2023 marks the fifth year of EENC’s mini-grant program, an innovative, equity-driven member benefit that promotes excellence in environmental education across North Carolina through direct financial support. Mini-grants provide supplementary funding to EENC Member teachers, volunteers, and organizations to support their environmental education efforts, by allowing them to implement new projects, build infrastructure, purchase needed supplies, attend professional development training, and more. It’s been an impactful first five years for the mini-grant program: since 2019, EENC has allocated almost $11,000 in grants to 37 environmental educators across the state. EENC mini-grants helped those educators reach over 10,000 learners in North Carolina with high-quality, meaningful environmental education experiences over the last five years, with direct impact in 28 counties spanning all four of EENC’s Regional Sections, including 12 counties that are classified as rural by the NC Rural Center. Awardees are uniformly satisfied with their participation in the mini-grant program, with 76% reporting that EENC’s support directly enabled them to take on and complete their project of choice, and 47% reporting that they had no other source of funding for their project. “I decided to apply once I saw that funds could be used for professional development,” says 2023 Awardee Ginny Macon Paul of Beaufort County Schools. “I had heard of and researched the program STEAM in the PARKS but had put off applying due to the cost of the program and the lack of funds to support professional development in the school system I worked for. The mini-grant funding enabled me to attend this event!” EENC would like to thank all of our community members who have volunteered their time to review mini-grant applications since 2019 – because of your generous contributions, our mini-grant program is by members, for members. Below, find links to each annual celebratory recap blog post, an impact map displaying all project locations, and the complete list of all awardees and impacted counties to date. Celebrating 2023's EENC Mini-Grant Awardees Celebrating 2022's EENC Mini-Grant Winners Sharing Successes from 2021 Mini-Grant Awardees Congratulations to our 2020 Mini-Grant Recipients Celebrating EENC's First Mini-Grant Awardees All Mini-Grant Awardees to Date: Beth Cranford, Durham Community Preschool, Durham, 2019 Diane Mason, ACE Education, Fuquay-Varina, 2019 Jamie Dunleavy, Union Academy Charter School, Monroe, 2019 Julie Hall, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, 2019 Katie Lockhart, White Deer Park, Garner, 2019 Leanna Staton, Clay County SWCD, Hayesville, 2019 Mir Youngquist-Thurow, ACE Education, Fuquay-Varina, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Shalyn Yost, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, Hendersonville, 2019, 2021 Shannon Unger, Cabarrus County Schools, Charlotte, 2019 Sandra Dixon, Pioneer Springs Community School, Charlotte, 2020 Jenna Hartley, NC State, Durham and Onslow Counties, 2020 Tatiana Height, UNCG Center for Housing and Community Studies, Greensboro, 2020 Marisa Sedlak, Town of Beech Mountain Parks & Recreation, Beech Mountain, 2020 Trent Stanforth, JCCC Howell Woods, Four Oaks, 2020 Willard Watson, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Blowing Rock, 2020 Wendy Wilson, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, Charlotte, 2020 Alayna Schmidt, WNC Nature Center, Asheville, 2021 Karen Chapmen, W.D. Williams Elementary School, Swannanoa, 2021 Jessica Metz, New Kituwah Academy, Cherokee, 2021 Lauren Gibson, NC State, Camden County High School, Pine Forest High School, Northwest Guilford High School, Tuscola High School, 2021 Lauren Green, NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, 2021 Marguerite Bishop, Nashville Elementary School, Nashville, 2021 Marilyn Jesrani, Carolina Outdoor Fun, Raleigh, 2021 Ranita Anderson, Book Harvest, Durham, 2021 Sarah Pursel, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Highlands, 2021 Joanna Orozco, Raíces, Asheville, 2022 Katy Menne, NC Maritime Museum at Southport, Southport, 2022 Kayla Mounce McCoy, Wilkes County SWCD, Wilkesboro, 2022, 2023 Marissa Blackburn, Cape Fear River Watch, Wilmington, 2022 Meredith Katz, Shady Brook Elementary School, Kannapolis, 2022 Tallis Monterio, Asheville GreenWorks, Asheville, 2022 Tori Duval, Friends of the WNC Nature Center, Asheville, 2022 Renee Pagoota-Wight, Sherrills Ford Elementary School, Sherrills Ford, 2022 Ginny Paul, Beaufort County Schools, Washington, 2023 Jennie Emmons, Excelsior Classical Academy, Durham, 2023 Allison Murphy, Town of Garner/White Deer Park, Garner, 2023 Desirae Clodefleter, Winston-Salem-Forsyth County Schools, Winston-Salem, 2023 All NC Counties Directly Impacted by Mini-Grant Program to Date: Avery (Western) Beaufort (Eastern) Brunswick (Eastern) Buncombe (Western) Cabarrus (Piedmont) Caldwell (Western) Camden (Eastern) Catawba (Western) Cherokee (Western) Clay (Western) Cumberland (Eastern) Durham (Central) Forsyth (Piedmont) Guilford (Piedmont) Haywood (Western) Henderson (Western) Johnston (Central) Macon (Western) Mecklenburg (Piedmont) Nash (Central) New Hanover (Eastern) Onslow (Eastern) Orange (Central) Rowan (Piedmont) Union (Piedmont) Wake (Central) Watauga (Western) Wilkes (Western)

EENC's Better Together Annual Giving Campaign is generously supported this year by an anonymous member of our community who has donated a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $25,000. We couldn't be more grateful for their contribution – here's why they support EENC. "I believe in the mission of EENC. I believe that North Carolina's environmental educators are worthy of an equally professional organization that is dedicated to pushing the field of Environmental Education forward in NC and across the nation. EENC has proven over the past 33 years that they will always be the advocate and liaison for environmental educators, strive to provide opportunities for professional development and networking opportunities, and support the field of environmental education toward becoming a sustainable career with equitable pay and hiring practices. EENC has a track record of being able to pivot in 'unprecedented times' and continued to provide relevant programs for the state's educators despite challenging circumstances. The organization's first Executive Director, Lauren Pyle, worked tirelessly to catapult the organization from a small non-profit, mainly offering just the annual conference, to being one of the forefront states working with the North American Association of Environmental Education to develop nationwide standards for the field that other states could use to improve the field of EE in their regions. This year has been a challenging one, and I believe that my gift will help the organization continue to grow and be one of the leaders of environmental education not only for North Carolina and our region, but nationally! Hopefully, if you believe in the amazing environmental educators of NC like I do, you will join me in giving to help EENC continue into the next chapter of the organization's legacy."

