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! 2025 EENC Conference #EENC2025: Hope Through Strength from Mountains to Sea Conference Registration Is CLOSED EENC's 2025 conference will be at Mission Health/AB Tech Conference Center in Asheville on September 19 and 20, with a pre-conference workshop and field trips taking place on the 18th. Registration is now CLOSED! 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! Review our Sponsor Packet for more information. Lodging : Asheville area lodging accommodations for the conference. Schedule: The 2025 schedule is available . You don't want to miss these amazing sessions! Conference Apparel : Check out the amazing array of t-shirts, tank tops, and sweatshirts designed exclusively for the 2025 conference. Scholarships : The 2025 scholarship application is now closed. Online Auction : The 2025 auction proceeds will be earmarked for supporting EENC's programs, including scholarships, curriculum updates, and more. This funding makes professional learning as accessible as possible for our EE community! Click Here to Explore the Online Auction - Closes on October 14th! Sponsor Packet Schedule Meet the 2025 Keynote Panel Dr. Caleb Hickman Sky Sampson Juanita Wilson Pre-Conference Field Trips & Workshop 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: Two Trees, One Seed! Thu, Sep 10 Walnut Creek Wetland Center More info RSVP Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Red Wolf Conservation with the Museum of Life and Science Thu, Sep 10 Museum of Life and Science More info Buy Tickets Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Emerald Pathways, Through a Troll's Eyes Thu, Sep 10 Dix Park More info Buy Tickets 2025 Conference Sponsors Champion Guardian Advocate Supporter Interested in sponsoring the EENC conference? Explore our Sponsor Packet . Theme Hope through Strength from Mountains to Sea North Carolina's vast geography, from mountains to coast, highlights the importance of environmental education in uniting communities statewide. The state faces challenges like severe weather impacts, pollution, biodiversity loss, and deforestation, among others, all of which impact daily life across coastal, urban, and rural areas. By fostering education and building connections, we can help strengthen our EE community to inspire action towards a better future. Strands Strength in Connected Communities: This strand focuses on strengthening statewide collaboration by connecting educators, organizations, and communities. Sessions will explore strategies for building partnerships, fostering individual connections, and sharing successful models of environmental learning and action. Inspiring Hope and Action Through Environmental Learning: Confronting critical issues like severe weather impacts, pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and lack of educational opportunities that empower communities to adapt and thrive. Strength in Organizational Health: These presentations highlight how strengthening operations, growth, structure, communications, and workflows are key to creating a healthier and more productive organization. Empowering Educators with Applied Research: These presentations focus on bridging research with practice so that educators—whether they’re in formal classrooms, outdoor education centers, museums, or community spaces—can foster environmental literacy in ways that resonate with all learners. Examples could include evidence-based teaching methods, Community specific education, benefits of interdisciplinary connections, or trauma-informed approaches. By using research-backed, mission-driven, and action-oriented strategies, this category helps educators transform the way environmental education is delivered—making it more open, engaging, and impactful. 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: Centrally located in Asheville, minutes from Downtown, the River Arts District, and Biltmore Village, AB Technical Community College attracts local residents, as well as people from across the country who are drawn to Asheville's mountains and thriving community. 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 Sponsorship Opportunities – May Keynote Speaker Announcement – May Award Nominations – Open June 15 and Close July 20 Pre-Conference Workshops and Field Trips – May Early Bird Registration – June 9th (June 2nd for Members) General Registration – July Schedule – July Previous Conferences 2024 2023 2022 The Office: A Note from Past-President Will Freund For over 30 years, the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs has been a key partner in EENC's work since our founding in 1991. Now we embark on the journey of figuring out what is next. EENC Board of Directors 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

