Support EcoLiteracy in NC with Stephanie

At least 15 years ago, I found out about this awesome organization that helped environmental educators in NC connect and collaborate. As a fledgling environmental educator, just out of college, it provided me with contacts who were full of great ideas and training opportunities. The highlight of my year--every year--is attending their annual conference. During the conference, I am able to experience another wonderful, natural nook of NC. I get to meet with old friends, and meet others who I've only seen their names on emails with all the cool things they're doing in their part of the state. I get to attend sessions and workshops where I learn new ideas for practical hands-on EE teaching and how to better align with the NC standards. It really is a great support network for all us nonformal and formal educators trying to teach about our earth, natural systems, recycling, etc.

After all these years of benefiting from EENC, I have finally started serving on their Board. For now, we are all volunteers. Annually, there are about 15 people who volunteer countless hours to help make this organization the best it can be. And it is an exciting time to be a part of the Board. We are about to hire our first paid position, an Executive Director! So far, in 2017, we have:

• Led the second statewide Environmental Education Summit with other environmental-focused organizations in North Carolina.
• Provided over $3,000 in scholarships to educators to attend environmental education professional development events.
• Trained 54 educators across the state in the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Guidelines for Excellence, and added 11 new Guidelines Trainer Bureau members to the state.
• Learned how to forward our mission and network with other states by being selected of one of 10 states to participate in the North American Association for Environmental Education’s ee360 Leadership Team.
• Awarded 8 awards for leadership and innovation in the field of environmental education during our annual Awards Banquet.
• Participated in the Southeastern EE Alliance’s conference and leadership meeting.
• Hosted a statewide conference for over 150 environmental educators.
• Supported environmental education programs across the state by sponsoring the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Nonformal Educators annual meeting and the NC Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual education banquet.

Please consider joining me in supporting this organization.

--Stephanie