Educator Spotlight: Hannah Welborn-Lewis

Hannah Welborn-Lewis, the events and volunteer coordinator for Haw River Assembly, has completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Hannah says the program helped her find her position with the environmental nonprofit.

Hannah organizes events, coordinates large-scale programs, and serves as the Haw River Learning Celebration Coordinator. “This annual program engages more than 1,000 fourth-grade students in hands-on environmental education at sites throughout the Haw River watershed. Although my work focuses on the Haw River watershed, I live in the Deep River watershed, which inspired me to create Water Works, an environmental education initiative dedicated to connecting my local community with its waterways. Through Water Works, I have partnered with elementary schools, after-school programs, and libraries to provide engaging, hands-on environmental education and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”

Hannah says her favorite part of earning her certification was attending workshops across the state and learning from other educators who are experts in their fields. “From an elk workshop at Grandfather Mountain to an aquaculture workshop in Columbia, North Carolina, each experience broadened my understanding of our state’s incredible diversity. These opportunities deepened my appreciation for North Carolina and strengthened my passion for sharing its unique natural resources with others through my work.”

When asked about a program experience that stood out to her, Hannah says attending a whale workshop at Trinity Center’s Sound to Sea Program was a full-circle moment for her. “I fondly remember visiting Sound to Sea on a fifth-grade field trip and how that experience helped inspire my appreciation for wildlife and our oceans. Returning as an adult and experiencing the program from a new perspective was incredibly meaningful. The educators were knowledgeable and engaging, and I gained valuable insight into changing whale activity along the Atlantic coast. It was a wonderful reminder of the lasting impact environmental education can have and reinforced my passion for providing those same meaningful experiences to others.”

For her community partnership project, Hannah focused on educating residents in the City of Archdale about stream and creek protection while increasing their awareness of water pollution and prevention. “I removed damaged storm drain markers in local neighborhoods, installed markers at new public locations, and developed environmental education opportunities for youth in the community. In 2023, I partnered with the City of Archdale to support its storm drain marker initiative and joined the Stormwater Advisory Board at the request of the city's stormwater manager.”

Hannah’s work helped the city meet its responsibilities for its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Hannah has also conducted community outreach by partnering with a local elementary school for its STEAM Day and with the Archdale Community Library, where she provided a program for teens focused on understanding water pollution and exploring practical ways to prevent and reduce its impacts.

She says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “The program helped me understand the importance of localizing environmental issues and breaking down complex topics into information that is accessible and digestible for myself and others. Terms such as climate change and global warming can sometimes lose their impact through repetition, making it essential to communicate these issues in ways that demonstrate their real-world effects on people, communities, and industries. I learned the importance of presenting this information objectively and connecting broader environmental challenges to the places where people live and work.”

Hannah says the certification program taught her the importance of building on participants’ prior knowledge and allowing curiosity to guide learning, especially when working with children. “While having a structured agenda is important for effective programming, I learned that flexibility and opportunities for children to explore, ask questions, and make their own discoveries are equally essential.”

She says the program also reinforced the importance of helping people develop a sense of place by connecting their personal experiences to the natural world around them. “Building connections between people and their local parks, watersheds, and natural resources is essential to fostering environmental stewardship and inspiring long-term conservation efforts. When people understand and appreciate the places they call home, they are more likely to feel a sense of responsibility for protecting them.”