachers, and communities all over North Carolina. What stood out to me most was how personal they made the experience. They took time to ask about what I care about and where I see myself in the future.

I shared my interest in pediatrics and helping underserved communities. They supported me in reaching out to nonprofits and pediatricians at UNC Health and Duke Health, which opened doors I didn’t expect from an internship in environmental work. Those moments showed me how outreach, education, and public service can connect across so many fields, even ones like healthcare.

It also made me think more deeply about my own student organization, Akash Choya Shopno, which means Dreams That Touch the Sky in Bengali. I started it to support students in Bangladesh who want to pursue science or medicine but face barriers like limited resources or guidance. We offer free tutoring, study materials, and guest speaker sessions, all led by volunteers.

Working with the Environmental Education team helped me see how much work goes into making programs that actually support learning. It inspired me to find better ways to help students through Akash Choya Shopno.

Throughout the Lady Cardinal program, I took part in several enrichment activities that deepened my understanding of science, leadership, and global connections. At Biogen, I explored genetics through hands-on activities, learning about traits, pedigrees, and how genetic manipulation is used in pharmaceuticals. I also had the opportunity to attend the Governor's Reception at the Executive Mansion, where I met Governor Josh Stein and gained insight into state leadership. Another memorable experience was meeting with students from Algeria, which allowed me to learn about different cultures and exchange perspectives on education and public service.

This internship taught me a lot about how the government works and how many different paths there are to making a difference. I learned new skills, met inspiring people, and found connections between my own interests and public service. It was a meaningful experience that I’ll carry with me moving forward.

If you want to learn more about Akash Choya Shopno or get involved, you can email akashcshopno@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram at @akashcshopno.

Educator Spotlight: Heather Bariso

Heather Bariso, coastal educator for the Bald Head Island Conservancy recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Heather co-manages the education department with the director of education and helps with program and exhibit design. She provides a wide diversity of programs. “I facilitate programs and tours such as fishing and kayaking experiences, hands-on reptile encounters, and I lead nighttime turtle walks to show the public nesting sea turtles! I am also the caretaker for our ambassador animals. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading and looking at my fish tanks.”

Heather says her favorite part of the certification program was the opportunity to learn and explore. “My certification has taken me to many different education facilities and nature trails around the state. As someone who comes from out of state, it was such a joy to experience all the different natural wonders NC has to offer! My favorite place I was able to visit was the PocosinLakes National Wildlife Refuge where we got to see thousands of tundra swans! On the same journey, we got to visit the Red Wolf Center, and I saw a wolf for the first time! I really enjoyed getting to meet all the wonderful educators who are also working to obtain their certifications. I have made many new friends along the way, and I am so thankful for the connections I was able to make across the state. We were able to bounce ideas off one another based on how we each run our facilities and left each workshop with new programs and skills.”

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out for her, Heather says it was the week-long Environmental Education Workshop at the Eastern 4-H Center in Columbia. “I had just started full-time at my job and was so nervous, yet excited, to get my foot in the door of environmental education. This conference was a fully immersive experience and all my fellow participants were so friendly and wanted to make it a safe space for everyone to learn. Even after the learning ended, our cohort would hike, bird, and explore the surrounding area together which created a very fun learning environment. Seeing firsthand how different everyone's journey and experience has been, really taught me that there is no set way to be an environmental educator and took a lot of the pressure away!

Heather says the experience was even more meaningful because her supervisor, Jennifer Wiggen, the director of education and engagement was also in the process of obtaining her certification encouraged her to join. “We were able to enjoy lots of nature adventures together and fully explore Columbia while visiting every single outdoor park, waterway, and trail it had to offer!”

For her community partnership project, Heather hosted an Earth Day Festival on Bald Head Island. “I partnered with local community organizations and state entities to promote native pollinators and resources that people could implement in their gardens. This included Bald Head Island organizations and visiting organizations like Bee City USA, Sandbar Oyster Company, the Museum of Coastal Carolina, and many more! The event affected the community positively because it allowed everyone to come together and learn in a celebration of pollinators with free resources and activities! We are already discussing how to expand the event for next year to allow for an even bigger celebration.”