Attend an event, take a course, join a workshop, or all three! View our full calendar of upcoming events here. EENC Members receive exclusive discounts to our events. Upcoming Events and Learning Opportunities EENC Book Club, July - December 2026 Jul 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Dec 17, 2026, 7:00 PM Online Course Join EENC's semi-annual book club for monthly connection and conversation around some great eco-forward titles. Details Membership Offer Embracing Evaluation in Environmental Education Jul 27, 2026, 7:00 AM – Sep 11, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course By giving more environmental educators the tools to carry out meaningful evaluations, we can improve our efforts to build a healthier and more equitable future. Details Membership Offer EE and the NC Science Standards Jul 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – Aug 24, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course This course is designed to help formal and non-formal educators understand North Carolina state science standards and how environmental education can apply to those standards when planning lessons and curricula for school-age audiences. Details (PILOT)Beyond Four Walls: Strategies for Authentic Outdoor Teaching Aug 24, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 21, 2026, 6:00 PM Online Course Through this community of learners, you will create a “backpack” of strategies and skills that can be utilized in your own lessons, so you can take your teaching beyond your four walls. Buy Tickets 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: Two Trees, One Seed! Sep 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson St, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA This workshop will be a unique exploration of Project Learning Tree and NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence focusing on Early Childhood. RSVP Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Red Wolf Conservation with the Museum of Life and Science Sep 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Museum of Life and Science, 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704, USA This field trip will provide a hands on learning experience to better understand the conservation efforts that go into protecting North Carolina's Red Wolf population. Buy Tickets Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Emerald Pathways, Through a Troll's Eyes Sep 10, 2026, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA This field trip visits the Dambo Troll residents of Dix Park and honors their mission of environmental conservation through Community Science Projects. Buy Tickets Membership Offer EENC 2026 Annual Conference Sep 11, 2026, 8:30 AM – Sep 12, 2026, 5:00 PM McKimmon Center, McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA The 2026 conference will be September 11-12 at McKimmon Center in Raleigh, with pre-conference programs taking place on the 10th. Buy Tickets Membership Offer Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Environmental Education – Online Course Oct 19, 2026, 9:00 AM – Dec 11, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in the language, concepts and principles of equity work for environmental educators and environmental professionals. Details Membership Offer Accessible by Nature: Designing EE to Support All Learners Nov 02, 2026, 9:00 AM – Dec 11, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course We hope this course will inspire you to strengthen your pedagogical practices so they are more welcoming, inclusive and accessible for all learners. Details

See the schedule and description of EENC's 2021 conference, held in Arden. 2021 Conference Join us for the 30th Annual Environmental Educators of North Carolina Conference at Lutheridge Arden, NC from Friday, September 10 to Saturday, September 11, 2021. This will also be the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA) regional conference. Learn more about SEEA at southeastee.com . Our 2021 SEEA/EENC conference theme is rEEmerge, honoring new beginnings as we celebrate EENC's 30th anniversary. Join us as we re-imagine a post-COVID world for Environmental Education; a world with diverse partnerships, resilient communities, and a broader concept of what it means to be an Environmental Educator. Enjoy a conference full of professional development, networking, learning, and field experiences that will help you expand your knowledge of EE and resources in NC and beyond! Plan ahead now for pre-conference workshops, field trips, and more on Thursday, September 9. If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Conference Co-chairs Chris Goforth and Shannon Culpepper at conference@eenc.org . EENC is handling all aspects of conference planning, including lodging and meals. Please direct all questions to Shannon and Chris as Lutheridge will be unable to give you answers. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Trish O'Kane Trish O’Kane is a writer and award-winning teacher who has published two books, and who has taught for 14 years in three major universities and a women’s prison. She is the creator of “Birding to Change the World,” a place-based environmental education program at the University of Vermont which pairs undergraduates with schoolchildren in a birding-mentoring program. In 2022, HarperCollins will publish her upcoming teaching-birding memoir about this program and how birds became her teachers. A dedicated and obsessive birder, in the past 10 years she has not only watched and studied birds with a scientific eye, spending over 1000 hours in the field, she has helped feathered parents raise baby bluebirds, tree swallows and black-capped chickadees in tiny houses and volunteered as a baby bird incubator “nurse” at a wildlife rehab facility. Before studying the natural sciences, she was a human and civil rights investigative journalist for 15 years in Central America and Alabama. She has published widely in US and Latin American media including The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, NACLA, The Christian Science Monitor, Envío, and Noticias Aliadas. Schedule

