EE Certification Community Partnership Wins N.C. DENR Sustainability Award

Jack Singley, a ranger at Eno River State Park, recently won the 2nd Place Individual Project Award in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Sustainability Contest. The N.C. DENR Sustainability Awards are given annually to N.C. DENR employees, divisions and sections that excel in projects or solutions that save natural resources and increase efficiency in the workplace and community.

Jack's submission was also his Environmental Education Community Partnership, which is required for the completion of the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program. The purpose of the Community Partnership Project is to provide candidates with the opportunity to take on a leadership role in a partnership that will have a positive effect on the community and that will increase environmental awareness and understanding.

Jack's project tackled the problem of short cut trails at Eno River State Park in Durham. "Short cut trails" are unauthorized trails made by park visitors. They can be a safety hazard and can also cause serious damage to the natural ecosystems the parks preserve. Jack's project enlisted volunteers to restore native vegetation to areas that had been damaged by short cut trails. The volunteers also helped install educational signage about short cut trails to aid in preventing them in the future. The sign was made from an abandoned kiosk from another part of the park, which saved both money and resources.

Congratulations Jack!

All Certified Environmental Educators (and their communities) are winners in our book. See some of their projects at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification--criteria5.html

Groundhog Day in North Carolina: The Results Are In!

Mortimer Groundhog from White Deer Park, Garner. Mortimer is one of many groundhogs

 that practiced their prognostication skills this week.

Update: Groundhog Day events were a hit across the state this year! The final North Carolina groundhog tally had three predicting early Spring and only two predicting six more weeks of winter! Of course, we use modern technology now to predict weather and climate trends, but Groundhog Day serves as a great teachable moment to learn more about folklore, animal behavior, weather and climate.

Here are the results by city:

Nibbles (Asheville): Spring
Mortimer (Garner): Spring
Woody (Greensboro): Spring
Sir Walter Wally (Raleigh): Winter
Queen Charlotte: Winter

If we've missed any other NC prognosticating woodchucks, land beavers or wistlepigs, let us know.

(See the EE Calendar for some of the major events that were offered during the week)

EE Certification in the News

The Chatham News and the Chatham County Schools website recently featured Sally Scholle, a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator. Sally is a school social worker and also coordinates the school garden at Siler City Elementary.
Read the press release

Sally is one of hundreds of North Carolina Certified Environmental Educators. Learn more about his popular program on our website. If you know of any media coverage of Certified Environmental Educators, please forward to Marty.Wiggins@ncdenr.gov.

Johnston Community College Grows Orchard with help of Grant Resources from the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs

This is a note we received from Leslie VanHoy, Grants Director at Johnston Community College.*

A simple Google search led me to your grants page, and thanks to the resources there Johnston Community College (JCC) planted 43 fruit trees to help feed the hungry in our area.

On Feb. 1 [2011], we read about the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation’s grant competition. We followed the links that you provided to the application guidelines and grant form. We applied and in less than a month we were accepted for the online voting campaign that began April 15. Every day until the end of August, the College competed in an online competition with more than 130 other organizations across the nation.

You can read the description of our project on our ballot by clicking on the “2011 Winners” tab on http://www.communitiestakeroot.com/Plant/Index  and then scrolling down to “The Arboretum at Johnston Community College.”

Read the official JCC Press Release

We are so happy JCC found this grant on our page, and especially glad they won the grant! The EE Grants page on our site is updated at least weekly (sometimes even daily) and lists grants chronologically by deadline. This means no sifting through grants that have expired. We also strive to make sure all the grants apply to projects in North Carolina. Our EE Contests page also has opportunities that often award cash or in-kind donations for projects. If you have applied for and/or benefited from a grant or contest listed on our site, please let us know. Email Marty.Wiggins@ncdenr.gov

Also note that the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation still has this grant, as well as the "Fruit Tree 101" program for schools, still open for 2012. Both are listed on the EE Grants page!

*Printed with her permission.

Center for Environment at Catawba Accepting Applications for National Environmental Summit

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College is now accepting applications for its 2012 National Environmental Summit for High School Students.

The event, “Redesigning Our Future,” is an intensive experience which is open to high school students who will be juniors and seniors in the 2012-2013 academic year.

Sustainability designers, scientists and engineers from the prestigious Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) of Colorado will collaborate with the Center and Catawba professors to provide the leadership and instruction for the summit.