Heather says the program also led to changes in her approach to teaching. “When I first started my certification, I was brand-new to environmental education and only had a few internships under my belt. This certification has given me the tools and resources that allowed me to gain confidence in my own teaching. Throughout the classes and workshops, I was given tools to better engage my audience and use language that encapsulates various audiences.”

When asked how the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues, Heather says it made her more aware of some of the challenges and barriers to environmental education. “One of the challenges that stood out the most to me was accessibility. We try to make our programs as accessible as possible, but the Island itself is not that accessible of a place, especially for those with mobility limitations. Because of the resources I had access to through the course, I decided to modify our birding program so anyone can do it. I even gave a presentation about accessible birding that highlighted the program Birdability, the Cornell Lab’s Merlin birding App, and programs that people can use to bird at home! The certification program really helps offer ways to tackle these issues one step at a time which can then lead into larger scale change.” 

Educator Spotlight: Elizabeth Trott

Elizabeth Trott, the botanical garden and exhibit content curator at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Elizabeth says her goal is to present inspiring, research-based and compelling programs that connect park visitors to the amazing natural resources on the mountain. “We develop and present a variety of daily programs, guided hikes, interpretive tables, and special events. I am constantly striving to enrich our gardens and enhance our overall biodiversity. I always want to increase the educational opportunities in our gardens and make all our educational opportunities accessible to everyone.”

When asked about her favorite part of the program, Elizabeth said it was the variety of programming throughout the state. “I was stunned to find out how many incredible learning opportunities are constantly happening all over our state. I tend to stay up here in the mountains, and this program motivated me to attend fascinating programs in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. Even though I have finished my hours, I'm still constantly taking more classes just for the enrichment.”

Elizabeth says the experience that stood out to her was a workshop with Brian Bockhahn, regional education specialist for North Carolina State Parks. “When I took the Storytelling in Environmental Education class with Brian Bockhahn from NC State Parks, I was somewhat out of my comfort zone, and I was so glad I took it. Storytelling and that more fun, casual method of engaging with kids is certainly not a strong suit for me, but he gave us so many tools and strategies. It made me branch out and become more comfortable with songs, art and storybooks.”

For her community partnership project, Elizabeth developed a new class called Introduction to Conservation Education in the High Country. “I created the program for folks who are hired seasonally to work in the area – ideally counselors leading summer camps who don’t have previous training in outdoor education and/or the ecology of the area. In this program, we offer a variety of activities to help folks appreciate nature with the kids they’ll be supervising this summer. We introduce them to some of the key plants and ecological concepts of this area, as well as discussing safety in outdoor education, responsible exploration of the natural world, and methods of engaging with students. They’ll run through some of nature journaling and scavenger hunts we find to be engaging, and they’ll be sent off with a list of resources to help them continue to learn and explore nature during their time in the area. I'm hopeful this can lead to an appreciation of the nature and a love of exploration in our mountains taking root in these summer camps and country clubs. If we can give the counselors tools and resources, they'll become environmental educators whether they planned to or not!”

When asked if the program led to changes in the way she approaches teaching, Elizabeth specifically notes the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education workshop. “I took methods workshop just before I started my first environmental education job, and it gave me so many skills and perspectives that were a huge advantage. I know I want to be accessible and equitable in my teaching, but I didn't have the ability to organize my activities in a way that would make it happen. I'm so glad to have been taught to always try to appreciate diversity in learners. I'm also glad for the reminders to constantly strive to make the learning environment productive and safe. It's a constant learning process, not just for the students but for us educators as well.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I've learned so much nuance about so many issues - recycling, air quality, water cycles, etc. while taking the classes. I've also learned a lot about how important it is to foster a connection - many times even more important than teaching the information.”