Donor support directly enables us to take action in pursuit of our mission to support and advocate on behalf of North Carolina's community of environmental educators. Thank you. Donor Recognition Tiers A message of welcome and appreciation for our donors: The EENC team owes every aspect of our success to the support of our donors: financial contributions directly drive our ability to offer professional learning opportunities, advocate for environmental education across North Carolina, host our annual conferences, and implement innovative projects with key partners to strengthen environmental education capacity nationwide. All donors receive email and written thank you cards, get added to our quarterly donor newsletter, and are listed (small print below $500) in our Annual Report. At the below giving levels, donors are also eligible for all listed recognition opportunities. Think of it as a thank-you gift: from us, to you. We’re better together. $1-99: Scuppernongs Digital Badge for LinkedIn “I Gave to EENC” $100-249: Scotch Bonnets All Donors recognition (see above) Name listed on website Gratitude post on Facebook $250-499: Eastern Tiger Swallowtails All Donors recognition (see above) Name listed on website Name listed (not small) in Annual Report Access to the Vulture Program presented by President $500-999: Pine Barrens Tree Frogs Included in donor newsletter & Annual Report Name listed on website Name listed in Annual Report Recognition during fundraising events $1000-$2499: Brook Trout All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Social Media Interview/Highlight $2500-$4999: Marbled Salamanders All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Special tour with an organization leader $5000-$9999: Flowering Dogwoods All doors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Spotlight article on EENC website Commemorative Thank You Item The Emerald Society $10,000-24,999: Eastern Box Turtles $25,000-49,999: Carolina Lillies $50,000+: Northern Cardinals All Emerald Society donors receive the following: All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Recognition during fundraising events Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Spotlight article on EENC website Custom newsletter Induction during ceremony at annual fundraising event or Conference Additional naming and legacy opportunities available for Northern Cardinal donors For questions about these giving levels and recognition offerings, contact Operations & Development Lead David Rizor at operations@eenc.org. Thank you for supporting EENC! Thanks to our community of 2024 donors! We rely on direct contributions from our members and supporters to bring our mission to life. Find the full list of 2024 donors in our 2024 Annual Report . Want to see your name on this list next year? Make a donation today. Support The 2024 Let's Grow Together Campaign! Through the Let’s Grow Together Campaign, we’re working to raise funds and draw attention to five amazing EE organizations across the state. EENC Staff Team Better Together: Successes from the 2023 Annual Giving Campaign EENC’s 2023 Annual Giving Campaign, Better Together, is one for the history books! Together, our community raised over $30,000 over the... EENC Staff Team Announcing EENC’s New Donor Recognition Tiers The EENC team owes every aspect of our success to the support of our donors: financial contributions directly drive our ability to offer... EENC Staff Team

Opportunities for civic action, volunteerism, participation, and engagement with EENC's work. Advocate for environmental education in North Carolina! Take Action Speaking Up for the NC Office of EE Unless: Your Voice Can Make A Difference for EE in North Carolina Support The 2024 Let's Grow Together Campaign! Updates from the Road to 100 Urgent Action Alert: Advocate for Federal Appropriations Supporting Environmental Education N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources launches ‘Learning Happens Here’ initiative 1 2 3 4 5

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

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 The Office: A Note from Past-President Will Freund For over 30 years, the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs has been a key partner in EENC's work since our founding in 1991. Now we embark on the journey of figuring out what is next. EENC Board of Directors 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

