This week, EENC's Board of Directors and staff met for their first Board Meeting of 2026 and to kick off our Emerald Jubilee, celebrating our 35th anniversary as a nonprofit organization. At this meeting, we welcomed six new amazing individuals as they start their tenure helping lead the Environmental Educators of North Carolina forward into the future. Each of these individuals submitted their applications, interviewed with Board leadership, proposed to the whole Board, and was overwhelmingly approved by members. Here is a little more about these champions for environmental education. Sydney Danby Piedmont Section Chair I am excited to join the E.E. team to be able to use my experience and knowledge to help other environmental educators be the best we all can be! Helping future generations understand the importance of our natural resources has always been my top academic and professional goal. I also bring experience in international agricultural education, which focused heavily on hands-on approaches to learning. Fun Fact: I have travelled to 12 countries and lived abroad with a farming family in the Alps! Emily Behr Central Section Chair I’m so excited to join the board as the Central Section Chair! Environmental Education is so important to youth development and supporting our next generation of environmental stewards. I can’t wait to build connections across central North Carolina, share ideas, and inspire others who care deeply about this work. Fun Fact: Before I got into youth development work, I worked in music and helped Elijah Wood start a record label called Simian Records. Brooke Wilson Board Member at Large I am excited to get a chance to work with an amazing group of Environmental Educators. I look forward to hopefully contributing towards the advancement of this field and making a difference on the board by helping to raise awareness for our initiatives, assisting with the planning of conferences and other events, and helping EENC grow and advance towards its overall goals. Fun Fact: I have spent the majority of my career in some form of a Zookeeper role. I have cared for a wide variety of animals from Manatees and Sea Turtles to Red Wolves and Black Bears. Rachel Bentley Board Member at Large I am excited to join the Board of Directors as a Board Member-at-Large and help further EENC’s mission, work collaboratively with educators across all regions of North Carolina, and give back to the community that has inspired and supported me throughout my professional journey. Fun Fact: I am an avid birder. My all-time favorite bird is a Great Blue Heron! Lauren Daniel Board Member at Large I’m excited to support a statewide network of environmental stewards dedicated to connecting communities with nature through education. Fun Fact: I’m a US Coast Guard approved boat captain (OUPV) and my favorite activity is exploring Eastern NC estuaries with my husband, son, and dog, Otis. Erika Young Board Member at Large I am excited to join the board of EENC! I look forward to serving and collaborating with so many passionate educators! I am proud to be a supporter of environmental education for ALL individuals, as we say in Sea Grant, from K-GRAY! Fun Fact: I am a potter and sculptor and have won a few ribbons and awards! Needless to say, EENC is honored to have such an amazing group of individuals join this organization and further our mission to build connections, provide professional development, and promote excellence for North Carolina's community of environmental educators. This crew is hitting the ground running with all of the exciting things we have planned for 2026 and beyond. From book clubs to new workshops and so much more, we are so excited for what's ahead. You can meet all of EENC's Board of Directors and staff by clicking here . In Community, Will Freund EENC Past-President

Presentation slides used for the meeting featuring different discussion topics EENC hosted its Annual Organization Leadership Meeting this week, bringing together staff from the Organizational Members for conversation and collaboration. This year's conversation started with participants sharing their Roses, Thorns, and Buds for their programs and organizations this year. We heard stories of celebration around taking on new positions and programs, as well as stories of resilience and return after the impacts of Helene and budget roadblocks. While there were also tales of struggle around turnover and transitions with staff, and limitations on the Americorps program budgeting as well as state budgeting, we also learned that there are so many exciting new programs coming up in 2026 for all of the participants! Attendees shared challenges and success around staff recruitment and retention: How often to hire seasonal staff? How to keep staff engaged and committed to the organization? What are some successful ways everyone has built connection in their teams? We also learned about some of the amazing partnerships that are happening across the state, bringing new audiences to each location and/or taking that organization's programs to the communities. Some partners included the TEACCH Autism Program from Chapel Hill, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the NC State Extension offices, and shared contracts with private companies for property use and programming in order to gain additional income. The final "Hot Topic" included shared updates from the NAAEE Conference, and specifically the conversations around AI and EE: ethics, best practices, and how to use it. There will be more details coming from the NAAEE Affiliate Network after the new year, and in the meantime, EENC is planning a webinar presentation on this topic. We want to hear from you! Are you working for an EE organziation that could use some collaboration and feedback from likeminded or mission aligned organizations? Please consider joining EENC at the Organizational Membership Level , and be part of the conversation!