Each year, EENC awards mini-grants of $50-$250 to support members’ environmental education efforts. This year’s six awardees used this funding to pursue professional development experiences, implement new projects, purchase important supplies, deliver innovative environmental education lessons, and more! Together, EENC’s 2023 Mini-Grant Awardees reached over 4,000 learners in all four EENC Regional Sections through their mini-grant-supported efforts – learn about their incredible projects and impact below. Awardee: Professional Member Desirae Clodfelter, Winston-Salem-Forsyth County Schools Project Impact Area: Forsyth County, NC (EENC Piedmont Section) Project: "One Man's Trash is Another Worm's Treasure” My mini project aimed to teach students about the importance of consumption choices and how to reduce landfill waste. We have an incredibly designed worm bin students put together from Urban Worm Farm made from recycled plastic bottles. Students were very excited about the addition of red wriggler composting worms and cherished the opportunity to get their hands dirty as they learned the basics of vermicomposting.Over 110 8th grade students and 105 6th grade students have learned about the bin and how to use it as a tool to reduce landfill waste. They have so many options for "waste" before they even consider landfill options and the castings produced also fertilize our student garden that benefits local food banks. This project would not have been possible without your support and my students and I are very grateful. Awardee: Professional Member Jennie Emmons, Excelsior Classical Academy Project Impact Area: Durham, NC (EENC Central Section) Project: STEAM in the Park Professional Development Experience With help from the EENC Mini Grant, I was able to attend STEAM in the Park at Acadia National Park with my son over the summer. While there, we built our personal relationship as well as relationships with other families as we explored this beautiful place. We explored tide pools looking for life in the pools such as blue crabs, periwinkles, hermit crabs and dog whelks (also known as a “pickled wrinkle”). We learned about how the non-native green crab population has increased substantially due to climate change. We had the opportunity to meet the local wildlife in the camp such as porcupines, porcupettes, foxes and kits. We had many opportunities to practice nature journaling and making observations.When we started back to school, my son and I both shared what we learned about the green crab and how it is wreaking havoc in the tidepools of Maine. My students also completed a biome project that included a section on how their biome has been affected by non-native/invasive species. This experience was a once in a lifetime experience and I am grateful for EENC’s support for my summer adventure! Awardee: Ally Organizational Member Kayla M McCoy, Wilkes County Soil and Water Conservation District Awardee Location: Wilkes County, NC (EENC Western Section) Project: Vermicomposting in the Classroom The EENC Mini Grant was used to teach students about vermicomposting and provide 2 classrooms with a vermicomposting bin of their own! Vermicomposting is the use of worms to convert organic waste into a rich compost or fertilizer that can be used to help grow plants. Approximately 619 5th Grade Students in Wilkes County attended this year's 5th Grade Fall Field Days and learned about vermicomposting as well as, soil, wildlife, and forestry! Students loved being able to hold the worms and learn about what they like to eat and how they help cycle nutrients. The students are so excited to manage their own classroom worm bin! Awardee: Professional Member Allison Murphy, Town of Garner/White Deer Park Project Impact Area: Garner, NC (EENC Central Section) Project: Barefoot Sensory Pathway Thanks to the EENC Mini-Grant, visitors now have another wonderful sensory option to explore at White Deer Park. The new “Barefoot Sensory Pathway” is an area of the park that visitors can enjoy through their sense of touch. There are multiple sections of the pathway, each filled with natural materials of different textures, like smooth stones, rough stones, wood slices, moss, etc. Visitors are encouraged to take off their shoes to explore the textures with their bare feet, or just use their hands to enjoy the different sensations. White Deer Park staff and Garner Public Works staff worked hard to plan and prep the pathway area, and with the valuable help from Able to Serve volunteers, the pathway was built and sections filled. Awardee: Professional Member Ginny Mason Paul, Beaufort County Schools Project Impact Area: Beaufort County, NC (EENC Eastern Section) Project: STEAM in the Park Professional Development Experience I heard about the EENC Mini-Grant through the Environmental Educators email list serve. I decided to apply once I saw that funds could be used for professional development. I had heard of and researched the program STEAM in the PARKS but had put off applying due to the cost of the program and the lack of funds to support professional development in the school system I worked for. The mini-grant funding enabled me to attend this event! STEAM in the PARK is a professional development experience that brings educators from all around the country together to connect, collaborate and create content while exploring the national parks and fostering meaningful connections with nature. While at Olympic National Park, I engaged with park rangers, park educators, and local representatives of tribal nations. I learned specifically about how damming the Elwha River negatively impacted the migration of salmon, the structure of the river itself, and the relationship between the US Park Service and the governing officials of the sovereign nations. In 2011, after 85 years, the dams on the Elwha River were removed making this the largest dam removal in the United States for ecological restoration purposes. Since the removal of the dam, the salmon have resumed their migration and scientist have been studying the recovery process of the river ever since. Our group was able to go out and collect water quality data in the Elwha along with several of its tributaries to contribute to the ongoing monitoring of the watershed. We were able to also take part in a traditional Salish Canoe trip with leaders of the native tribe to hear the oral histories passed on through the generations. As the new school year begins, I plan to implement new curriculum into my environmental science classes and clubs using the Elwha River as a specific example and then having students research a similar situation currently happening in North Carolina in regards to the removal of the Ela Dam in Swain County and the impact of this dam on the Oconaluftee River and the connection between the river and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. I estimate this curriculum to directly impact approximately 150 high school students. Thank you for supporting me in this opportunity! Awardee: Life Member Mir Youngquist-Thurow, Agape Center for Environmental Education Project Impact Area: Fuquay-Varina, NC (EENC Central Section) Project: Water Quality Chemical Resupply The mini-grant funds helped to defray the cost of replacement chemicals for the following abiotic factors: dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphates, nitrates, and alkalinity. Participating teachers have reported that their students have benefited by improving their knowledge comprehension in the use of abiotic testing, along with the biotic index of macroinvertebrates to determine water quality. Additionally, the students took turbidity measurements and temperature readings, neither of which required Hach Test kits. Through conducting the tests, students better understood the implications of each parameter. Coming to the Agapé Center for Environmental Education for hands-on experiential learning has reinforced concepts taught in the classroom by “making it real.”

