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.

The 2023 EENC Conference was a big success! EENC would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our highest-level sponsors, whose financial support helped make the conference possible. Our Champion-tier sponsor, DBA Partners, LLC, offers a vacation experience like no other. Nestled in the pristine surroundings of the Outer Banks, their property "Sweet Sands of Salvo, NC" is a masterpiece of luxury and comfort. This 6-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom haven promises not only exquisite accommodations but also panoramic views that would leave you breathless. Perfect for a grand family retreat or a serene get-away with friends, it beckons with the promise of cherished memories and experiences worth capturing. Their dedication to offering such a quintessential vacation experience underscores their commitment to excellence and quality. Our Guardian-tier sponsor, Duke Energy, is another pillar of support that deserves our heartfelt appreciation. Through the Duke Energy Foundation, they continually strive to bolster and uplift various communities in North Carolina. Their unwavering focus on community development and enrichment through grant funding has left an indelible mark on countless lives, mirroring their dedication to creating a brighter and more sustainable future for all. Without the generous contributions of DBA Partners, LLC and Duke Energy, along with our other sponsors, this conference would not have reached the heights that it did. Their donations have been instrumental in ensuring we could provide our attendees with an enriching and memorable experience. Beyond the financial support, it's their belief in our mission and vision that made this conference a landmark event. We deeply appreciate their commitment and thank them for being pivotal to the success of the 2023 EENC Conference.

EENC Community, The cooler weather in recent weeks is evidence that fall is upon us! Fall heralds many changes for our natural world, including changing leaf colors, migrating animals, and shorter days, and this year, it also marks a season of change for us at EENC. After almost six years of service as EENC’s first executive director, Lauren Pyle will be leaving the organization as of September 24, 2023. Lauren is moving out of state, and thus will no longer be able to support North Carolina's environmental education community. EENC will conduct a thoughtful and thorough hiring process to find our next permanent staff member in early 2024. Until then, The EENC Board of Directors has appointed Nikki Jones as interim executive director, with the support of the EENC staff, Michelle Pearce and Grace Baucom. In this role, Nikki will complement Michelle and Grace’s work by supporting partnerships, advocacy, operations management, fund development, and other projects. Nikki brings a wealth of experience in both formal and nonformal environmental education and more than a decade of experience supporting and developing outdoor and science educators in parks, camps, schools, and ecotourism settings. In addition, she brings deep knowledge of nonprofit management and experience with transition navigation and major grant writing. Since returning home to NC in 2018 with the City of Raleigh nature preserves, and most recently with Muddy Sneakers, she has been dedicated to growing meaningful connections in the EE community across the state. Nikki is inspired to put her passion for EENC’s work into further action as she helps guide our organization into its promising next chapter. Once Nikki begins in October, you will be able to contact her at director@eenc.org. EENC is committed to continuing our efforts to support North Carolina’s network of environmental educators to the fullest extent possible during this transition. We are eager to use this shift to look ahead and strategize how EENC can best continue to grow, adapt, and serve our community as we move forward! If you have any questions about this transition, you can contact EENC President, Amy Juliana, at president@eenc.org. We’re here for you! The EENC Team

Early this month, EENC friends and members gathered at Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center in Parkton for our 32nd annual conference, guided by the theme, “Unplug and rEEconnect.” It was a meaningful, energizing weekend of networking, learning, and fun, and now that we’re “plugged back in,” the EENC team is excited to share snapshots and highlights from our time together. 2023 EENC Conference By The Numbers: 130 attendees 26 presentations 9 award winners 3 guests from the Lumbee Tribal Council 32 strolls across the boardwalk 1 Keynote Address by author Mallory McDuff 61 silent auction items won 5 generous sponsors 19 drenched – but still smiling! – thunderstorm journalers 88 species observed during the iNaturalist BioBlitz 36 s’mores eaten around the campfire ...and countless memories. The conference was a blast – but don’t take our word for it! Here’s what some of our attendees had to say about their conference experience: “It is really hard to pick a favorite moment. I think my favorite moment was games on Thursday night or the Keynote speaker or just getting to talk with so many wonderful people!” “Meeting my peers in person is always the highlight.” “For my first EENC conference, this experience has surpassed expectations. I'm grateful I was able to attend, and I look forward to coming back next year!” “The venue was lovely and perfect for unplugging!” “I liked the variety of sessions. Some were more informative while others were hands-on. I wish I could have attended them all because they all would have brought value to either my personal or professional life.” “I thought it was a REALLY wonderful conference!! The attendees were all so friendly and there were so many opportunities to talk and meet with other attendees. Additionally, there was so much wonderful information shared. I really enjoyed the journaling, social media, and EE jobs sessions that I attended. The EENC staff were so wonderful and organized and just so friendly, staying in such great spirits” “So happy to be with my EE family.” Session Resources: Keep learning with the help of these resources, shared by our presenters. Compilation of Favorite Children’s Books (“Nature Story Time” session) “Turning Math and Science Instruction Inside Out” presentation Writing Examples and Resources for Environmental Educators compiled by Margot Lester (“Climate Education: How to Blend Data and Exposition,” Reconnect to Yourself and Nature with Journaling,” and “The Power of Your Ideas: How to Write for Social Change” sessions)