Discover foundational concepts and practices of environmental education. What is Environmental Education? Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action. Why Does Environmental Education Matter? Did you grow up catching fireflies, playing in the creek, or building forts in your backyard? Most children in today’s world won’t , which means that when they grow up, they may not have a vested interest in protecting our natural resources and natural spaces. Environmental educators across North Carolina are working to change that. Environmental education is critical for a sustainable future. It provides time in, and a connection to, the outdoors which research has shown to improve academic p erformance and physical, mental, and emotional health - making it just as important for our participants as it is for the planet. More than ever, children and adults need to know how ecological systems work and why they matter. The health of the environment is inseparable from humans’ well-being and economic prosperity . People require knowledge, tools and sensitivity to successfully address and solve environmental problems in their daily lives. Environmental education...has the power to transform lives and society. It informs and inspires. It influences attitudes. It motivates action. Environmental education is a key tool in expanding the constituency for the environmental movement and creating healthier and more civically-engaged communities. -North American Association for Environmental Education Environmental Education Works Over the last few decades, thousands of studies have been completed to analyze the effectiveness of EE. “The studies clearly showed that students taking part in environmental education programming gained knowledge about the environment. But the studies also showed that learning about the environment is just the tip of the iceberg.” (NAAEE) This research has demonstrated that environmental education: Has widespread public support Improves standardized test sc ores and academic performance Promotes 21st century skills such as critical thinking, oral communication, analytical skills, problem solving, and higher-order thinking Supports STEM topics and is interdisciplinary Bolsters civic engagement and empowerment Sparks stewardship behavior and environmental actions Encourages students’ personal growth including teamwork, confidence, autonomy, and leadership Increases motivation and interest in learning Is an “equalizer” allowing educators to cater to multiple student interests, skills, abilities, and special needs,Helps improve teacher skills and classroom engagement Is a cost-effective investment, promoting multiple environmental and societal benefits, and Strengthens communities by connecting schools to local organizations and agencies. To learn more about the original research, you can check out eeWorks and the Children’s and Nature Network’s Research Library. Environmental Education Promotes Environmental Literacy “Environmental education is a resource that transcends the classroom—both in character and scope. In the classroom and beyond, the desired outcome of environmental education is environmental literacy. What is Environmental Literacy? In North Carolina, environmental literacy is defined as the ability to make informed decisions about issues affecting shared natural resources while balancing cultural perspectives, the economy, public health and the environment. An environmentally literate citizen: Understands how natural systems and human social systems work and relate to one another, Combines this understanding with personal attitudes and experiences to analyze various facets of environmental issues, Develops the skills necessary to make responsible decisions based on scientific, economic, aesthetic, political, cultural and ethical considerations; and Practices personal and civic responsibility for decisions affecting our shared natural resources. Environmental literacy is dependent upon formal education opportunities as well as nonformal education about the environment that takes place in settings such as parks, zoos, nature centers, community centers, youth camps, etc. It is the combination of these formal and nonformal experiences that leads to an environmentally literate citizenry. North Carolina requires an environmentally literate citizenry who make informed decisions about complex environmental issues affecting the economy, public health and safety, and shared natural resources, such as the water, air and land on which life depends.” - North Carolina’s Environmental Literacy Plan Ways to Get Involved in Environmental Education Learn more about the organizations and research supporting environmental education. Increase our efforts to support North Carolina’s classroom teachers, naturalists, park rangers, nonformal educators, government employees, students and volunteers by contributing to EENC . Spread the word. Encourage your kids’ teachers to get involved. Volunteer at your local environmental education center. Become an environmental educator. Join our community . Want a printable copy of this information to share? We have two PDF versions available: With citations With clickable links