In 2023, EENC delivered five cohorts of our in-house online courses, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Education (JEDI), and Universal Design for Learning in Environmental Education (UDL), reaching over 300 educators across the state. Kate Gavaghan, Garden and Outdoor Club Leader for the Wake Boys and Girls Club, took both courses this year as an Honorary Member. Here’s what she told Program Coordinator Michelle Pearce about her experience: I took both of these classes and found both to be valuable. These courses helped me "zoom out" from my detailed planning to take a broader view of my students' needs and perspectives. Starting a lesson plan (particularly an active, outdoor class) from a UDL perspective means I'm going to offer several options for students to learn and interact with nature. I'll be prepared for a range of learning modalities and will see this scope as the norm. A JEDI construct is similar in that it acknowledges injustices in environmental protection and outdoor access and aims to proactively create a more inclusive and welcoming outdoor education world. It helps us see our implicit biases and tackle them. As educators, we know that we are often learning right alongside our students. We know that there isn't an "average" learner, really, in any sense. The more we move away from the false concept of "the average student" and conceptualize diversity as the norm, the better we will be at preparing and delivering rich learning experiences. Whether you work in the formal or nonformal education space, EENC's core courses can help you get a bird's-eye view of inclusive pedagogy, and provide tangible, practical strategies and resources for implementing equity across your environmental education practice. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Kate! In 2024, EENC has ambitious plans to grow our list of professional learning opportunities: in addition to offering our existing slate UDL, JEDI, NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence courses, and Outdoor Inquiry workshops, we will launch an online course on evaluation in environmental education, and a series of in-person workshops on climate justice in environmental education. Help us have our best year of programming yet by donating to our annual campaign at https://www.mightycause.com/story/Eenc2023.

November 28th is #GivingTuesday: an annual celebration of charitable giving unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, that idea has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. This GivingTuesday, join in the generosity movement by making a donation to EENC’s Annual Campaign: We’re Better Together. With an amazing $25,000 match promised, we’re bringing our community together to reach our $25,000 goal, realizing the full match and boosting our funds and future by $50,000 before the end of the year. In addition to helping us unlock every dollar of our matching grant, GivingTuesday is an excellent time to give because it puts us in the running for special prizes from our fundraising platform, MightyCause. The fun starts now: help put EENC on the leaderboard and in the running for prize drawings with a donation – bonus points for gifts given during the time-restricted (Power Hour and Golden Ticket) prize windows! See all the prizes EENC is eligible for during the MightyCause GivingTuesday event below. We’ve come far since our first gatherings back in 1990, guided by your desire to be informed, teach with purpose, and ensure everyone is included. We got here because of your dreams, hard work, and investment. Now we need your support to ensure that our shared work can continue. https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Eenc2023 New Nonprofit Leaderboard Prizes: first-time participating nonprofit who raises the most funds on 11/28 wins $750! Second place $250, third place $100. Small Nonprofit Leaderboard Prizes: participating nonprofit with a small annual operating budget who raises the most funds on 11/28 wins $750! Second place $250, third place $100. Unique Donors Prize: participating nonprofit with the most unique donors between 11/14 and 11/28 wins $250. Power Hours: 11am-12pm EST – participating nonprofit with the most unique donors during this hour wins $250. 12-1pm EST – participating small nonprofit with the most dollars raised during this hour wins $500. 6-7pm – participating small nonprofit with the most unique donors during this hour wins $250. 8-9pm – participating nonprofit with the most dollars raised during this hour wins $500. Golden Tickets: during each of the time frames below, two random donations will be chosen for a $100 boost. Early Giving: 11/14 - 11/27 12-9am EST on 11/28 9am-6pm on 11/28 6pm on 11/28 - 3am EST on 11/29 2023 prize: the 2,023rd donation on 11/28 will receive a $100 boost. Recurring Donations prize: the participating nonprofit who sets up the most new recurring donations on between 11/14 and 11/28 wins $250. Meet Your Match prize: two participating nonprofits that reach their matching grant goal by 11/28 will be randomly selected to win an annual Accelerator-Level subscription to the MightyCause software ($1,428 value). Amplify Your Fundraising prize: two participating nonprofits that raise over $1,000 on 11/18 will be randomly selected to win an annual Accelerator-Level subscription to the MightyCause software ($1,428 value).