📸Photos by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation 

Educator Spotlight: Paige Rans

Paige Rans, an educator for an afterschool program at Piedmont Wildlife Center and a horticulture teacher at Alamance Community College, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

When asked about her favorite part of the program, she says it was the workshops. “This was such a fantastic experience all around! I think the best part was going to all the different workshops at different places across the state and even out of the country!”

Paige says the certification experience that stood out to her was the Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment K-8 Workshop at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. “It's what really drew me in and made me want to learn more and complete this program.”

For her community partnership project, Paige created a reference book for Piedmont Wildlife Center’s counselors. “The resource contains around 26 different environmental education lessons to help teach the campers. The lessons are divided by age and contain all the materials that one would need to complete the lesson. This affects the community by providing a "go-to" for teaching environmental education to young minds with the hopes of instilling the importance of environmental education to adulthood.”

Paige says the program helped her find new resources. “I put a lot of tools in my toolbox! It created the need for hands-on projects when teaching and showed how those types of lessons are the ones that students remember.”

She also says that education is the key to solving many environmental issues. “We need to make people aware of environmental issues, so they understand the need for change.”

Educator Spotlight: Brittany Smith

Brittany Smith, a nonformal educator in Richmond County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certificate. Brittany owns and operates Flora and Fauna Festivities, a nature-based education and entertainment company. “My company brings environmental and nature-based learning to life through hands-on workshops, trivia nights, and immersive experiences for all ages.  In our free time, my husband and I spend most of our days outside—whether we’re hiking, paddling, fishing, or just exploring new trails. I’ve built a business, and our life around a love for the outdoors.”

Brittany says that the NC Forest Service’s  week-long Investigating Your Environment Workshop in the mountains that she took in college got her “hooked” on environmental education and encouraged her to pursue her certification. Brittany says she enjoyed connecting with other educators. “My favorite part of earning my certification was getting to travel across our beautiful state and connect with so many incredible people who share the same passion for environmental education. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by like-minded individuals working toward common goals - it reminded me that this work matters and that we’re not doing it alone.”

When asked what certification experience stood out to her, Brittany says it was the Guidelines for Excellence series provided by Environmental Educators of NC. “While all the workshops, lectures, and hands-on adventures were memorable, the Guidelines for Excellence series stands out the most. I took the Early Childhood and Community Engagement trainings, and they were incredibly encouraging. It was eye-opening to see that there’s already a solid foundation of tested methods and best practices available to build new programs and strengthen existing ones. Starting from scratch can feel overwhelming, but these workshops gave me the tools and confidence to go back to the programs I was already running and make them even better.”

For her community partnership project, Brittany created a Gyotaku for Educators webinar designed to introduce teachers to the cultural art of Japanese fish printing as a tool for environmental education. “The webinar provided hands-on strategies, cross-curricular lesson plans, and a shared resource folder to help educators incorporate topics like adaptations, river basins, and place-based learning. By making the content available beyond the live session, the project continues to impact a broader community of educators looking for creative, engaging ways to connect students with the natural world.”

Brittany says participating in the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Coming from a background teaching middle school as a licensed NC teacher, I was trained in a system that heavily prioritizes reading, writing, and testing. But throughout this program, I was inspired by so many educators who were calm, open-minded, and deeply committed to hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Environmental education values curiosity and real-world experience over rote memorization, and that perspective has transformed how I design and lead programs. I’ve seen firsthand how much more meaningful learning becomes when students can engage with the content directly—it's the difference between reading about fish printing and printing one with their own hands.”

Brittany says the certification program also changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “I’ve always loved our planet—it’s the only one we have. But through the certification program, I’ve realized that real change starts with personal connection. Learning how to find my own connections to nature—and helping others discover theirs—has been life-altering in the best way. I also gained a deeper understanding how we can't 'save the planet' by preaching behavior changes, but by sharing knowledge and experiences that can lead to those changes naturally. When people feel connected and informed, they’re far more likely to take meaningful and intentional actions.”

