I'm Serious Y'all- NC Students Need You!

Did you know the smell of dirt relieves stress?

Students today are more stressed than ever. But did you know there is a natural medicine for stress in the outdoors, in the form of a widespread soil bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae? There are lots of studies on the health benefits of going outside, but new research actually shows that the smell of this bacterium- which we inhale naturally while digging in the dirt- actually reduces anxiety levels. And that means our brains work better. When rats were exposed to this bacterium in the lab, they navigated mazes twice as fast as rats who had not been exposed. 

So why am I telling you this? Is it because I will have to literally flop in the mud if I reach my goal of raising $3,000 for EENC? Umm... no. But man, talk about stress relief!   

Actually, it's because most children in NC are going outside way less than we used to. On average in the US, children spend  27% of their time in front of a screen, 19% in a classroom, and 1% outdoors. This means they are missing out on the benefits that nature has provided us for generations: reduced stress, increased vitamin D, increased ability to focus, enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and more. This also means that when they grow up, they may not have a vested interest in protecting our natural resources and natural spaces. Environmental educators across the state are working to change that, and we need your help. 

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) supports the many types of educators who teach concepts we all need to understand: how natural systems work, what we must do to interact responsibly with our environment, and how we can protect natural resources for future generations.

EENC wants to change the world by:

• Providing professional development and networking for educators. 
• Diversifying the field of environmental education.  We want our membership to be more representative of our state population and ensure all our members feel prepared to provide inclusive learning experiences for diverse audiences. 
• Bringing together like-minded organizations to increase capacity. 
• Promoting excellence in environmental education.

You can help us.  In 2020, with your support EENC will:

• Host new large events to meet the needs of students and classroom teachers.
• Build capacity for the field of environmental education through strategic partnerships, especially those with organizations who share our vision for a more equitable and inclusive future. 
• Redefine and expand our offerings for educators including: awarding a second year of mini-grants, exploring micro-credentials, creating new benefits and resources for members, and hosting Guidelines for Excellence workshops.

I have now served on EENC's Board of Directors for the past three years, and it has been so fulfilling to be a part of this work. The support we are able to provide for our educators directly benefits students, helping them become informed members of their communities. If you want to learn more about our work, please email me at eencpiedmont@gmail.com. Then, click the button below to help us make NC a better place for our children!