The 2023 NC Standard Course of Study Science Standards were released this July, after over a year of review, and revision by the Department of Public Instruction and NC Board of Education. During the revision window, EENC hosted collaborative working sessions for educators, provided updates on the proposed standards, and mobilized our community across the state to provide feedback during public review periods. Now that the updated standards have been finalized, EENC is continuing to provide support to educators by developing resources that highlight noteworthy updates and changes to the standards as pertain to environmental education. In August, we shared our At-A-Glance Document for Environmental Education and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, which summarizes and spotlights standards in K-12 Science that are potentially aligned with environmental education topics and themes. Now, we are pleased to share a second resource for educators: Things to Note in the 2023 NCSCOS Science Standards. This document highlights key changes and differences between the 2010 and 2023 standards, including changes in content area categorization, revised language, and the addition of new clarifying objectives. Find the Things to Note Document Here. We encourage both nonformal and formal educators across North Carolina to review the new standards in their entirety, as well as the associated DPI resources, including the Crosswalks and Installation Timeline. Find the standards announcement from DPI on their website.

In September, after months of preparation, the EENC launched our new website – the one you’re visiting now! This bright and shiny new site houses our events, membership registration, blog, donation page, member-exclusive resources, all of our key advocacy and project information, and more. Our intention is that this site will serve as a “one-stop-shop” of EENC engagement opportunities for all of our community members, and with that goal in mind, we’re sharing this brief guide of key features and tools for navigating EENC's new website. With individual questions regarding your EENC account or membership, please contact our Communications & Relationships Manager Grace Baucom. Happy exploring! In this guide: Site Map Website Header Features Website Footer Features Becoming a Member Registering for an Event Finding Staff Info Searching for Blog Posts Making a Donation Website header with Log In button (log in to access your EENC event registrations, membership status, etc.). Website Footer: here, search the entire webpage using keywords, access all of our social media pages, and find our mailing address. Become a Member page: click the Membership level of your choice, then complete the registration process to become an EENC Member! Event page – for paid events, review event information and then click “Register” to purchase tickets and register. For RSVP events, click "RSVP." Meet Our Staff & Board page: read bios, and find email addresses, of each staff member by clicking on their profile picture. Latest News page header: looking for a certain news blog post? Filter by category, or search by title. Donate page: to make a donation, click the black “Donate Securely via Bloomerang” button (image 1), then complete the pop-up donation form (image 2).

NC Representative helps facilitate the auction at EENC’s 2014 conference Strong local networks and meaningful partnerships are important for the sustainability and success of environmental education organizations, and inviting leaders and elected officials to your organization’s signature events can be a great way to strengthen those networks and build connections. EENC members interested in inviting elected officials to community events can now do so with the help of a new resource developed by EENC staff and our 2023 Board Policy Chair, Brian Wuertz. The EENC Template for Inviting Elected Officials and Key Individuals to Your Organization’s Event provides resources to help environmental educators identify and select which elected officials to invite to an event, and includes guidance on how to contact those officials, including a customizable invitation email template. Wuertz notes that inviting elected officials to key events is an “opportunity to build goodwill and introduce them to the amazing work you do in environmental education,” which can open new doors and help promote environmental education efforts in your community. This resource is part of EENC’s ongoing efforts to advocate for environmental education in North Carolina, and to provide educators with materials and information that empower them to become their own best advocates and advance the field. Find the template here; EENC members can also log in to the Member Resources page to access the template anytime.

