Meet North Carolina's newest Certified Environmental Educators!

Whitney Sorge
Oxford, NC (Granville County)
What does she do? - Whitney works as a State Park Ranger at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area in Henderson, NC.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Her favorite part of earning her EE certification was building a chimney swift tower for her action partnership. She really enjoyed working with the staff at Hemlock Bluffs and learned a lot of construction techniques. She also says that it was fun working with the high school students who were taking an AP environmental science class.
Certification experience that stands out? –Whitney's chimney swift tower stands out! It was constructed out of cedar and stands about 11 feet tall. She's hoping that Hemlock Bluffs sees chimney swifts nesting in the coming year.
CONGRATULATIONS WHITNEY!!!
Posted 4/28/08

Kristen Brigner
Raleigh, NC (Wake County)
What does she do? - Kristen is a Park Ranger at William B.
Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC in Wake County.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Her favorite part of
earning her EE Certificate was getting to visit other State Parks in NC
and participating in various outdoor activities.
Certification experience that stands out? – Kristen's favorite outdoor
experience during the certification process was going out to Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park during the sea turtle nesting period, even though she
did not get to see any actually hatch.
Her Action Partnership? - Kristen's project was with Duke University's Nicholas School of Environmental Studies Master's program. She and other volunteers renovated a cultural cemetary on a newly acquired piece of park property. The volunteers cleaned up the site and built a split rail fence around the cemetary.
CONGRATULATIONS KRISTIN!!!
Posted 12/3/07

Nicolette L. Cagle
Durham, NC (Durham County)
What does she do? – Nicki is earning her Ph.D. in Ecology at Duke University.
She has spent the last four years studying the snakes of the tallgrass prairie
in Illinois, and loves sharing her research with middle and high school classes.
Favorite part of earning her certification? – Nicki really enjoyed meeting other
enthusiastic environmental educators and exploring North Carolina’s diverse
natural areas.
Certification experience that stands out? – One of her favorite outdoor
experiences while earning her certification was taking an interpretive boat
cruise through the pristine salt marshes of Capers Island, South Carolina.
Pulling fascinating sea creatures from the marsh with sampling nets, and eating
raw oysters, was a big thrill!
Her Action Partnership? – Nicki, along with a crew of hardworking volunteers,
designed and constructed a footbridge for a new trail at Occoneechee Mountain
State Park.
CONGRATULATIONS NICKI!!!
Posted 12/3/07

Andrea Talley
Wilmington, NC (New Hanover County)
What does she do? - Andrea heads up the Adventure Pathways program for the City of Wilmington. She plans and leads outdoor recreation programs, such as canoeing, kayaking, backpacking and day-hiking.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Meeting and building relationships with other environmental educators in North Carolina, as well as visiting different State Parks and parts of the state.
Certification experience that stands out? - Andrea enjoyed and learned a lot from the Amphibian Days and Nights Workshop taught by Mike Dunn with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Trudging through wetlands, finding tadpoles, frogs, newts, and salamanders, and observing their night-time mating habits was an experience to remember!
Her Action Partnership? - Andrea partnered with local Girl Scouts working on their silver award to design and build a carnivorous plant garden in Halyburton Park. The bog showcases some of the plants that would normally flourish in a fire-sustained ecosystem.
CONGRATULATIONS ANDREA!!!
Posted 12/3/07

Betty Anderson
Cary, NC (Wake County)
What does she do? - Betty works at William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC as an
Office Assistant at the Visitor Center. She takes care of reservations for park facilities (shelters, group camps, auditorium, classroom, park educational programs). A big portion of her time is spent talking to park visitors, especially on the weekends (her days off are during the week) answering questions about the park trails, cultural history, and identifying flora and fauna that they have observed in the park.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Betty enjoyed observing and learning from so many knowledgeable educators in various areas of North Carolina and their willingness to share their expertise not only in workshops, but also by phone or email and meeting other individuals who share my enthusiasm for the wonderful diversity of nature in our state.
Certification experience that stands out? - The two-day workshop, “Wonders of Wetlands” at Howell Woods. The presenters knew their subject and had a good balance of indoor and outdoor activities on site and off site including hikes, canoeing and visiting a planned wetland.
Her Action Partnership? - Renovating Camp Craggy, a boy scout camp built in 1923, in William B. Umstead State Park. This included removing debris, clearing the council ring area and hiking path to the site, and placing a plaque with the history of the camp at the stone steps leading to the council ring. Park programs with a hike to the site and history of the camp will be presented for the public on a regular basis.
CONGRATULATIONS BETTY!!!
Posted 9/14/07

