Through a nine-state, two-phase survey, EENC and our partners at SEEA have gained unprecedented, meaningful insights into the environmental education landscape in the southeast. Explore our methodology and results using the report and accompanying dashboard. SEEA Landscape Analysis About the Analysis Project Background Project Outcomes Key Findings Project Background SEEA, the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance, is a network of state affiliates of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in the southeastern region of the U.S. EPA Region 4. SEEA’s mission is to provide southeastern state affiliates and their stakeholders collaborative and capacity building opportunities that demonstrate collective impact and magnify environmental education efforts across the region. In 2020, the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance embarked on a brand new undertaking — a landscape analysis of environmental education efforts in eight southeastern states. This project was the result of a collective desire to gain an enha nced understanding of the environmental education providers in our region who are working towards similar goals. To understand the landscape of environmental education in the southeast, we surveyed more than seven hundred environmental education providers. This analysis resulted in the development of invaluable tools for looking at the field as a whole. These tools are a visualization of the outcomes of the analysis and can be used to build or strengthen environmental education programs and networks across the Southeast and beyond. Since then, we've expanded the landscape analysis to include K-12 Schools, Teachers, and Administrators. In 2022, we surveyed more than 600 teachers and administrators to better understand what, if any, environmental education was taking place within and outside the classroom. Similar to the tools for looking at the field, we can now offer tools to help meet the needs of teachers, students, and administrators. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Pisces Foundation, this SEEA-led project included a comprehensive study of the environmental education already happening on the ground in both nonformal and K-12 settings, enabling the states involved to identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation in some areas. We wanted to complete an analysis that would give environmental education providers resources and tools to more effectively meet the needs of their communities. We designed it to help us to ensure that we are focusing our limited time and resources in the areas where we will have the biggest impact. Through it, we wanted educators to find the tools they need to connect with providers in their area to increase opportunities for students to engage in environmental education from early childhood to adulthood. And we wanted educators and providers to be able to target their efforts in the areas with the highest need, whether that need is demographic, geographic, or content based. Project Outcomes As a result of the project, any interested party can access the full stakeholder report and a robust online hub that includes interactive maps and toolbars, tutorials, state-specific findings, and more. In North Carolina, Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) along with the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the North Carolina Association of Environmental Education Centers (NCAEEC) collected responses from 136 EE programs and 105 schools, which were compiled with programs across our region for the full analysis. The final report provides recommendations and next steps for increasing environmental literacy efforts in the southeast based on an inventory of model programs and initiatives happening nationwide. This analysis and tailored state recommendations included in the report aim to equip organizations conducting environmental and conservation-related work in the southeast with the materials they need to address gaps, allocate resources more effectively, and, ultimately, meet the goal of increasing environmental literacy levels and stewardship behaviors. Key Findings Environmental education in the southeast faces many challenges brought to light through our landscape analysis, which collected data from almost 650 programs. In North Carolina, w e found that senior staff leadership and audiences served by environmental education providers do not reflect the overall demographics of the region. The average entry-level salary for environmental educators is 15-25% lower than comparable fields. There are gaps in services found across the region in rural areas, areas with the highest social vulnerability index, and areas with the lowest income. In formal school settings, 10% of surveyed educators indicated that they take students outdoors daily, and 40% do so periodically. 32% incorporate outdoor learning into instruction, and 61% are interested in doing so, but need more support. The primary limiting factors for schools' ability to participate in field trips were transportation costs, time, availability of transportation, and site fees. And yet, while challenges exist, many strengths of environmental education programs in the region were also made clear. More than two million youth in the southeast are served annually. Each year, EE takes place in 16,355 schools. And throughout the southeast, 79,857 volunteers assist with EE programs. View the EE Providers Results Report View the K-12 Education Results Report K-12 Schools Results Dashboard Environmental Education Providers Results Dashboard Climate, Education, and Equity Map You can use the map below in numerous ways. Find EE programs and providers near you. Compare how the demographics of people served by EE in a particular North Carolina city compare to the overall demographics of the city. Discover whether certain areas of the state are less likely to have environmental education opportunities and how that might compare to their exposure to pollutants or their household income. Filter and export data that's meani ngful to you. This tool can be instrumental in helping EE providers determine where there are gaps and barriers to access. For an in-depth tutorial on how to use the many features of this map, click here to watch the video on YouTube. If you're having trouble using the map on this page, click here to access it in a larger format. SEEA Landscape Analysis Updates from the Blog Urgent Action Alert: Advocate for Federal Appropriations Supporting Environmental Education Calling all educators and advocates! It's time to reach out to your Senators and Representatives to ask for support for robust funding... EENC shares results from regional landscape analysis of K-12 schools, teachers, administrators PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release EENC Shares Results from Regional Landscape Analysis of K-12 Schools, Teachers, Administrators... Participate in Regional Landscape Analysis for Environmental Education EENC is encouraging school and district administrators and formal educators who work in the PreK-12 setting, as well as environmental... What we learned at the funders’ briefing on environmental education in the southeast In the United States, the southeast receives only 8% of the $116 million in philanthropic investments for environmental literacy, outdoor... EENC Launches Comprehensive Landscape Analysis of Environmental Education in PreK-12 Schools Across EENC, in partnership with the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance, announces the launch of Phase 2 of its landscape analysis of... See what SEEA’s Landscape Analysis of Environmental Education Can Help You Do What does environmental education (EE) look like on the ground? How do we work together to strengthen EE in the southeast? What would a... Launching a Regional Landscape Analysis The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) along with the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the...