Explore EENC's core workshop and course offerings, including those eligible for NC EE Certification credit hours. Learning Opportunities Core Offerings For Programming information, contact Michelle Pearce at programs@eenc.org Look for eeCOURSES in our offerings! eeCOURSES are top-quality, competency-based courses on specific topics across the breadth of environmental education. eeCOURSES are developed by NAAEE Affiliates and endorsed by NAAEE. Guidelines for Excellence JEDI in EE Accessible by Nature Inquiry-Based Outdoor Learning EE and the NC Science Standards Embracing Evaluation in EE Guidelines for Excellence The Guidelines for Excellence is a series of materials that helps environmental educators hone their practice and programs to national standards for high-quality environmental education programming. Developed by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the Guidelines document the collective wisdom of hundreds of educators across our nation; these guides are updated periodically to reflect new research, changing best practices, and an increasing attention to equity and inclusion. Workshops focus on one or more of the Guidelines publications: K-12 Environmental Education Professional Development of Environmental Educators Environmental Education Materials Nonformal Environmental Education Programs Early Childhood Environmental Education Programs Community Engagement For those pursuing EE Certification in North Carolina managed by our partners at the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, these workshops qualify for Criteria I/continuing education credit. You make take multiple Guidelines workshops for credit, so long as each workshop focuses on a different Guidelines publication. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Education This online course is designed to provide a strong foundation in the language, concepts and principles of equity work for environmental educators and environmental professionals. It is meant to be an introductory course and spark interest in further learning around justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). The main topics for the course include: Foundations of communication for sensitive topics, including group agreements and nonviolent communication. Developing a common language for discussing JEDI topics Understanding historical intersections of the environmental movement with social justice topics, how those historical events might still be causing impacts today. Understanding bias, stereotypes, and oppression Reflecting on power and privilege that different identities afford, how that power and privilege manifests as microaggressions and how to use the power and privilege you had to develop a personal action plan. This course was developed through a partnership between Center for Diversity and the Environment , EcoInclusive , Justice Outside , Environmental Educators of North Carolina, Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education, and Kentucky Association for Environmental Education. Each cohort will have 8 weeks to complete the 10-15 hour asynchronous course. Cohorts will begin quarterly . Course qualifies for Criteria I/continuing education credit for the NC Environmental Educator Certificate . Accessible by Nature: Designing EE to Support All Learners This course uses the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible and challenging for all, rather than making modifications for individual students’ needs. This course will encourage you to reflect deeply on your practice to focus on how you plan and teach, not just the content you teach. Whether you’re a classroom teacher or outdoor nonformal educator, are an experienced professional or just getting started in the field, and are new to inclusion or have been leading inclusive programming for years, we hope this course will inspire you to strengthen your pedagogical practices so they are more welcoming, inclusive and accessible for all learners. Focus areas include: Understanding the principles of Universal Design for Learning Describing terms, techniques, tools, and resources to promote inclusivity and access to better serve diverse populations, specifically those with learning differences, physical accessibility needs, and language barriers Evaluating your current teaching practices/pedagogy and your setting to identify barriers to participation Applying the principles of universal design for learning to your pedagogical practices to redesign a lesson, activity, or program This course content was designed by Michelle Silvers of Silver’s Lining PLLC, Estrella Risinger with the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education , Michelle Pearce and Lauren Pyle with the Environmental Educators of North Carolina, with contributions from Rebekah Jones and the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning . This is an endorsed eeCOURSE with NAAEE . Inquiry-Based Outdoor Learning: USING BEETLES IN NC The BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning, and Expertise Sharing) learning sessions are active experiences crafted to encourage instructors to look at specific aspects of research-based science pedagogy and to inspire shifts in instructors’ thinking about their own teaching and learning. Developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science, these hands-on and interactive sessions promote a student-centered approach to help participants better engage with science and the natural world through inquiry. Learn more about BEETLES at http://beetlesproject.org/ Inquiry-Based Outdoor