From left to right: Lisa Rider, Melanie Buckingham, Susan Sachs, and Sarah Goldsmith | Credit: Keith Bamberger For years, EENC has had the pleasure and opportunity to recognize and award individuals nominated by their peers, and this year is no exception. These awards are meant to recognize members, organizations, partners, and leaders who exemplify service, creativity, ingenuity, and contribution to the field of environmental education. On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Environmental Educators of North Carolina held their annual awards ceremony during their conference at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, North Carolina. The awards ceremony was moderated by Will Freund, EENC Board President, and included a panel discussion with all of the award winners. This year, EENC presented four awards to the following individuals. Credit: Keith Bamberger Outstanding Newcomer - Sarah Goldsmith Outstanding Newcomer recognizes an EENC member of five years or less who has made significant contributions to EENC during their short time with EENC. This person really shows what it means to be a rising star in the field of environmental education. Through her work with Wake County Parks, Sarah has developed and led over 100 unique programs annually for homeschool groups, schools, dementia care homes, and outreach organizations, reaching more than 3,000 students each year. She brings environmental education to life in both formal and non-formal settings, from leading summer camps and bilingual “Tiny Tots” nature programs to launching the county’s first Sensory Programming initiative for adults with differing abilities.  As a Project WET Facilitator and part-time educator at the Agape Center for Environmental Education, she also provides training and inspiration for fellow educators. She creates very engaging and unique, accessible educational materials, including grab-and-go Discovery Backpacks that help with environmental literacy for park visitors of all ages. Her passion for inclusivity and community engagement is shown in her partnerships with groups like Activate Good, South Wake Conservationists, 4-H, and the Wake County Animal Shelter, where she founded and continues to lead the “Tails and Trails” dog adoption event promoting responsible pet care and adoption. Currently working on her Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification as well as becoming a certified wildlife rehabilitator for opossums.  She is a frequent contributor to NC Recreation & Park Association’s Recre8 and NRPA magazines. Sarah has quickly become a leader in her field, known for her high energy, collaboration, and dedication to creating a more environmentally aware and inclusive community all around the triangle! Outstanding Practitioner - Melanie Buckingham Outstanding Practitioner recognizes a member of EENC who works regularly as an environmental educator, lending their skills to the growing body of environmental education as a profession. This individual has made significant contributions to EENC through statewide participation, leadership in their region, and being an advocate for high quality education through how they teach, live, and do. Credit: Keith Bamberger This person is an amazing environmental educator and has helped not only me but everyone lucky enough to visit Kathleen Clay Edwards’ Library in Greensboro, North Carolina. She has brought so many classes to her branch and has always been a great source of information. She has encouraged so many people to pursue their EE certification and follow their passions for the field of environmental education. I don’t think I could be doing this without her support. EENC Board President, Will Freund, moderates a panel discussion with the award recipients. Exceptional Environmental Education Program - Coastal Carolina Riverwatch The Exceptional EE Program award recognizes a program, organization, or center that brings environmental education to the public in great, new, and/or exceptional ways. Credit: Keith Bamberger This award was accepted by Lisa Rider, Executive Director of Coastal Carolina Riverwatch. This is a grassroots nonprofit organization working to protect the quality of water and quality of life in coastal North Carolina. Their mission is centered on supporting clean water through community science, education, and advocacy. They serve the White Oak River Basin, including the Crystal Coast and New River regions, where they engage residents, students, and decision-makers in efforts to address pressing water quality concerns. A core part of their work focuses on making environmental education accessible, relevant, and grounded in local issues. Through their educator resources, they provide free, standards-aligned materials that support North Carolina Essential Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. These include downloadable lesson plans, interactive Google Classroom activities, and opportunities for classroom visits. Their educational programming covers topics such as landforms, watersheds, harmful algal blooms, pollution sources, and sea level rise. These resources are designed to help teachers incorporate local environmental topics into their curriculum and to engage students in meaningful, science-based learning experiences. In addition to resources for teachers, they offer in-class demonstrations such as the EnviroScape watershed model. These hands-on experiences help students visualize the connections between land use and water quality. Their staff are available to visit classrooms and community groups to talk about