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! 2023 Conference Sponsors Duke Nicholas School of the Environment Keynote Speaker: Mallory McDuff Mallory McDuff has seen the importance of incorporating local communities in conservation through the eyes of a small-town journalist, a Peace Corps volunteer, and an environmental educator with the World Wildlife Fund. McDuff is currently a Professor of Outdoor Leadership, and Environmental Studies Director of Environmental Education at Warren Wilson College. At Warren Wilson, McDuff collaborates with diverse community partners to learn together. As a well known author, McDuff shares her most recent book, Love Your Mother, bringing awareness to the conversations around the climate crisis. McDuff's words will light EENC's Community to engage in collective action toward a more sustainable future. Theme and Focus Areas The 2023 conference theme is Unplug and rEEconnect. 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 take time get outside and reconnect with the natural world. rEEconnect to Place: EE can be facilitated and experienced anywhere! These presentations will focus on how to apply EE in various communities and situations. These presentations will help unlock EE's audience by sharing ways to make EE more inclusive by addressing community and situational barriers. rEEconnect to Our Why (Work): EE is the thread that connects us all! These presentations will focus not on the 'what' or 'how' we implement EE, but the 'why.' The presentations will demonstrate the importance of collaboration with each other and other organizations toward a common purpose. The presentations will 'zoom out' to celebrate the bigger picture of EE's impact. rEEconnect to Social Change: The natural world is always changing, and EE is too! These presentations will focus on big new ideas, hot topics, and ways of doing that address social change. Theory to Practice: These presentations will focus on celebrating research you and/or your organization is doing in the field and the practical application of the research. Hands On and Minds On: These presentations can be field skills, activity demonstrations, walking workshops, etc. that demonstrate the 'what' we do in EE, or the 'how' we do it! These presentations are intended to be interactive. Schedule and Workshops

