Leadership & Support in NC and the U.S.
North Carolina is very fortunate to have award-winning leadership and comprehensive support in the field of environmental education. Not every state is so lucky!
BE IN THE KNOW! Be sure to sign up for the EE List-Serve from the NC Office of Environmental Education & Public Affairs (OEE), a division of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, that serves as a clearinghouse for EE resources in NC. You’ll receive alerts to all kinds of EE opportunities across the state: events, programs, job openings, and professional development trainings! OEE has a fantastic website that lists grants, NC EE Centers across the state, and much more. OEE also administers the nationally recognized NC EE Certification Program for both formal and nonformal educators.
NETWORK WITH KINDRED SOULS! Join Environmental Educators of NC (EENC), the nonprofit professional organization for practitioners working in the field of EE across the state. EENC welcomes both formal and nonformal educators. EENC hosts an Annual Conference, Mini-Conferences, and Section events across the state – all wonderful opportunities to meet & learn from others on how best to advance environmental literacy in the classroom and in the outdoor classroom. Check out EENC’s Awards program, resources page for compelling reasons “Why EE is Essential,” Diversity, Equity and Inclusion library, and much more. EENC is the official state affiliate to the national and international NAAEE (see below.)
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER! Join the North American Association for Environmental Education (naaee) that serves as the advocate for the field of EE and developer of “Guidelines for Excellence” to uphold the field’s professional rigor and credibility. They host an annual international conference each year that offers professional development and networking. There’s also eePRO, an online community that connects EE professionals around the world through webinars, online courses, discussion forums, and many more resources.