EENC is North Carolina’s affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), an integrated network of professionals in the field of environmental education with membership throughout North America and in more than 55 countries. EENC members work on NAAEE committees, attend NAAEE Leadership Clinics including the Guidelines for Excellence series, and participate in NAAEE’s annual conference. EENC was awarded the NAAEE’s "1998 Affiliate of the Year" award.

Through the affiliates program, NAAEE provides EENC a wide range of opportunities:

• Leadership and organizational workshops
• Funds to attend workshops
• Directories for contacting other affiliate organizations
• The affiliate awards program
• An opportunity to network with leading environmental educators from all over the world

EENC provides NAAEE with assistance in:

• Strengthening the grassroots of the organization through a strong representation in North Carolina
• Membership building
• Volunteers to help with NAAEE programs
• Sharing of strategies to build a strong global environmental education task force