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

Thank you for your interest in joining EENC's Staff team! Join Our Team The application window for the Operations and Development Lead position is now closed. Applications are currently under review; all applicants will be contacted the week of April 22nd. Interviews will be held between April 22nd and May 1st. Interview scheduling options include weekday business hours, evenings, and weekends. We will ask for references after interviews have been conducted. We anticipate a target start date of June 1, 2024. EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Environmental Educators of North Carolina Operations and Development Lead The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) is a dynamic community of environmental educators dedicated to fostering connections, providing professional development, and promoting excellence in environmental education. Established in 1990, EENC has grown into a broad network of passionate individuals and organizations collaborating to achieve its core mission. We provide the forum to bring people together, leverage resources, and unite our voices across the state. Role Overview: As Operations & Development Lead, you will be pivotal in shaping our organization's operational efficiency and financial sustainability while driving strategic development initiatives. This position encompasses a range of responsibilities, including business management, fundraising, and collaborative leadership. You will work closely with the other two staff members, the Programming Lead and the Communications & Relationships Lead. This position is full-time (average of 35 hours per week), remote within North Carolina, with some travel required. Most travel is within the state. Shared Leadership: EENC practices shared leadership, a non-hierarchical approach to organizational structuring that prioritizes collaborative accountability and decision-making responsibilities to define and achieve strategic goals. All staff are formally employed by the board, and important decisions are made among staff, between staff and board members or committees, and at the board level as defined in our decision-making model. All staff members report to one another regularly on progress and challenges. Staff serve as liaisons to board committees and routinely communicate with board leaders to plan and implement projects. Our shared leadership model empowers both individual and collective decision-making; therefore, all team members must be able to self-motivate and take ownership of their individual tasks while contributing effectively to shared goals and initiatives. Ongoing, transparent, frequent communication among team members is integral to this model. For more about this model, review our Shared Leadership Statement . Key Responsibilities: Business Operations (50%): Oversee routine operations including budgeting, finance, payroll, benefits, HR, organizational policies, etc. Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize business operations and align them with organizational goals. Guide long-term business and financial planning. Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for the organization in collaboration with the Board of Directors leadership, including taxes, solicitation license, and non-profit policy compliance Fundraising and Development (50%): Align development strategies with the overall goals and mission of EENC. Design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies with diverse revenue streams with an emphasis on grant writing and donor cultivation. Lead the development and implementation of engaging fundraising campaigns and events, major gift campaigns, and sponsorships. Fundraising events and campaigns are coordinated in collaboration with staff and Board committees. Assess financial data, measure performance, and guide data-driven decisions related to organization’s $225,000 annual budget. Regularly report on key performance indicators related to business operations, development efforts, and risk management. Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors for the following committees, which collaborate with staff to meet organizational goals: Finance Development Governance Other duties as needed. Who We’re Looking For: We are seeking a strategic thinker who can keep things running smoothly while helping guide long-term plans for EENC’s fiscal sustainability. The Operations & Development Lead should be experienced and comfortable managing budgets, cultivating revenue streams, and successfully executing dynamic projects. The ideal candidate for this new position will be excited to practice shared leadership in EENC’s staff team and eager to foster an expanding community of funders and supporters for our mission. Desired Skills and Experience Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, stakeholders, and partners to achieve common goals through leaderful collaboration Ability to manage multiple projects independently and as part of a team Experience with business operations, bookkeeping, or organizational financial management Ability to plan, organize, and think creatively at the systems level Experience developing and leading successful fundraising initiatives Experience writing, managing, and reporting on grants Exceptional writing, networking, and interpersonal skills Background in nonprofit or business leadership, especially collaborating with a non-profit Board of Directors and committees Tech Savvy: Proficient with or able to quickly learn the use of Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Quickbooks Online, and other digital tools including video conferencing, project management, fundraising, and donor management platforms Ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments, with a flexible and proactive approach to challenges. Familiarity with environmental education and an understanding of the field in the state, nationally, and internationally Requirements Diversity Commitment: Demonstrated commitment to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and in external relationships. Residency: North Carolina residency or a commitment to move within 30 days of hire. Driver’s License: A North Carolina driver’s license or the ability to acquire one within 90 days of hire. Travel: Infrequent independent travel in North Carolina for events. Schedule: Work will average 35 hours per week with a flexible schedule. Occasional evening and weekend work is necessary to accommodate special events. Work location: Employee must provide their own work location with reliable internet. We believe that environmental literacy and mutual respect are inherently linked with environmental and social justice, that environmental education and resources should be accessible to all communities, that biodiversity is critical to the success of natural spaces and the diversity of humanity is what makes us stronger, and that we are never done learning and growing as an organization and as individuals. We strongly encourage applications from People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and those who are members of other marginalized communities. This job description is a general overview, not a mandatory or comprehensive list. We encourage you to apply if you have 75% of the skills and experience listed. Your experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer and non-traditional work and learning. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to accomplish the job, we want to hear from you! Salary and Benefits: This full-time exempt salaried position will have a starting annual salary of $40,150 plus a 10% benefit stipend. Additional tangible benefits: Communications stipend for phone/internet ($80 per month) 2% employer-provided retirement contribution (no employee match required) EENC-provided computer, printer, and office supplies Paid professional development 32 days of paid personal leave for vacations, holidays, and other days of your choosing, plus 5 sick days per year Additional intangible benefits: Flexible scheduling Work from home Opportunity to work at a systemic level to support environmental educators and advance environmental education across the state Networking with environmental educators across the state How To Apply: Apply online by submitting our application form (embedded below, also available in-browser ). Resumes and cover letters will NOT be accepted via email. If you have questions, please contact Board Past President Amy Juliana at amy@eenc.org . To apply, you will need to submit: Resume Cover letter that addresses the following (maximum 2 pages): This position requires significant interaction with multiple internal and external stakeholder groups (grantors, staff, Board of Directors, others). Describe your experience interacting with multiple stakeholder groups. Describe a time you managed or developed an organizational or business budget. How did you plan for, track, and evaluate success? Hiring Timeline: Applications accepted through April 12, 2024. Application review period April 14 - April 19, 2024. All applicants will be contacted the following week. We anticipate conducting interviews April 22 - May 1. Interview scheduling options include weekday business hours, evenings, and weekends. We will ask for references after interviews have been conducted. We anticipate a target start date of June 1, 2024. EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