Educator Spotlight: Mirren Hill

Mirren Hill, a nature educator at White Deer Park in Garner, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Mirren also works as an educator at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Zoo. In her personal time, she enjoys reading, hiking new trails and trying new restaurants.

Mirren says her favorite part of the program was the opportunity to travel to different areas of North Carolina and to visit different parks and education centers. “I grew up in the Triangle and there's so many places I still needed to explore! So, it was super fun for me to be able to try places that I'd been wanting to go to or even places I hadn't heard of before. For my certification, some of the places I really enjoyed were the NC Arboretum in Asheville, the Greensboro Science Center, Blue Jay County Park, Forest Ridge Park and Agape Center for Environmental Education. I also really enjoyed meeting people at the different workshops and programs I attended.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, Mirren says there were two – the Don’t Waste It! workshop at Blue Jay County Park and the Snakes 101 program at Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve. “I learned a lot of new information about landfills, waste and compost I found to be super interesting and engaging. I also have used activities I learned in that workshop for my community partnership project and for programs at work. I was pretty indifferent towards snakes before my career in environmental education but since handling snakes at my jobs and learning more about them in programs like the Snakes 101, I have grown a newfound appreciation and passion for them which has been a lot of fun for me.”

For her community partnership project, Mirren partnered with Hillandale Elementary School in Durham and created a "Every Day is Earth Day" program for their Science Day. “I presented the program to around 80 second graders and created a ‘10 Ways to be Kind to the Earth’ pamphlet for the students to take home. I think my project affected the community by showcasing our changing climate in a positive light by educating the students about fun, everyday things they can do in their daily lives to care for the environment.”

Mirren says the program changed her approach to teaching by encouraging her to incorporate a sense of curiosity and discovery. “In my work, I like to ask a lot of questions and create an environment where the younger generation can discover the natural beauty of our environment on their own with me there to guide them with a sense of wonder.”

Mirren says the program also changed how she views environmental issues. “I think my approach to environmental issues before participating in the certification program was more geared towards policy change, but now I think about environmental issues with an education lens. I think there is so much power and value in education and there can be so much positive change made when people learn about and appreciate the environment around them.”

Educator Spotlight: Jennifer Wiggen

Jennifer Wiggen, the Director of Education and Engagement at the Bald Head Island Conservancy, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In her role at the conservancy, Jennifer creates opportunities for people to have meaningful nature-based experiences on Bald Head Island. These experiences can include taking the Turtle Walk program to observe a nesting sea turtle, exploring oyster reefs on a guided kayak or creating art with nature during a summer camp.

Jennifer’s work has a significant impact on students in the area. “We bring over a thousand 6th grade students from Title 1 schools in Brunswick County every year for a free outdoor field trip where they learn about the ecosystems found on Barrier Islands. I love the outdoors - my family and I call them nature adventures – and I want to share it with others because I believe if we can connect people to the natural world, the more we all will feel connected and can become better environmental stewards.”

In her personal time Jennifer is a NC Certified Watercraft Instructor and Outdoor Instructor for the Girls Scouts. She spends a lot of time volunteering with the girls so they will have the opportunity to experience being on the water and enjoying the outdoors. She also volunteers to monitor sea turtle nests in the summer with the Oak Island Sea Turtle Program. “When I’m not outside, you can probably find me spending time with family, at CrossFit or reading.”

When asked about her favorite part of the program, Jennifer says she enjoyed all the classes she took, all the new things she learned and exploring different education centers and outdoor spaces. “It made me feel like a kid again to go discover different museums, nature centers and do different outdoor excursions and learn from other educators. I just really enjoyed the opportunity to prioritize learning again. This was especially true after taking the classes because you just look at things differently and see all the things you can incorporate and do to make your programming and space better and more accessible.”