Scheduled for July 9-14 with follow-up activities through May 2013, the summit will emphasize whole systems thinking, helping students become collaborative leaders and effective communicators. Summit leaders will provide knowledge and help the students hone analytical skills that will help them return to their schools and communities empowered to have a tangible impact.

A hallmark of the summit is its involvement of multiple disciplines. Students will explore the concept of environmental leadership through the perspective of their own skills and interest in the arts, humanities, education, history, business, science and technology. They will learn how essential elements of these varied disciplines – creativity, expression, innovation, observation, experimentation and teamwork – are critical to their effectiveness as leaders.

The summit will take place on the Catawba College campus. Many sessions will be held in the Center for the Environment facility –one of the first green facilities on a college campus in the nation – and on its 189-acre ecological preserve. Participants will stay in gender specific, LEED-certified residence halls.

The cost is $300, which includes all meals, lodging and interactive instruction. A limited number of full and partial cholarships are avalaible.

The Center for the Environment has been conducting community outreach on multiple environmental topics since 1996. RMI is an international leader in research on sustainable designs, practices and policies.

For more information, contact Cathy Holladay  704.637.4791 chollada@catawba.edu                              

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College was founded in 1996 to provide education and outreach centered on prevalent environmental challenges and to foster community-oriented sustainable solutions that can serve as a model for programs throughout the country. For more information, visit www.centerfortheenvironment.org or www.campaignforcleanair.org.

Evolving EE Practices in Urban Communities Webinar: Learn More About the Urban EE Collective Professional Learning Community

Webinar title: Evolving EE Practices in Urban Communities
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19TH, 2012
4:00 PM TO 5:30 PM EASTERN, 1:00 PM TO 2:30 PM PACIFIC

This webinar has passed and was extremely popular. Many people were not able to get in. But do not dismay! It's available online at  http://breeze.cce.cornell.edu/p3rrft4mu2f/

 You can also join the Urban EE Collective Facebook group and ask to be added as a member of the Urban EE Collective's Professional Learning Group (See below).

Join the EE Capacity Project for the launch of the Urban EE Collective’s Professional Learning Community (PLC), a space for the sharing of ideas and experiences and the building of knowledge through a collaborative and democratic process that promotes equity and respect. This PLC is presented by the EECapacity Project, which supports environmental education and youth and community development in the US, Canada, and Mexico. (Click here for more information on how to connect with the PLC).


The Urban EE Collective Facebook Group was created by the EECapacity project four months ago and now boasts more than 230 active members, who are sharing ideas, resources, and contacts. Seeing an immediate need for more collaboration among the community, the Urban EE Collective sees that online Professional Learning Community as a natural step forward to continue advancing the field of urban environmental education. Through chast, wikis, blogs and webinars, they plan to grow as practitioners and members of thier own urban communities, while helping increase the capacity of their network. For more information, send an email to Jose "Pepe" Marcos-Iga
pepe@eeexchange.org

EE Centers Featured on "Get Going NC"

 Author and outdoor recreation enthusiast Joe Miller recently did a nice feature on North Carolina Environmental Education Centers as part of a series on outdoor activities during the holidays. The holidays are over, but it's still an enjoyable and educational read. Thanks Joe!

Holiday Escapes: An Educated Walk

Green Schools Webinar Series

Update: These webinars have passed, but are archived on the ClassroomEarth website.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by! The National Environmental Education Foundation  in partnership with the National Education Association Foundation  and Green Schools National Conference is hosting its third webinar to help educators around the country learn from experts and peers how to green their schools and curriculum.

This final webinar is Wednesday January, 18, 2012 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST. It will feature well-known academic and author David Sobel from Antioch University New England; Gerald Lieberman, the director of the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER); and Jennifer Seydel, School Designer at Expeditionary Learning.

The webinar is free, but you must register. Registered participants will receive webinar login information via email prior to the webinar. Registered participants who complete the webinar are eligible for a special discounted registration rate for the National Green Schools Conference on February 27-29, 2012 in Denver, CO.

Register at http://www.classroomearth.org/gswebinars

N.C. State Parks Host First Day Hikes

Update: The First Day hikes were a big success. Read a great story and view the photo gallery from the outing at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh.