It’s no accident that the first of our organizational values is “We’re Stronger Together.” 2023 brought us these values statements along with major growth, change, and victories that have laid the foundation for a phenomenal 2024. Now we must act together to ensure that EENC meets new challenges and change gracefully, continuing as a thriving leader for environmental education in North Carolina and across the nation. This year we’ve received a generous matching grant to bolster this crucial fundraising drive! With an amazing $25,000 match promised, we must come together to reach our $25,000 goal, realizing the full match and boosting our funds and future by $50,000 before the end of the year. This organization is special because we are guided by educators, for educators. Now we need your support to ensure that our shared work can continue. From resource development to professional learning opportunities, to community advocacy, EENC’s successes have direct impact across the environmental education (EE) field and beyond. 2023 highlights include: Developed new, nationally adopted guides and resources in response to Phase I of the SEEA Landscape Analysis eeGuidance for Equitable Pay & Hiring eeGuidance for Collection of Demographic Information Activated statewide community to advocate for and enshrine EE in our school standards and graduation requirements Facilitated dozens of nationally recognized professional development courses Shared the giving - through Mini-Grants and our goal-exceeding Let’s Grow Together campaign, we sent more than $10,000 to EE programs and providers across NC The momentum for meaningful change keeps going! Your donation today has an immediate impact on what we’ll accomplish in 2024, like: A new Strategic Plan to guide our next chapter Values-driven transition to innovative shared leadership model among staff Fresh leadership structure on the Board of Directors to maximize members’ talents and amplify committee impact Major resources and professional development to support all educators incorporating EE in their transition to the new science standards Applying data from Phase II of the SEEA Landscape Analysis to directly address EE gaps and needs identified by school teachers and administrators And more! Your direct involvement and our shared values pave the way. We’re Stronger Together. Nature Connection is Essential. Learning Lasts a Lifetime. Impact Drives Us. We critically need your support today to drive our work into 2024. We’ve come far in 30 years, guided by your desire to be informed, teach with purpose, and ensure everyone is included. We got here because of your dreams, hard work, and investment. Now, the need is great, and we need you, our great community. We’re stronger with you. Join us to drive the future together. https://www.mightycause.com/story/Eenc2023

The Let’s Grow Together campaign, EENC’s first collaborative crowdfunding effort, was a success! Between April 19th and May 19th, eight environmental education-focused organizations across the state collectively raised an incredible $8,645 to support their environmental education projects, programs, and advocacy work, exceeding the campaign’s original $8,000 goal. We’re grateful for the partner organizations who joined EENC in this campaign: the Agape Center for Environmental Education, the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Longleaf Learning Collective, Wilkes County Soil and Water Conservation District, Wonder Connection, Woodland Discovery, and Woods Charter School. 100% of net proceeds from this campaign will directly benefit the partner organizations and their environmental education efforts, and all partner organizations who exceeded their original individual fundraising goal will also receive one free annual Core Organizational EENC Membership, valued at $110, to celebrate their accomplishment. EENC would like to sincerely thank all of the generous donors who made the this inaugural year of the Let’s Grow Together campaign successful, including Mary Ammons, Kathryn Antman, Kirsten Bair, Keith Bamberger, Sally Barnes, Dori Barron, Tanja Bauer, Carol Brown, Sarah Burkhardt, Alley Buscemi, Jen Cannon, Liz Chavez, Kara Cockrell, Henry Cole, Laura Collins, Ann Costello, Jane Cottingham, Sasha Depew, Michael Dickson, Kristine Dohrmann, Adam Dovenitz, Amy Dowden, Mark & Renee Dowell, Tracey Dranttel, Emma Elstub, Holly Erdmann, Maggie Farance, Kristina Fischer, Tamara Goodrich, Jessica Griffiths, Kristen Gulish, Tomma Hargraves, Jesse Hart, Mark Hartman, Nyra Hill, Kimberly Houston, Kyle Johnston, Tracy Jordan, Amelia Kobravi, Katherine Kopp, Katherine Kovach, Kathy & Pete Krupp, J.L., Dalene LaPointe, Ashley & Jon Lorusso, Mary Lyons, Gay Lytton, N.M., Barbara MacKesson, John-Mark Magee, Kurtis Martin, Rachel McInerney, Kristina Miles, Amanda Miller, Jason Morris, Kay Nelson, Alenka Noronha, W. Norris, Melva Fager Okun, Christopher Paul, Jessica Pickard, Abigail Quesinberry, Erica Rapport Gringle, Stacey Richardson, Tasha Rose, Mitchell Rosen, Scarlett Santos, Rina Sarkar, Allison Saviello, Tracy Scholl, Danette Scott, Nancy Shannon, Kelsey Shaw, Tracy Shultz, Sue-Anne Solem, Nancy Spencer, Lynn Stinson, Donna Stubbs, Tami Taylor, Kyra Thurow Bartow, Katie Tompkins, Jackie Trickel, Will Ulmer, Michelle Valdes, Cindy Walker, Allison Weakley, Penny Wiard, JoAnn Yates, and many anonymous donors. Thank you for helping us grow environmental education in North Carolina!