Learning workshops fully explore 2-4 of the eleven Professional Learning Sessions in their entirety during the 6-10 hours of the workshop: Adaptation & Evolution Assessing for Learning Constructing Understanding Evidence & Explanations Field Journaling with Students Making Observations Matter & Energy in Ecosystems Nature and Practices of Science Promoting Discussion Questioning Strategies Teaching & Learning For those pursuing EE Certification in North Carolina managed by our partners at the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, these workshops qualify for Criteria I/continuing education credit. You make take multiple Inquiry-Based Outdoor Learning workshops for credit, so long as each workshop focuses on different BEETLES. Environmental Education and the NC Science Standards Environmental Education and the NC Science Standards is a 4 week course designed to help practitioners review NC Essential Standards and popular EE curriculum to better understand how they can support eachother. This workshop is for educators (formal, nonformal, and higher education) who want to: Explain the purpose of academic standards and their role in our educational system Describe the components of the academic standards. Use the science standards to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of environmental education. Demonstrate how these academic standards correlate with environmental education curricula. Format: This course will be a completely online course that uses Moodle and shared documents platforms like Padlet and Google Docs. For those pursuing EE Certification in North Carolina managed by our partners at the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, this course qualifies for Criteria III/continuing education credit. Embracing Evaluation in Environmental Education What is this course about? A primary goal of this 5 week course is to give participants the skills to develop an evaluation plan that goes beyond the satisfaction survey many providers use. The best evaluation plan is intentionally connected to program goals and created and implemented in collaboration with the program audience. By giving more environmental educators the tools to carry out meaningful evaluations, we can improve our efforts to build a healthier and more equitable future. Who is this course for? This course is intended for anyone working in or adjacent to environmental education. The course will cover evaluation basics and is intended for practitioners with no evaluation experience as well as those with many years of experience. If you are someone with evaluation experience, the course content may help you think of evaluation differently and give you new ideas. For those pursuing EE Certification in North Carolina managed by our partners at the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, this course qualifies for Criteria III/continuing education credit. Two live Zoom calls are required, otherwise the course is asynchronous. Upcoming Courses & Workshops Wed, Jul 01 EENC Book Club, July - December 2026 / Online Course Details Jul 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Dec 17, 2026, 7:00 PM Online Course Join EENC's semi-annual book club for monthly connection and conversation around some great eco-forward titles. Membership Offer Mon, Jul 27 Embracing Evaluation in Environmental Education / Online Course Details Jul 27, 2026, 7:00 AM – Sep 11, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course By giving more environmental educators the tools to carry out meaningful evaluations, we can improve our efforts to build a healthier and more equitable future. Membership Offer Mon, Jul 27 EE and the NC Science Standards / Online Course Details Jul 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – Aug 24, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course This course is designed to help formal and non-formal educators understand North Carolina state science standards and how environmental education can apply to those standards when planning lessons and curricula for school-age audiences. Mon, Aug 24 (PILOT)Beyond Four Walls: Strategies for Authentic Outdoor Teaching / Online Course Buy Tickets Aug 24, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 21, 2026, 6:00 PM Online Course Through this community of learners, you will create a “backpack” of strategies and skills that can be utilized in your own lessons, so you can take your teaching beyond your four walls. Thu, Sep 10 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: Two Trees, One Seed! / Walnut Creek Wetland Center RSVP Sep 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson St, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA This workshop will be a unique exploration of Project Learning Tree and NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence focusing on Early Childhood. Load More About our Events SECTION EVENTS Throughout the year, EENC offers regional section events across the state. These events vary greatly in length, topic, and format - but their goal is the same: to bring local environmental educators together! Some events might be more recreational in nature, like k ayaking or a group hike. Others may be more social, like brewery/film