environmental issues and solutions that matter to coastal North Carolinians. By bringing science and advocacy into educational spaces, CCRW empowers the next generation with the tools and knowledge they need to protect their local environment. Environmental Educator of the Year - Susan Sachs EE of the Year recognizes an educator who stands out among environmental educators as a professional who exemplifies excellence in EE and lends credibility to the field. Through valuable contributions and professionalism, the environmental educator is regarded as an ideal example that other EE practitioners should strive to emulate. Credit: Keith Bamberger It is hard to find a science educator in Western North Carolina who has not learned to be a better science educator from Susan Sachs, either directly or through one of her many employees, partners, or others she has mentored over decades at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Each day she works to improve public awareness, developing materials and training for educators, and helps create both a scientifically literate public, as well as a connection to the Southern Appalachians and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Susan has played a pivotal role in helping educators incorporate culturally responsive teaching and place-based education tied to the unique ecology and history of the Smokies. This is beyond just Purchase Knob but is true for the entire park, and has moved into the NPS through the capillary action or engaging learning and teaching.  As much as every other accomplishment and accolade, Susan Sachs's more significant contribution to EENC and the environmental education community is as a mentor. By leading by example and working with school-aged students, teachers, interns, Americorp members, seasonal, temporary, and full-time NPS employees, and all others who come through her door, she has created a healthy educational ecosystem in the park and throughout the southeast. She works directly with or through her staff, hundreds of teachers and educators each year, and likely tens of thousands of students. And she has been doing this for two and a half decades. She quietly shares methods of teaching complex ecological systems and climate science into engaging, hands-on learning experiences. In closing, EENC is honored to be able to award and recognize those who are exemplary examples of the field of environmental education in North Carolina and across the region. If you know someone you would like to nominate for an award in the future, nominations for next year's awards will open in July 2026. We cannot give out these awards if those in our community do not nominate them. A special thank you to craftsman and educator Jonathan Marchal for creating such beautiful awards for EENC for so many years. We deeply appreciate your work. Credit: Keith Bamberger

See the schedule and description of EENC's 2022 conference, held in Raleigh. 2022 Conference Join us for the 31st Annual Environmental Educators of North Carolina conference at NC State’s McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh, NC! This year’s conference will be held September 9 to Saturday September 10, 2022. Plan ahead now for pre-conference workshops, field trips, and more on Thursday, September 8. We are excited to announce that the 2022 conference theme is rEEdefine: redefining how we connect, reflect and identify in the field of Environmental Education. During the conference, we will delve deeper into what EE looks like in our state, the exciting and surprising places where EE is happening, and why EE should be designed for and accessible to everyone. If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Michelle Pearce at programs @eenc.org . Keynote Speaker: Dr. Rasul Mowatt Our Keynote speaker will be NC State’s very own Dr. Rasul Mowatt, Department Head of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Dr. Mowatt’s research centers on the production and restructuring of urban space, primarily within cities, and how that impacts what we understand to be the function of race, gender and class in a society. Most recently his teaching and research culminated in his book titled "The Geographies of Threat and the Production of Violence: The State and the City Between Us,” published by Routledge press in 2021. In his free time, Dr. Mowatt is a DJ. Schedule

EENC hosts an annual conference to gather environmental educators from across the state for networking and professional learning. Join us in September for our next conference! 2024 EENC Confernece #EENC2024: Imagining SustainablE FuturEs EENC's 2024 conference took place September 13th and 14th at Catawba College in Salisbury, with a pre-conference workshop and field trips taking place on the 12th. We thank the Catawba College Center for the Environment for their generous in-kind facility donation for our conference sessions and gatherings! Attention Exhibitors! Would you like to showcase your organization or program? You can set up a table during the conference to share information about what you do. Organizational Members with a Platinum, Titanium, or Diamond level membership get to the table for free! Lodging : We’re happy to be working with Dan Nicholas Park to provide camping options, and Holiday Inn Express Salisbury for hotel accommodations. 2024 Conference Schedule View Now 2024 Conference Sponsors Presenting Catawba College Center for the Environment Advocate Acorn Naturalist 2nd Nature TREC Supporter Murphy's Naturals Interested in sponsoring the EENC conference? Explore our Sponsor Packet . 