Thanks to the skill and passion of students from UNC’s Computer Science and Social Good club, EENC will collect, analyze, and share more program evaluation data than ever before. Computer Science and Social Good (CS + Social Good) is a nation-wide organization for university students interested in using technology to create positive change. Each semester, hundreds of students across the country pair with nonprofits to advance their efforts by completing prono bono coding design projects. Last fall, students from the UNC chapter of CS + Social Good reached out to the EENC team with an invitation to be one of their 2022-2023 school year nonprofit beneficiaries, and EENC Program Coordinator Michelle Pearce knew it was the perfect opportunity to expand EENC’s evaluation and reporting toolbox. Together, the UNC CS + Social Good and EENC teams developed a plan to build an evaluation dashboard that could synthesize and display the survey results collected from participants in EENC’s professional development courses. EENC had the data, and CS + Social Good had the technological savvy to bring it to life. Now, after a ten month build and review process, EENC is proud to announce the launch of our Evaluation Dashboard. Access the dashboard here: EENC CS+Social Good Evaluation Dashboard Coded in Python using the Streamlit software, the dashboard automatically imports, categorizes, and aggregates data from across program participant surveys into customized results visuals, making real-time evaluation – and therefore, timely course revisions and updates – feasible and sustainable for the EENC team. We’ll use these results to gain new, cross-program insights into our participant demographics and learning outcomes, as well as the unique and cumulative impacts of our programming. In addition to internal use for evaluation and analytics, the Dashboard is also publicly available on EENC’s website, and a summary of findings will be shared in our annual Program Evaluation Report each year. “Working with the team from Computer Science and Social Good was completely collaborative and really enjoyable,” says Pearce. “The team listened to EENC’s need for the dashboard and we all worked together to create a tool that will be sustainable and user friendly for the organization. We’re really looking forward to watching the data roll in!” EENC strives to be a leader in evaluation and transparency in environmental education, and this new dashboard aligns closely with other projects, including the design of a new evaluation-focused professional development course, that position EENC to understand and maximize our impact on environmental education efforts across the state. Many thanks to Prajwal Moharana, Mel Ho, and the rest of the UNC CS + Social Good team for coordinating this project and dedicating their volunteer time to supporting EENC’s mission.

EENC and 2022 Board President Elise Tellez are pleased to announce the release of our 2022 Annual Report, which documents the impact and ongoing efforts of EENC toward our mission to build connections, provide professional development, and promote excellence for North Carolina's community of environmental educators. “This past year has been an exciting year for EENC,” notes Executive Director Lauren Pyle in her letter to the membership. Key projects highlighted in the Annual Report include NC K-12 Science Standard revision advocacy work, a landscape analysis of environmental education across the southeast in collaboration with the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance, and the development of eeGuidance for Equitable Pay and Hiring in the environmental education sector. That’s not all – 2022 also saw the development and release of a new professional development course on Universal Design for Learning in environmental education, and a corresponding presentation on universal design by EENC staff representatives at the North American Association of Environmental Education’s (NAAEE) annual conference in Tucson, Arizona in October. Board members also participated in NAAEE’s ee360 Leadership Clinic in May, where they worked alongside other Affiliates to discuss and dig into organizational structure and design for EENC. And in August, we brought members together for our own annual conference, held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, for two days of speakers, networking, and professional development, including a keynote by Dr. Rasul Mowatt focused on the decolonization of environmental education practice. It’s been a busy 2022, and EENC is excited to see what the new year holds. “In 2023, we will continue to champion environmental education, advocating for its integration at both policy and practice levels,” says 2022 Board President Elise Tellez in the Annual Report’s opening letter. We welcome you to stay in touch with EENC during 2023 by becoming a member, attending an event, and joining us at our annual conference.

At their June meeting, the Board of Directors approved a new EENC membership level: Guardian Organizational Membership. Guardian Organizational membership provides up to 50 staff with individual Professional level benefits, and includes access to all of EENC’s organizational member benefits. Guardian membership was developed in response to community requests for a membership level that could accommodate mid-size organizations who would like to cover more than the 25 employees included under the Leader level membership, but don’t have a large enough staff to fully take advantage of the Champion level membership’s 100 employee coverage. The Guardian level aims to fill that gap, and provide a cost-effective, meaningful membership option for organizations seeking to offer individual Professional level benefits to between 25 and 50 employees. Board members anticipate that the Guardian level membership will allow a broader range of North Carolina schools, museums, and organizations to take advantage of EENC membership than ever before, and they’re excited to welcome new members to our Organizational Member Community. Interested in becoming an EENC Organizational Member? All non-profits, institutions, and agencies whose aims and purpose are in keeping with the mission of EENC are eligible for membership. Find out more and apply at https://www.eenc.org/become-a-member.

One of EENC’s current priority areas of focus, as detailed in our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, is to build internal capacity. To that end, the Board and Staff teams have taken on many projects over the last three years that aim to support and strengthen capacity, including developing a multi-year staffing plan, revising Board position expectations and tasks, and creating updated systems for optimized internal communications and collaboration. During their July meeting, the Board of Directors finalized another such capacity-building project relevant not just to EENC’s internal operations, but to our organizational identity, when they reviewed and voted to approve EENC’s official Value Statement. Development of the Value Statement was led by Past-President Board Member Elise Tellez, alongside Values Task Force team members President Amy Juliana, President-Elect Kyra Thurow Bartow, and Partnerships Chair Nikki Jones, in a collaborative, iterative process that began late last year. Now, after over six months of effort and input from all Board Members, EENC is proud to expand our organizational identity to include official values that represent our evergreen priorities and beliefs, and provide additional insight for members, and the general public, into EENC’s identity and ideology. The Values Statement is now live on the About page of our website.