[Originally Published 10/26/23 at https://news.clemson.edu/recognizing-outstanding-park-and-tourism-service/] The Clemson University Institute for Parks recently celebrated five individuals for their career contributions to the parks and conservation fields and exemplary leadership in addressing environmental issues and concerns at the 45th George B. Hartzog Jr. Lecture Series and Awards program. The program is named for the seventh director (1964-1972) of the National Park Service (NPS), George B. Hartzog Jr., whose administration led the largest expansion of the national park system in NPS history by developing urban proximate parks and expanding its role in urban recreation. During the awards luncheon, Fran Mainella, 16th director of the NPS and first female director; Robert Stanton, 15th director of the NPS and first African American director; and David Vela, former interim director of the NPS and first Latino director, were in attendance. The Walter T. Cox Award winner Charles “Chuck” Sams III, 19th director of the NPS and first Native American director, delivered the Hartzog Lecture. “Each year, I am honored to participate in this longstanding tradition to recognize leading figures in the field of parks and environmental conservation. With one current and three former National Park Service directors in attendance, it was incredibly special to celebrate alongside these national park trailblazers,” said Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. “Parks and protected areas play a critical role in community health and well-being, and through their work, these individuals are making a positive impact on communities across the nation.” This year the following were recognized: Kathryn Stevenson, Ph.D., associate professor at North Carolina State University, received the William C. Everhart Award for achievements throughout her career that cultivated an appreciation of natural and cultural heritage. Stevenson was recognized for advancing the practice of environmental education and a sustained commitment to developing the capacity of our nation’s environmental educators. Kathryn Stevenson, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the parks, recreation and tourism management department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. She researches the benefits of time outdoors and how youth offer unique perspectives for environmental challenges. Her most recent projects include building capacity of evaluation both in North Carolina and nationally and understanding how youth-led conversations around the environment may help overcome political polarization among adults. Her work has been featured in several national news outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post and National Public Radio. Stevenson is an active environmental education practitioner in communities in North Carolina and beyond. She oversees an undergraduate environmental education minor at N.C. State, serves on the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Advisory Board, and is active in both the Environmental Educators of North Carolina and the North American Association of Environmental Education. She enjoys partnering with organizations to support program evaluation, including work with the N.C. Science Museums, Muddy Sneakers, the N.C. Arboretum and the National Recreation Foundation. Amanda Stronza, Ph.D., professor at Texas A&M University, received the Benton H. Box Award for her distinguished career as a leader in environmental preservation and a teacher who inspires students in their quest for knowledge, encouraging curriculum innovation to include environmental ethics as a rule of conduct. Stronza was recognized for her lifetime of research, advocacy and dedication to the protection of some of the world’s most iconic endangered wildlife and her innovative approach coupling research, arts and advocacy to assist in these efforts. Ian E. Munanura, Ph.D., associate professor at Oregon State University, received the Dwight A. Holder Award for his outstanding work and sustained achievement that fosters understanding, wise use and conservation of natural and cultural resources. Munanura was recognized for his continuous efforts to improve sustainable tourism practices and protect critical habitats across Africa. Charles F. Sams III, 19th director of the National Park Service, received the Walter T. Cox Award for excellence in public service, providing leadership in the administration of public lands and policy formation related to the nation’s natural and cultural resources. Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, received the Fran P. Mainella Award. Sumption was recognized for her state and national leadership as one of the longest-serving State Park directors, president of the National Association of State Park Directors and a member of the U.S. National Park Service System Advisory Board. The Clemson University Institute for Parks (CUIP) provides research, education, training, and outreach that enhances the management of the world’s parks and protected areas. It accomplishes this by providing park and protected area managers with innovative research to support science-based decision-making; and by developing current and future leaders in the park movement by providing interdisciplinary and transformative education and training programs. Currently the CUIP has over 40 Clemson University Faculty affiliates (Fellows) from 4 colleges. For more information, see www.Clemson.edu/cuip CUIP is part of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, a 21st-century land-grant college joining together a unique combination of schools and departments: Communication, Nursing, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health Sciences and Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. These areas have distinctive characteristics and missions – all joined together by a common thread of service to people and communities. Find the original article on the Clemson News Feed at https://news.clemson.edu/recognizing-outstanding-park-and-tourism-service/.

Congratulations to EENC Member Terri McLeod on being named a recipient of the 2023 Governor's Conservation Achievement Award by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation! The award recognizes leaders in environmental and wildlife conservation and stewardship: Terri was selected as this year's Environmental Educator of the Year Award Recipient due to her "exceptional contributions to environmental education at Kingswood Elementary and the surrounding [Cary] community." [Originally Published 6/28/23 at https://ncwf.org/blog/governors-awards/?fbclid=IwAR3oYa5V2MDVN1kAEMUEmSuB1Dlz1tjc-jdeg4i1DBCeBk-WKJUat0NK4X0] The North Carolina Wildlife Federation has announced the winners of its 59th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards. Honorees for 2023 include agency professionals, elected officials, volunteers and organizations committed to North Carolina’s wildlife, habitat and natural resources. The Federation will honor the 18 award recipients, including the wildlife enforcement and marine patrol officers of the year, at a banquet on Saturday, September 9 at Embassy Suites in Cary, NC. (RSVP and purchase tickets for the 59th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards.) “Each year, we’re amazed by the commitment and creativity of North Carolinians working to protect the wildlife, air, water and land we all depend on,” said T. Edward Nickens, NCWF awards committee chair. “This year’s conservation heroes are land stewardship champions, water advocates and leaders in the preservation of unique ecosystems — and we’re thrilled to be able to honor them in person at our banquet this year.” These annual awards provide a platform to highlight inspiring wildlife conservation efforts across North Carolina, with the goal of encouraging active participation in safeguarding the state’s natural resources for the well-being of future generations. 2023 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award Recipients Conservation Hall of Fame – Derb S. Carter, Jr. (Chapel Hill) Conservationist of the Year – Louis Bacon Wildlife Conservationist of the Year – Joe Madison (Manteo) Sportsman of the Year – Joel McDaniel (Belhaven) Land Conservationist of the Year – Haywood Rankin (Gastonia) Water Conservationist of the Year – Pat Donovan-Brandenburg (Jacksonville) Forest Conservationist of the Year – Mavis Gragg (Durham) Environmental Educator of the Year – Terri McLeod (Cary) Young Conservationist of the Year – Lauren D. Pharr (Raleigh) Conservation Organization of the Year – EcoForesters (Asheville) Legislator of the Year – Kyle Hall (King) Business Conservationist of the Year – Atlantic Packaging (Wilmington) Natural Resources Scientist of the Year – Travis Wilson (Creedmoor) Wildlife Volunteer of the Year – Monty Morée (Holly Springs) Public Lands Conservationist of the Year – Brandon Jones (Fontana Dam) NCWF Chapter of the Year – MARSH (Marvin Area for the Restoration and Sustainability of Wildlife Habitat) (Marvin) NCWF Affiliate of the Year – Wake County Wildlife Club (Raleigh) Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year – Ryan Biggerstaff (La Grange) Marine Patrol Officer of the Year – Zac Nelson (Beaufort) Environmental Educator of the Year Terri McLeod (Cary) Terri McLeod, affectionately known as “The Native Plant Lady,” has made exceptional contributions to environmental education at Kingswood Elementary and the surrounding community. Her love for nature and sustainability, along with her incorporation of environmental education into the curriculum, has sparked a transformative and lasting impact, fostering a deep appreciation for science and the natural world among students from diverse backgrounds. Terri’s infectious enthusiasm and mantra of “Science is everywhere” resonate throughout the school, igniting a love for learning and the environment. Find the original article on the NC Wildlife Federation's News Feed at https://ncwf.org/blog/governors-awards/?fbclid=IwAR3oYa5V2MDVN1kAEMUEmSuB1Dlz1tjc-jdeg4i1DBCeBk-WKJUat0NK4X0.

