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Registration is open for the 2025 NC Association of Environmental Education Centers meeting! This event is geared toward facility-based environmental education programs, but anyone associated with or interested in the work of NC environmental education centers is welcome to attend. This year's meeting follows a professional development institute model—just check out the lineup of presenters and sessions below! The day meeting is only $35 and includes a great lunch by Camp Chestnut Ridge and Retreat Center in Efland (Orange County). Register soon!
Full agenda and registration https://www.eenorthcarolina.org/news/events/nc-environmental-education-centers-institute-2025
Science Standards in Full Bloom! A Guide for EE Centers
Dr. Debra Hall, NC Department of Public Instruction K-5 Science Consultant
During this session, we’ll dig into the NC K-12 Science Standards, explore strategies for aligning your resources with these standards, and discover ways to better engage educators in meaningful collaboration. Whether you're looking to refresh your offerings or deepen your impact, this session will provide the tools and inspiration to help your programs thrive. Let’s grow together and bring science education to life!
Concurrent Sessions:
Telling Our Stories through Interpretive Design
Tim Rayworth, Interpretive Design Coordinator, NC State Parks
We can't always be present with our visitors, so how do we tell our stories when we're not there? We could display a simple flat sign, or we could build an enormous interactive experience. In this session, we'll look at design in the context of interpretive planning.
State of AWE: Resources on Air, Water and Earth from NCDEQ Educators
Janina Millis, Community Engagement, Education and Outreach Specialist, Division of Air Quality
Amy Pitts , Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach, North Carolina Geological Survey
NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) uses science to protect human and environmental health in North Carolina. Educators from DEQ have the mission of supporting teachers and students in developing both knowledge and teaching skills. In their State of AWE (Air, Water, Earth) workshop educators from the Division of Air Quality, and Geological Survey share resources and activities to support student’s knowledge of an interconnected world.
Citizen Science for EE Centers With Little Time and No Money
Chris Goforth, Head, Collaborative Science, NC Museum of Natural Sciences
There are lots of ways to get involved with collaborative/community/citizen science, even if you have limited staff time and a small budget. You can even add these experiences to programs you are already doing! Learn about some quick and easy ways to get started in collaborative science with projects and resources you likely already have available so you can get started right away.
Prepped and Ready: Strategies for Effective Group Programs
Kelly Hendrix, Assistant Park Manager of Education, Blue Jay Point and Green Hills County Park, Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space
Let’s learn how to put together successful and fun group programs that can be used with school field trips and homeschool groups. We’ll talk about ways to advertise your programs to the public, incorporating NC Essential Standards, practical use of materials, how to evaluate and more. Come with your ideas and questions!
Building Bridges: Strategies for Engaging All Audiences
Brooke Wilson, Lake Activities Specialist, Greensboro Parks and Recreation, City of Greensboro
This presentation will highlight key techniques for understanding the unique needs, preferences, and communication styles of different groups. Participants will learn how to tailor their programs to resonate across cultural, generational, and social divides, while fostering trust and meaningful engagement.
Lunch by Chestnut Ridge (https://www.campchestnutridge.org/foodfarming)
During lunch Michele Kloda from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will lead a popcorn style shared discussion about program successes and flops! Be prepared to share your stories!
Outdoor Field Excursions (Choose one)
Canoeing on Fellowship Lake: Explore the shoreline of the camp's lake from a kayak or canoe.
Tour Chestnut Ridge Community Farm: Carpool over to the camp's own 20-acre community farm to learn how it serves the camp, community and school groups (2902 Mt. Willing Road, Efland).
Geology Hike: Take a fun and educational afternoon walk with NC DEQ Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach Amy Pitts to explore the geology of the Chestnut Ridge grounds.
How You Can Help Build North Carolina’s Bird Atlas
CC King, Science Support Specialist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
The NC Bird Atlas is a survey of the birds in our state that records abundance, distribution and breeding status. This session will discuss how your center and your visitors can use eBird to help gather data especially in rural areas that are underrepresented in the Atlas. Want to engage your visitors in a new adventure waiting just outside the urban limits? Come find out how you can encourage them to participate in the first ever atlas of birds for the entire state.
Organizing Program Supplies with Limited Space and Time
Krista Roa, Director of Education, Agapé Center for Environmental Education
Krista Roa will share her strategies for organizing program supplies and conquering her biggest enemy - clutter. Her tips will help you consolidate materials, reduce clutter, inventory supplies, and will help you make your program supplies easier to find and more accessible.
Using Artificial Habitats to Enhance Camps and Public Programs
Christine Peckman, Outdoor Education Director and Office Administrator, Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center
Did you know that North Carolina has more species of salamanders than any other state?
We are fortunate to live in an area of the country that is rich in its diversity of our scaly and slimy friends. Artificial habitats offer an exciting way to connect people with reptiles and amphibians, bringing these often elusive creatures closer to our everyday lives with minimum disruption to the ecosystem. They create opportunities for hands-on learning, deepen our understanding of the natural world and encourage us to develop a sense of responsibility toward conservation.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Chestnut Ridge Camp & Retreat Center, 4300 Camp Chestnut Ridge Rd,Efland, North Carolina, United States
Tickets