As far as an experience that stood out to her, Jennifer says it was the opportunity to include her family in her certification journey. “I really got to spend some amazing quality time with my family visiting some truly beautiful places in North Carolina. I visited Grandfather Mountain with my husband and daughter and saw the synchronous fireflies, I kayaked out to the Three Sisters Swamp with them and saw the fifth oldest tree species in the world, I took my Mom and went on a waterfowl birding tour with the NC Maritime Museum to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to see the Tundra Swan, my sister and I took all our kids to Sylvan Heights Bird Park which was amazing. The experiences that stand out to me are the ones that brought me closer to the people I love while appreciating nature and what NC has to offer.”

For her community partnership project, she created the “Bald Head Island Youth Sustainability Symposium” which brought together high school students from different parts of the state. The BHIC Youth Sustainability Symposium focused on engaging youth in thought-provoking, real-world conversations which promote the conservation and preservation of coastal resources for future generations in response to climate and other anthropogenic change in a manner that effectively balances environmental, economic, and social factors. Overall, it created an opportunity for students to come together and talk to each other from different backgrounds. This event will continue and will happen again this spring.”

Jennifer says the program changed her approach to teaching. “Participating in the EE certification really changed how I viewed what I means to be accessible. I now look at my programs entirely differently than I did before in terms of thinking about how they can be experienced by a variety of people with different needs. I'm so thankful for information that programs like groups like Birdability and Universal Design for Learning taught me.

The program also changed the way Jennifer views environmental issues. “I think that the certification really engrained in me how multi-faceted environmental issues are and that there isn't ever an absolute "right" answer when thinking about people and the environment. We all come with our own lived experiences which will shape how we approach environmental issues, and I think that keeping that in mind is the key to having meaningful dialogue about the environmental issues that we face today.”

Educator Spotlight: Adam Smith

Adam Smith, an eighth-grade science teacher at South Stanly Middle School, recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. In addition to teaching, Adam enjoys photography and incorporates his photos into his lessons. He also enjoys birding and has been contributing bird observations to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s citizen science program, eBird, after noticing a lack of observations in his local parks.   

Adam says his favorite part of earning his certification was the people he met especially during multi-day workshops. “Being able to connect with other people with a similar goal as you is uplifting and informative. Being able to talk through problems and share stories with other educators as we learn things to take back to the classroom has been something that I would not trade, and it is why I encourage educators to join the program.”

Adam says the experience that stood out for him was the  the Educators of Excellence trip with the Museum of Natural Sciences to Yellowstone National Park. “There were so many parts about this trip that encompasses what environmental education means to me. The shared experiences, personal connections, a connection with nature, a time of personal growth; these are just a few of the things that happened on this trip, with this wild and beautiful landscape in the background.”

For his community partnership project, Adam made a digital scavenger hunt for a local park that allows visitors to do a nature walk at the park. Adam noticed that the park did not have any signage explaining the trees, wildlife or the benefits of removing dams to let the park’s creek flow freely. “The scavenger hunt provides a reason for locals to slow down and observe what is around them and discover all the diversity in the park. There are also facts provided for those who want to learn more and then links that take you to outside sites to give even more information for those that are curious.”

Adam says that the program changed his approach to teaching because he learned what a powerful impact storytelling and personal experiences can have as a part of teaching. “I try to have students make the personal connections with the environment in ways that they have not thought of before. Students often do not realize how connected they are to the environment, and in my lessons, providing that connection helps them realize that their actions are important, and they are not disconnected from the environment.”

Adam also says the program changed the way he views environmental issues. “I have come to realize how fragile the policies we have in place are. Working with professionals in field during workshops I see how little they have to work with and how important it is to inform others about environmental issues. I thought myself well informed before getting my certification, but I have found that there are far fewer people involved with environmental issues. I am becoming more involved by letting my voice be heard because we need more people to inform others. I also have found there is a lack of information in our rural communities such as the one I live in. It is up to me to be the change that educate those around me.”