Start the New Year right with a hike at one of North Carolina's state parks. State parks in North Carolina are creating a new tradition for New Year’s Day, offering First Day Hikes on trails across the state.

First Day Hikes guided by rangers and volunteers will be held at 27 state parks. All state parks and state recreation areas will be open on the holiday with cold-weather recreation opportunities as well as warm visitor centers with exhibit halls presenting cultural and natural history.

Detailed information about scheduled hikes in North Carolina’s state parks can be found under “Education” on the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation website, http://www.ncparks.gov/ or by going to http://www.americasstateparks.org/

"First Day Hikes" are being promoted in North Carolina in concert with a national effort by America’s State Parks and the National Association of State Park Directors. News about hiking opportunities in all 50 states along with tips on winter hiking can be found on the America’s State Parks website, www.americasstateparks.org . The effort promotes a healthy lifestyle as well as appreciation of natural resources.

Here it is! EEnorthcarolina.org Launches New Site

Let us know what you think! We launched our new website today at 2:00 p.m. (December 19, 2011). We think you will find the new site leaner, more visually appealing and more user-friendly. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to Tracey.Ritchie@ncdenr.gov.

We're moving! Special Notice to Individuals In the EE Certification Program

Move Update!

We are up and running at the new location, so do not hesitate to send enrollments or Form B's for the EE Certification Program. Remember that we can accept Form B's by mail (the mailing address is the same), email scans (send to eecertificationnc@lists.ncmail.net ), or by fax. If you plan to fax, please call Marty Wiggins or Lisa Tolley prior to faxing, as our fax and phone numbers are now the same.

The Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is moving the new N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Building in Green Square. This new, LEED Certified building is located on Jones Street in downtown Raleigh, and is adjacent to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the new Nature Research Center (which is still under construction). Learn more about this new facility.


In the mean time, the office staff are asking people enrolled in the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program to hold all Form B’s until November 7^th to give us time to unpack and reestablish our computers and phone system. This also applies to new enrollments, Form B's for Continuing Education and Basics of Environmental Education Responces.


Not familiar with the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program? Learn more!

Senate HELP Committee Includes EE in Federal Legislation

The No Child Left Inside Coalition recently reported that the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) completed its mark up of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and had included environmental education. From the report:

During the mark up hearing, the committee accepted an amendment put forth by Senator Casey (PA) that proposed a new grant program entitled “Well-Rounded Education” which includes environmental education as a subject eligible for funding under Title IV of ESEA. This marks an historic shift in federal education policy and is a significant and critical step towards our collective goal of ensuring access to high quality environmental and outdoor education programs for all students. Read more...

Strnad Named Governor's Conservation Achievement Award Environmental Educator of the Year

Renee Strnad receives the Environmental Educator of the Year award from David Knight, Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and John Crutchfield, President, North Carolina Wildlife Federation. 

This past weekend the North Carolina Wildlife Federation presented the 48th Annual Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards to 20 winners dedicated to conservation in North Carolina.

One of the most prized awards presented by the NCWF is Environmental Educator of the Year, and few in the North Carolina EE community were surprised that this year's award went to Renee Strnad.

Renee works at N.C. State University in Extension Forestry and is the State Coordinator for Project Learning Tree, a multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-12. In addition to her Project Learning Tree role, Renee supports 4-H natural resource programs statewide and serves as a liaison between the College of Natural Resources at N.C. State University and environmental educators, sharing relevant information between the two groups. She has worked extensively with Wiley Elementary School in Raleigh, where students in grades 3-5 get their first glimpse of being a forester, through tree measurement classes facilitated by N.C. State forestry students.

Renee has served since 2008 as a valuable member of the North Carolina Environmental Literacy Plan Working Group. She has been a key part of efforts to align state standards with national environmental literacy guidelines and was instrumental in acquiring the first funding to support implementation of the N.C. Environmental Literacy Plan through a baseline study of environmental literacy in North Carolina students.

In an effort to help North Carolina citizens better understand issues surrounding solid waste, Renee developed a workshop series on municipal solid waste in cooperation with the state office of Environmental Assistance and Outreach. She also serves the community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Scrap Exchange, a nonprofit creative reuse center located in Durham, North Carolina whose mission is to promote creativity, environmental awareness, and community through reuse.