screening meet-up or cookouts. Still others may be more content-driven, like a guided wildflower walk or teaching strategies seminar. We've also hosted book-clubs, behind-the-scenes tours, and family-friendly gatherings. WEBI NARS North Carolina is a large state. EENC provides virtual opportunities so that educators from Murphy to Manteo to gather together, to learn with and from one another. EENC currently hosts monthly webinars on the th ird Thursday of the month. We invite presenters to share their expertise and experience about hot topics impacting our EE community. If you are interested in presenting a webinar, contact the Program Coordinator. All webinars are free for participants. Recordings are sent to all participants afterward. COMMUNIT Y CALLS Community calls are a great chance to share what you're thinkin g, listen to what others are planning, ask questions of one another, and feel a sense of community. These drop-in interactive calls provide virtual opportunities to engage with your peers throughout the year. Some calls have specific themes for target audiences, while others are more general. We don't have the answers, but we're hoping that together, we can create solutions! EVENTS FROM OUR PARTNERS EENC is an Affiliate co-host of the NAAEE Monthly Webinar Series , an Outdoor Learning Store workshop partner, and a Green Teacher Webinar partner. You can find many of EENC's signature and partnered events listed on Facebook . Looking for additional professional development? There are a wide variety of environmental education organizations that offer professional development for North Carolina's EE community. PROGRAM EVALUATION DASHBOARD https://eenc-visualization.streamlit.app/~/+/#welcome-to-the-eenc-dashboard

Donor support directly enables us to take action in pursuit of our mission to support and advocate on behalf of North Carolina's community of environmental educators. Thank you. Donate Make a Donation Invest in environmental education by making a n online donation directly to EENC by completing the form on the left. We also accept donations via check at the below address: Environmental Educators of North C arolina 150 Highlands Sq Dr #1034, Hendersonville, NC 28792 To coordinate ACH or wire-transfer gifts, contact operations@eenc.org . Learn about our Donor Recognition Tiers here. Explore our Sponsorship opportunities here. Learn more about our Legacy Giving program here. Get to know our community of 2023 Donors here. Everyone benefits from environmental education. Your donation helps EENC provide low-cost and free training for educators, collaborate with partners to advance our field, and work to make environmental education more equitable and inclusive. EENC wants to change the world by: Providing professional development and networking for educators Diversifying the field of environmental education Bringing together like-minded organizations to increase capacity Promoting excellence in environmental education As a learner, teacher, parent, or community member, you can play a critical role in helping people access the intellectual, personal, and social benefits of environmental education. As a society, we are facing huge environmental, social, and economic issues. The author Richard Louv spoke at our conference in 2016 and summed it up with a JAWS reference: We’re gonna need a bigger boat. Will you be a part of EENC’s bigger boat? Your gift of any size brings us another step closer to achieving our vision of an environmentally literate community.

Get to know our small but mighty staff team and our dedicated Board of Directors. Meet our Staff and Board Michelle Pearce Programming Lead About Michelle 2026 Board of Directors Will Freund Past-President will@eenc.org LaKyla Hodges Western Section Chair lakyla@eenc.org Brooke Wilson Member-At-Large brooke@eenc.org Emily Behr Central Section Chair emily.b@eenc.org Jessica Stitt Eastern Section Chair jessica@eenc.org Noah Upchurch President-Elect noah@eenc.org Sydney Singleton Piedmont Section Chair sydney@eenc.org Rachel Bentley Member-At-Large rachel@eenc.org Cynthia Peedin President cynthia@eenc.org Tamara Kelly Member-At-Large tamara@eenc.org Lauren Daniel Treasurer lauren@eenc.org Hillary Harrison Secretary hillary@eenc.org Harrison Jackson Member-At-Large harrison@eenc.org Erika Young Member-at-Large erika@eenc.org The Board of Directors for Environmental Educators of North Carolina is elected by the membership and oversees the organization. Board members plan the annual conference, help develop partnerships, seek funding for the organization, lead advocacy initiatives, and set and manage the annual budget for the organization. Board positions are volunteer-based with two-year terms. The EENC Nomination Committee has closed applications for the 2026 Board of Directors. EENC Committees EENC accomplishes our work through collaboration between staff and board members. We currently have four committees that are chaired by board members that further our mission work. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Chair: LaKyla Hodges Email LaKyla Events & Outreach Chair: Jess Stit Email Jess Finance & Development Chair: Will Freund Email Will Governance Chair: Cynthia Peedin Email Cynthia