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

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

Find your environmental education community in North Carolina with EENC! Take a workshop, build connections, become a member, apply for funding, and more... EENC Find your community . Apply to Join EENC's Board of Directors! Learn More & Apply Let's Learn Together Wed, Jul 01 EENC Book Club, July - December 2026 / 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. Mon, Aug 24 (PILOT)Beyond Four Walls: Strategies for Authentic Outdoor Teaching / Details 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. Mon, Oct 19 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Environmental Education – Online Course / Buy Tickets 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. Mon, Nov 02 Accessible by Nature: Designing EE to Support All Learners / Details 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. Mon, Jan 04 EENC Book Club, January to June 2027 / RSVP Jan 04, 2027, 9:00 AM – Jun 22, 2027, 9:00 PM Online Course Join EENC's semi-annual book club for monthly connection and conversation around some great eco-forward titles. Lates t News 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. Aug 15 Speaking Up for the NC Office of EE NOTE: This blog post is time-sensitive and may not be applicable at the time of reading. A huge THANK YOU to several members of the EE community for helping bring all of this information together. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 UPDATE: As you may have heard, the latest budget was passed in North Carolina and signed by Governor Stein, which did not include funding for the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. We want to thank you for all of your intense efforts these l Jul 9 Congratulations to EENC’s 2026 Mini-Grant Awardees EENC is so proud to be able to offer mini-grants for the 8th year in a row! Jun 12 Welcoming EENC's Newest Board Members 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. Jan 15 Collaborative Connections: Notes from EENC's Annual Organization Leaders Meeting 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 resilie Nov 14, 2025 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. Sep 22, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 “I joined EENC shortly after moving to North Carolina. Coming from an environmental education background, I knew that the best way to make connections with other professionals in the field would be through this organization. EENC provides numerous opportunities to network, build community, and to feel supported. During my time as a member I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from so many talented individuals in conservation and conservation education, and this has certainly helped me grow as an educator.” -Breanna Walker, 2023 Board Piedmont Section Chair Champion Sponsor

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Latest News All Posts Member Highlights Events & Programs Impact Updates Take Action Search Jul 26 Impact Updates From NC to DC: A Climate Education Journey EENC will be part of a design team in Washington, DC for the Educating for Climate Action and Justice: Guidelines for Excellence. Jun 28 Member Highlights The Road to 100 Journey Continues This year, EENC has taken on a membership growth challenge, the Road to 100, to fill in geographic gaps in our membership and have member... Jun 11 Impact Updates 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.... Jun 4 Impact Updates #EEforALL: UDL in EE Impact Report Since its rollout in 2022, the Universal Design for Environmental Education course designed by EENC, California AEOE, and Silvers... May 3 Member Highlights EENC Board Member At-Large Sammy Bauer on Completing the Environmental Educator Certification Program Re-published with permission from the NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs blog, "Teachable Moments." Find the... Apr 23 Impact Updates DEQ Celebrates Earth Day with the Release the State K-12 Environmental Literacy Plan Republished from NC DEQ. FUQUAY-VARINA State and local leaders gathered today at Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet... Apr 22 Take Action 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. Apr 12 Member Highlights I am EENC: Justin Young, RiverLink I am EENC is a series of quarterly guest-written blog posts where members share their journeys, passions, and accomplishments as... Apr 1 Impact Updates Updates from the Road to 100 Read the Road to 100 Launch Announcement Blog Post Read February Road to 100 Updates Read January Road to 100 Updates March Celebrations... Mar 29 Take Action Urgent Action Alert: Advocate for Federal Appropriations Supporting Environmental Education Calling all educators and advocates! It's time to reach out to your Senators and Representatives to ask for support for robust funding... 1 2 3 4 5