Renee currently serves as President-Elect for EENC and will begin her role as the organization’s President next year. She also supports national environmental education efforts through her work with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). She currently serves as Chair of the Volunteer Committee for the NAAEE conference scheduled for Raleigh in October of 2011.

Strnad is a graduate of Kansas State University with a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. She’s been with N.C. State University since 2000, and has been involved in environmental education since 1997. She has been a  North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator since 2003.

Renee’s passion for environmental education and for inspiring students and teachers is contagious. She is never content to sit back and wait for change. Renee is a true believer that you should “be the change you want to see in the world” and she has applied this philosophy to her work in the field of environmental education. She demonstrates a level of professionalism, teamwork and commitment that makes her a true leader in the field of environmental education.

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation first presented its conservation awards in 1958. "Each year we are amazed at the commitment and creativity of North Carolina citizens in protecting wildlife and wild places," stated Tim Gestwicki, executive director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. "Many of our award winners tell us their Governor's Conservation Achievement Award represents the high point of their career-whether they are full-time scientists or full-time volunteer conservationists."

 "This awards program brings together a remarkably diverse group of conservationists to highlight the `good news' about wildlife conservation in North Carolina," said Gestwicki, "Our primary focus is to applaud and honor these people who work so hard for wildlife and the air, water, land that they and all of us depend upon".

These prestigious awards honor those individuals, governmental bodies, associations and others who have exhibited an unwavering commitment to conservation in North Carolina. These are the highest honors given in the state. By recognizing, publicizing and honoring these conservation leaders - young and old, professional and volunteer - the North Carolina Wildlife Federation hopes to inspire all North Carolinians to take a more active role in protecting the natural resources of our state.

The awards were presented at the Annual Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards banquet and celebration held August 27th at the Hilton RTP in Durham, NC.

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to all North Carolina wildlife and its habitat since 1945.

EE Certification Projects: Benefiting Schools and Communities

Another benefit of the N.C. Environmental Education Certification Program is that the culminating Action Partnership has direct benefits to the people of our state. In a recent Tryon Daily Bulletin story, Polk Central Elementary Principal Dottie Kinlaw noted that the school's new nature trail, an action partnership project by N.C.Certified Environmental Educator and 4th Grade Teacher Andrea Walter, will be  incorporated into school's science-focused curriculum. The school also hopes to expand their outdoor classroom areas to improve hands-on learning. Christel Walter, another N.C. Certified Environmental Educator, volunteered to help with the project and has led workshops and activities on the trail and in the classroom for the students. View more photos of the Nature Trail on the Polk Central Elementary website . 

EE Certification Program in Action: Enrollee Aids Teen Nature Educators

The Greensboro News and Record recently published an excellent story about two Rockingham County High School teens that parlayed their love of the outdoors into a hands-on nature class for children at the Woodmont Child Development Center in Reidsville. The class was made possible with the assistance of Cyd Overby with Rockingham County Soil and Water Conservation. Cyd is enrolled in the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification program. 

Read all about it!

BOYS GONE WILD:Teens bond over a love of nature — so they’re sharing it with others

Story and photo from the Greensboro News and Record: Reporter, J. Brian Ewing; Photo by Jerry Wolford

North Carolinians that participate in the certification program work daily to improve their communities. Learn more about the program at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification.html

Environmental Education Focus Charter School Named NC School of Excellence

Evergreen Community Charter School has been named an Honor School of Excellence for the second consecutive year. This designation is for schools in which 90 percent of students pass required North Carolina end-of-grade tests. Evergreen had a 95 percent pass rate.In 2010, Evergreen won the first Exceptional Environmental Education Program presented by the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. Read more in the Asheville Citizen Times.

NC Envirothon Team Places in Top Ten at Canon North American Competition

Great News from New Brunswick, Canada!


The West Johnston High School Envirothon team, the 'Sequoias', came in 6th place out of 45 states and 11 Canadian provinces at the Canon North American Envirothon last week. Held at Mount Allison University in the small town of Sackville, New Brunswick Canada, the weeklong competition challenged the team's knowledge of forestry, soils, aquatics, wildlife and current environmental issues. The Sequoias' team, made up of recently graduated seniors from West Johnston High, includes team advisor Melody Lineberger, Team Captain Frankie Johnson, Casey Burns, Camille Brown, William Higgins and Thomas Lineberger. Each team member received a Canon Powershot camera, a medallion and $1400 each in Canon Scholarship monies. In addition, the team received a plaque for their accomplishment. This is the team's third time representing North Carolina at the national competition.