Recently, EENC founding members Melva Fager Okun, Lois Nixon, and Randee Haven O’Donnell gathered over lunch to reminisce and share stories about EENC’s early days with Communications Board Chair Will Freund and Communications & Relationships Manager Grace Baucom. Together – along with input from early Board Members Sheila Jones and Thomas Shepherd via email – the trio described a history of EENC illuminating the grassroots, collaborative nature of our organization’s beginnings, and the many people who helped bring EENC as we know it to life. Many thanks to EENC founder and first President Melva for coordinating and hosting this special event! ___ The Catalyst: When attending conferences of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in the eighties through her work at UNC’s Environmental Resource Program (now the Center for Public Engagement with Science), Melva Fager Okun noticed something. Other states represented at the conference – Florida, Kentucky, Texas, and Minnesota among them – were organizing chapters for environmental educators in their states to connect, network, and support each other. “I was jealous,” Melva told us – North Carolina didn’t have any such community for environmental educators! Determined to change that, Melva sought and received funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to begin building a statewide professional society for environmental educators in North Carolina. Assembling the Team: Among the first educators Melva connected with was Randee Haven O’Donnell, who was a teacher at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School in Chapel Hill at the time. The two had attended NAAEE conferences together, and Randee had implemented innovative environmental education efforts in her own classroom and school. Randee and Melva started reaching out to organizations within their own professional networks, and the group began to grow organically through word of mouth. Educators in the Chapel Hill area connected with counterparts in Raleigh, and soon, Wake County environmental educators Sheila Jones and Lois Nixon joined the chapter as key early members. “Melva was the first to convince me to step up and do my part,” Sheila says of her decision to take on the chapter Secretary position. “She was a wonderful role model and an EE dynamo to emulate!” Early Meetings: Lois, Randee, and Melva describe the environmental education landscape in NC at the time as a very siloed one, with interpreters and wildlife conservationists largely isolated from environmental educators. Early EENC meetings in the Triangle area provided a space for EE professionals of all backgrounds to come together and find community, through what Randee aptly calls “cross-pollination.” “We fueled each other’s passions,” she notes. “Creative thinkers, thought leaders, started to establish a real, clear vision: ‘What does it mean to be an environmental educator?’” The growing community met monthly around the Triangle to build connections and have fun together, including one particularly memorable meeting when Melva passed a hat to pay for the postage needed to mail EENC’s early communications to members. “We kept meeting this amazing network of people who said, ‘Let’s get together and help each other grow,’” Melva explains. “We had fabulous people who shared a vision; that’s how it started and that’s how it grew.” First Conference & Formalization: After an initial gathering at the NC Botanical Garden – featuring an auction that Sheila described as being “more like a garage sale” – EENC held its first conference on a rainy day at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School in the spring of 1991. Lois estimates that 12-15 educators were in attendance – and after touring the school’s award-winning outdoor classroom space, the group gathered in the gymnasium to plan out an organizational structure for themselves. They were “totally focused on the immediate: ‘What’s it take to pull people together?’” Lois noted. That brainstorming session quickly led to the development of governing bylaws, and just a few months after that rainy day at Frank Porter Graham, the small-but-mighty crew of founding members became officially incorporated as the Environmental Educators of North Carolina, with Melva in the lead as the organization’s first President. Building Momentum: Through the 90s and early 2000s, the annual conference served as the cornerstone of EENC activities. The EENC Board intentionally sought out diverse and inspiring keynote speakers, as well as unique conference locations across North Carolina, so educators could visit and learn about new parts of the state. The 1999 conference on Bald Head Island was particularly memorable, featuring new connections with the coastal EE landscape, many happy educators zipping around the island on golf carts, and a special musical presentation by local environmental education icon Billy B. at Southport Elementary School. At the “EE Renaissance”-themed conference at Castle McCulloch in 2000, then-Secretary Mir Youngquist-Thurow played the flute for attendees as they crossed the entry drawbridge and Tom Shepherd gave the welcoming address wearing green tights and a feathered cap. At Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville in 2004, the EENC community enjoyed an evening with John Muir impersonator Lee Stetson. And at Fort Bragg in 2006, attendees learned about on-site Longleaf Pine conservation efforts, heard readings from acclaimed author Janissee Ray, and enjoyed a one-woman play by actress Kaiulani Lee detailing Rachel Carson’s career. It was at an early conference, too, that Randee sketched out drafts of what would become EENC’s first logo (pictured above). Other memorable conference moments shared include porpoises playfully joining attendees for the boat ride from the Trinity Center to Bear Island, and Cape Fear Riverkeeper Bootie Baldridge giving the keynote