2024 Conference Theme: The 2024 conference theme is Imagining SustainablE FuturEs . During the conference, we will examine present-day issues to explore the future of environmental education in North Carolina. Through capacity building, engagement, and practical innovation we will dream big about what environmental education can look like and build skills for how we get there. 2024 Conference Session Strands: The Future of Community Engagement: Environmental education (EE) can take place anywhere and involve anyone. This track will explore how EE can empower students through formal education, enable youth to be active contributors, and engage community members who are not typically represented in EE. Sessions will focus on the diverse ways EE can engage different audiences, such as visitor engagement, youth empowerment, higher education, adult education, and partnership projects. The Future of Capacity Building: EE relies on the people and organizations that do the hard work. This track will delve into effective techniques for building capacity in organizations to promote growth, innovation, and sustainability. Examples include evaluation, strategic planning, facility management, and equitable pay and hiring practices. The Future of Environmental Literacy: These sessions will examine what it means to be environmentally literate in 2024. How can we support environmental literacy in classrooms and beyond, and how might it be influenced by current issues? Topics include climate education, formal education, and systems thinking. Research to Action: These presentations will highlight the research conducted by you and/or your organization in the field, as well as its practical applications. For instance, you might present the findings of a study on intergenerational learning and then discuss strategies for engaging audiences in such learning experiences. Hands-On, Minds-On: These presentations will showcase practical activities, field skills, demonstrations, and walking workshops that exemplify the essence of EE. They are designed to be interactive and demonstrate both the 'what' and 'how' of EE. Examples include activity demonstrations, activity guides, and identification skills workshops. About The Location: Just an hour from both the Triad and Charlotte Metro areas, Catawba College is situated conveniently in the heart of EENC's Piedmont Section. Our gracious hosts at the Catawba College Center for the Environment are opening their campus to our community: we can't wait for you to enjoy their AASHE STARS Silver rated, carbon-neutral facility, as well as the neighboring college-owned Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological Preserve. "Since its founding in 1996, the Center has led a living-learning laboratory for campus sustainability that provides hands-on environmental learning opportunities for Catawba’s students while helping them learn how to advocate for and lead positive environmental change. The Center also serves as a research, convening and policy development hub for issues ranging from regional air and water quality to state and national environmental and energy policies. The Center is housed in a stunning structure that emerges from a sloping stand of hardwood trees at the edge of the College's 189-acre ecological preserve. Every aspect of the building embodies leading sustainability principles, which creates one of the most sought-after spaces for environmental gatherings in North Carolina." Additional conference information will be published here as it becomes available. Check back frequently for the latest details! Estimated Release Dates: Request for Session Proposals – April Keynote Speaker Announcement – April Award Nominations – May Sponsorship Opportunities – May Pre-Conference Workshops and Field Trips – May Schedule – July Early Bird Registration – July General Registration – August Other Previous Conferences 2023 2022 2021 Recognizing Excellence in Environmental Education On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Environmental Educators of North Carolina held their annual awards ceremony during their conference at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, North Carolina. will.freund13 Silent Auction + Scholarships= Mutualism! EENC's Annual Conference has always had the goal of bringing together educators for idea sharing, networking, and an overall good time.... EENC Staff Team Recap & Gallery: 2023 EENC Conference Early this month, EENC friends and members gathered at Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center in Parkton for our 32nd annual conference, guided... EENC Staff Team

EENC Members have the exclusive opportunity to apply for fiscal sponsorship here. Fiscal Sponsorship Opportunities Classroom teachers, independent contractors, and others educator without nonprofit 501(c)3 status who are EENC members may apply for EENC to serve as a fiscal sponsor if they need help qualifying for grants or accepting tax-deductible charitable contributions. Fiscal sponsorship is a member benefit . Professional, Student, Senior, New to EE, Life, and all Organizational Members may log in to learn more about the application process for fiscal sponsorship in the Member Area of our website. "Using a fiscal sponsorship arrangement offers a way for a cause to attract donors even when it is not yet recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). In essence the fiscal sponsor serves as the administrative "home" of the cause. Charitable contributions are given to the fiscal sponsor, which then grants them to support the cause. " ~ National Council of Nonprofits