The Envirothon is North America's largest environmental education competition among high school students and is sponsored by the state’s 96 local soil and water conservation districts and their association, with organizing support from the N. C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation. The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District assisted in sponsoring the 'Sequoias' trip to Canada. For information about the Envirothon, visit http://www.ncenvirothon.org/  or contact your local soil and water conservation district.

Advisor Melody Lineberger, Thomas Lineberger, Team Captain Frankie Johnson, William Higgins, Casey Burns, Camille Brown and Team Chaperone/Advisor Ethan Lineberger.

(Portions of this story originally appeared in the Johnston County Schools Reporter)

NC Certified Environmental Educator in the News!

The Salisbury Post recently did a story on one of North Carolina's newly certified environmental educators, Michael Lambert, assistant naturalist at Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury. We would love to share other media stories about NC Certified Environmental Educators. Please send them to eecertificationnc@lists.ncmail.net

Dan Nicholas naturalist earns certification

Photo from the Salibury Post

Wake Teacher Receives Prestigious National Environmental Education Award

Frank McKay, 8th grade math and science teacher, Exploris Middle School, Raleigh, N.C. has received the 2011 Bartlett Merit Award. The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award, made possible through the generous support of Baxter Healthercare Corporation, was established in 2007 by the National Environmental Education Foundation to distinguish the teachers who best represent Richard C. Bartlett’s passion for and leadership in environmental education. For more than 40 years, Richard C. Bartlett has been inspiring environmental educators nationwide. While serving as president and CEO of Mary Kay, the company received numerous environmental awards. More information about the award and Richard C. Bartlett are available on the NEEF website.

The following story about Frank and his work appears on the NEEF site (reprinted with permission).

“Students leave my class understanding the complexities of environmental issues that impact the economy, public health and shared resources,” said McKay. By working collaboratively to propose solutions to environmental issues, they are better prepared to make decisions as citizens in the 21st century.”

Frank McKay is an 8th grade math and science teacher at Exploris Middle School in Raleigh, N.C. McKay expertly leverages partnerships with local organizations, such as the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the City of Raleigh, to develop award-winning environmental service learning projects and engage his students in real-world environmental education. In 2008, McKay was on the leadership team that established a formal partnership with the N.C. Museum of Natural Science and rewrote the Exploris school mission to focus on global sustainability. Recognized as the 2008 Environmental Educator of the Year by Environmental Educators of North Carolina, McKay is very active in the environmental education community throughout North Carolina. He also authored curriculum on the PBS series “Exploring North Carolina” that has been distributed to all K-8 schools in North Carolina.

McKay’s students connect with the local environment on many levels beyond science. Participating in the Walnut Creek Oral History Project, students gained an understanding of the connection between Raleigh’s cultural history and the wetlands. His students also created resources for Raleigh’s Nature Programs. Over 95 percent of McKay’s students scored at or above grade level in 2010 and the SAS Education Value Added Assessment System indicated that his students achieve at a rate significantly higher than predicted by their incoming level. McKay’s students, particularly the 8th grade girls, have indicated in their self-assessments that their experience in his courses have led them to become more engaged in both science and environmental issues.

10 NC Schools in Princeton Review's 2012 Guide to Green Colleges

Ten North Carolina schools have made The 2012 Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges!

The colleges and universities include: Appalachian State University, Brevard College, Duke University, Elon University, Guilford College, North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Warren Wilson College and Western Carolina University.

This is a great accomplishment, however, these are certainly not the only North Carolina colleges that have environmental education and sustainability programs. The N.C. Environmental Education Certifcation Program and other environmental education programs in the state partner with and promote excellent programs and faculty at other institutions, including Catawba College Center for the Environment, Montreat College, Winston Salem State, UNC Wilmington, Central Piedmont Community College Center for Sustainability, Southeastern Community College and Central Carolina Community College.

You can download the Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges free on their website.

More about the Guide from their website:

The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges profiles 308 institutions of higher education in the United States and three in Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. The 220-page guide is the only free, comprehensive, annually updated guide to green colleges. To produce this book we partnered with the United States Green Building Council, an outstanding national nonprofit organization best-known for developing the LEED green building certification program. This past fall, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, and operated.