address from the pier to a “regatta” of EENC members on High Point City Lake – 54 canoes and kayaks strong. NC Environmental Education Certification: EENC was actively and centrally involved in the creation of North Carolina’s Environmental Education Certification program, now housed and coordinated by NC DEQ’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. Sheila remembers environmental educators racing to submit their applications to be among the program’s first cohort, and that she worked with a committee of members to adapt the Project WILD teaching song, “Habitat, habitat; you’ve got to have a habitat,” to “Certified, certified; you’ll want to be certified!” in time for the certification program’s launch ceremony. The certification was immediately popular, and in recognition of EENC’s involvement in its development, NAAEE designated EENC as the 1998 Affiliate of the Year. Going Global: In 2011, EENC won the bid to host NAAEE’s conference at the then-brand new Raleigh Convention Center. Lois took the lead in the multi-year preparation process, organizing committees to plan workshop sessions, coordinate a research symposium and field trips – including a kayaking trip on the Neuse River led by Thomas – and to solicit and display science-themed artwork by North Carolina students. The result was an impressive showcase of North Carolina’s ecosystems and environmental education landscape that drew over 1,000 attendees from 26 countries and almost every US state. In addition to being an opportunity for environmental educators to come together for networking and professional development, that 2011 conference represented a milestone of growth and significance for EENC as an organization, demonstrating our collective capacity and commitment to the environmental education community – in our state and globally. ___ We’re grateful for the opportunity to walk down memory lane with some of our founders and earliest supporters. Many thanks to Melva Fager Okun, Lois Nixon, Randee Haven O’Donnell, Sheila Jones, and Thomas Shepherd for sharing their stories, and for the many early members who helped build the community that we treasure. EENC’s Central Section and Central Section Board Chair Krista Brinchek also extend a special congratulations to Sheila Jones on her recent retirement from an impactful career in EE with Wake County, where she touched the lives of countless students and environmental educators alike.

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release EENC Shares Results from Regional Landscape Analysis of K-12 Schools, Teachers, Administrators Hendersonville, NC, Oct. 24th, 2023 – The Environmental Educators of North Carolina is pleased to share results from a landscape analysis conducted this year by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA) using collected survey data from over 600 PreK-12 teachers and administrators in the eight SEEA states. The analysis is designed to gain an enhanced understanding of environmental education providers and schools in the southeastern U.S. that are working towards similar goals. It provides a comprehensive look at what environmental education is (or is not) happening in schools, a better understanding of the needs and priorities of teachers and administrators, strategies for scaling programs for a broader, more equitable reach and state and regional findings to inform future strategic planning efforts. The school survey used to gather data focused on integration of environmental education into the curriculum, professional development needs of administrators and educators, field trips, outdoor learning and outdoor spaces Some key findings from the analysis include: When asked how likely teachers are to integrate outdoor learning into their instruction, 32% already incorporate outdoor learning into instruction; 61% indicated interest, but need support; and only 6% say they are not likely to incorporate outdoor learning. The top barrier to incorporating outdoor learning in schools is logistics (scheduling, time, distance, staging and clean up). The primary limiting factors for schools' ability to participate in field trips were transportation costs, time, availability of transportation and site fees. When asked what type of professional development educators have participated in, 21% of educators indicated they have had no professional development in outdoor education or environmental education. A total of 66% of educators are teaching about climate science and of those, 50% are spending less than 10 hours per year on this topic. Most educators do not feel confident teaching this topic. A full report and a dashboard with detailed findings from the analysis can also be accessed, which allows users to filter the location of the schools, the type of schools, grade level, the level of reported confidence providing EE and more. “These insights reveal not only the current state of environmental education in K-12 schools but also the paths we must tread to bring outdoor learning and environmental education into every classroom,” said Ashley Hoffman, Executive Director of SEEA. “Encouraging participation in this survey among Kentucky educators was crucial, and now we find it equally important to analyze the results and strategize.” To access detailed findings from the analysis, including the dashboard, visit www.southeastee.org/landscape-schools. ### About EENC |The Environmental Educators of North Carolina grew from the desire of environmental educators across North Carolina to meet and share their experiences, aspirations, and tools. Since its inception in 1990, EENC has grown into something much greater. Our organization represents a network of outstanding environmental educators, individuals, and organizations who work together to accomplish our core mission: to build connections, provide professional development, and promote excellence in environmental education. Learn more at eenc.org.

