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