Pictured: Award winners (left to right) Becky Savage, Bruce Young, Dr. Ti'Era Worsley, Margot Lester, and Denise O'Gorman pose following the Award Ceremony. EENC is proud to offer an annual awards program that recognizes our community members for their innovation, dedication, and excellence in environmental education. This year, EENC honored nine award winners during the Awards Ceremony held at our 2023 conference. We are honored to be celebrating 2023 EENC Award winners – congratulations to all of our winners! Outstanding Newcomer Awardee: Nikki Jones The Outstanding Newcomer award recognizes an EENC member of five years or less who has made significant contributions to EENC during their short time as a member. Nikki Jones grew up in an outdoor science family in Western NC and, despite dabbling in other fields, consistently found her way back to science and nature education.  After working as a park ranger in South Carolina and a classroom educator at Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville, NC, she united her passion for outdoor education with her love of travel and found herself working in ecotourism and place-based student travel in Colorado, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Latin America. Nikki inevitably reconnected with her NC roots, landing in Raleigh to lead programming at the city's Durant and Horseshoe Farm nature preserves, before making it home to the Appalachians at last.  Now based in Brevard, Nikki has been proud to lead the Western region of Muddy Sneakers through dynamic years of growth and impact. Her love of North Carolina and its ecosystems drives her to ensure others have opportunities to learn about their own backyards and build personal connections to place that develop new generations of conservationists and science innovators. Outstanding Practitioner Awardee: Denise O'Gorman The Outstanding Practitioner award recognizes a member who 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. Denise O'Gorman has been an educator for 25 years.  She has a B.S. in Biology from Manhattan College, a M.A. in Science Education from NYU, and a M.Ed. in School Counseling from NCSU. Denise has taught Honors and AP Earth & Environmental science for the past 14 years.  Denise has coordinated environmental experiences for students to engage them in learning and gain a deeper appreciation for our earth and environment. She regularly utilizes outstanding hands-on activities and projects that challenge, empower and excite the students about Environmental Science.  She hangs up student work to highlight important people or concepts in environmental science and models good practice by collecting used markers for recycling. She recently wrote and was awarded a $15,000 grant from NC Go Outside for an outdoor classroom. She has also collaborated with EENC’s Let’s Grow Together to raise $3,000 for equipment and materials. Many of her students have chosen an environmental science path in college and she has, without a doubt, made an impact on hundreds of students over the years. Outstanding Partner Awardees: Alayna Schmidt, Margot Lester, Bruce Young, Dr. Ti’Era Worsley, and Dr. Tatiana Height The Outstanding Partner award recognizes a business, non-profit, or governmental agency that has partnered with EENC to support our mission and growth. This year, a unique group of collaborators have been selected for this award for all of their contributions towards designing and writing the “eeGuidance for Equitable Pay and Hiring”. This document has been released by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance and endorsed by 17 state and national networks. These writers contributed over 100 volunteer hours to share their knowledge and passion to develop a final product that far surpassed initial goals. Alayna Schmidt is a Ph.D. student in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University, studying social justice youth development and environmental education for critical consciousness. Alayna was born and raised in North Carolina and has a deep love for our state's people and environment. They see EE and social justice as being deeply intertwined, and this is how they have approached their work as an environmental educator, equity consultant, and as a researcher and evaluator. Alayna formerly served on the Board of EENC and has continued collaborating with EENC to provide guidance on equitable EE in North Carolina. Margot Lester divides her time between running the marketing agency she’s owned for 30 years, advocating for causes and candidates, and leading EE writing and exploration workshops. She grew up rambling around the meadows and woods of southwest Orange County and graduated from the journalism school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Not surprisingly, early career assessments found her best suited to journalism or forest rangering. Margot acknowledges her position and privilege and uses them to promote equity, belonging and social justice. She’s passionate about helping people connect with the natural world, find their voices and capture the power of their ideas. Bruce Young is the Affiliate Relations Specialist with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). A native of Greensboro and NC Certified Environmental Educator, Bruce has long supported the work of EENC and was thrilled to serve on the writing team for eeGuidance for Equitable Pay and Hiring in EE. In their role at NAAEE Bruce supports the NAAEE Affiliate Network by facilitating communities of practice, capacity building, and tracking progress on the Affiliate Network Work Plan with specific focus on justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Bruce is a proud alum of ECU (BFA in Theatre Design) and Guilford College. Prior to joining the NAAEE team Bruce worked in both formal and non-formal education including Free Union Country School, Charlottesville City Schools, Rivanna Conservation Alliance and the Greensboro Science Center. Dr. Ti’Era Worsley is a Postdoctoral Fellow at UNCG and started her Environmental Educator journey in 2014 and went on to serve as an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer in Perú. While there she implemented a native tree nursery, increased environmental stewardship, and introduced solid waste management alternatives. Upon return, she completed her EE and National Geographic certification. Dr. Worsley’s passions lie in working with youth since, for many, she is usually one of the first persons of color to teach them about nature. By bringing her different perspective to EE it creates opportunities for other voices and experiences to be represented and valued. Dr. Tatiana (Tots) Height received a doctorate in Agricultural and Extension Education from NC State University. Their dissertation research examined environmental educators’ use, understanding, and valuation of Multicultural Environmental Education.  Tots works full-time in environmental conservation in addition to teaching Sustainability and Coastal Resilience at Coastal Carolina University. Their passions are action research and community-based participatory research with a strong interdisciplinary focus. Environmental Educator of the Year Awardees: Sara Davarbakhsh and Becky Savage The Environmental Educator of the Year award recognizes an educator – or two! – who stand out as professionals who exemplify excellence in EE and lend credibility to the field. Sara Davarbakhsh has been an Environmental Education Program Coordinator with Wake County’s Solid Waste Management Division for nine years. She is a post-graduate of the University of Surrey, in England. She holds a Master of Science degree in water and environmental engineering, and a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental protection. She has worked in waste management at the local government level for twelve years. Her favorite activity is taking people on tours of the local landfill. Each day she looks forward to making a positive difference in the community, raising awareness on environmental issues, and helping residents make more informed lifestyle choices to become better stewards of our planet. Becky Savage received her B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia. She has officially been working in Environmental Education since 2009, but has always been passionate about wildlife and nature. She did sea turtle work for both GA DNR and USFWS. She also loved being a part of the wood stork nest monitoring program at Harris Neck NWR. She discovered her love for EE working at the Jekyll Island 4-H center and later as Program Manager for a non-profit in Savannah called Wilderness Southeast. She found her passion for birds working for Mississippi Audubon after the BP oil spill and came to work for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission in 2015. She delivers programs centered on wildlife, ecosystem relationships, backyard habitats, Project Wild, hunter safety and shooting sports. Becky thoroughly enjoys birding, kayaking, hiking, and anything out in nature. She is living her dream by sharing her grounding forces and joy with others that are curious and interested.