Sandra Payne Fambrough
Washington, NC (Beaufort County)
What does she do? - Sandra is a park ranger at Goose Creek State Park.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - She most enjoyed the diversity of the learning experiences and meeting various people with common interests and goals. Sandra adds that "the Environmental Education Certification experience is one that has enhanced my personal knowledge and has strengthened my professional skills as an environmental educator."
Certification experience that stands out? - In reflecting on the many workshops, the Aquatic Wild program at Blue Jay Point really stands out to Sandra because of the variety of hands-on activities.
Her Action Partnership? - For her Action Partnership, Sandra credits her many partnering teams in blazing a new trail that now connects all of the previously existing trails at Goose Creek State Park.
CONGRATULATIONS SANDRA!!!
Posted 9/14/07

Gary G. Gilliam
High Point, NC (Guilford County)
What does he do? - Gary is the Marina Manager at High Point City Lake Park. He is also the Program Manager for H.P. Parks and Recreation’s Youth Education Program.
Favorite part of earning his certification? - Gary says that one of the best parts of earning his EE Certification has been meeting the great people who teach the classes and networking with the participants.
Certification experience that stands out? - When Gary decided to do the homework assignment for a N.C. CATCH class, he ended up creating a Teach-A-Kid-To-Fish Day based on the activities provided at his Park. The response was overwhelming and he ended up doing two that Spring. "The smiles on the faces of the kids and their parents made all of the time, effort and expense of earning my EE Certification worthwhile." says Gary. His park now does two of these events annually and has added many more nature/environmental education programs, but the sense of accomplishment and of filling a need for young people and of seeing them learn while enjoying the outdoors has sustained Gary's efforts since that first day.
His Action Partnership? - There was an area behind the Park Marina where little would grow and that had become an eyesore, so for his Action Partnership, Gary enlisted help from the local Wild Birds Unlimited, local butterfly and bird societies and Parks Maintenance to plant a beautiful and educational butterfly/hummingbird garden.
CONGRATULATIONS GARY!!!
Posted 8/28/07

Emma Thomas
Yorktown, VA (York County)
(Originally from Durham, NC)
What does she do? - Emma works at an environmental consulting firm called EEI (Engineering & Environment, Inc.) in Fort Eustis, VA. Her title is “Environmental Management Systems Coordinator” and she helps train and inform people on the army base (as well as Langley Air Force Base and the naval base in Norfolk, VA) about ISO 14001, which is an international standard for the environment. They are in the process of implementing a greening initiative by encouraging personnel on base to reduce water usage, plant native plants, and recycle furniture and electronic equipment. Since she only work 4 days a week, she also volunteer in the education department at Nauticus Aquarium in the National Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Her favorite part of earning the EE Certification was learning a TON of fun new activities to do with people of all ages and exchanging ideas with other people in the program.
Certification experience that stands out? - One of her favorite outdoor experiences while earning the certification was taking a Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation course that traveled to Trinidad! The group tagged and measured nesting leatherback sea turtle mothers and even found hatchlings!
Her Action Partnership? - For her Action Partnership, Emma helped install a trap to collect fouling community organisms at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC and created a lesson and fact cards about some of the organisms in the local area.
CONGRATULATIONS EMMA!!!
Posted 8/28/07

Jonathan Marchal
Asheville, NC (Buncombe County)
What does he do? - Jonathan works as the Youth Programs Coordinator at the North Carolina Arboretum. He plans, coordinates and implements the Arboretum's youth programs including a 10-week Summer Day Camp and 11 on-site field trips for school groups on topics such as woodland and aquatic ecology, wildlife management, botany, environmental stewardship and wilderness skills.
Favorite part of earning his certification? - His favorite part of earning his certification was getting a chance to meet other individuals in the field and getting to know the resources available to environmental educators.
Certification experience that stands out? - Jonathan would have to say that his favorite outdoor experience while earning the EE certification was during Project Aquatic WILD which he took at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. After reviewing the curriculum the group headed to the creek to do some macroinvertebrate studies and also found a hellbender. "What a great end to a very useful workshop," says Jonathan.
His Action Partnership? - He created a tree identification trail for North Cove Elementary in McDowell County.
CONGRATULATIONS JONATHAN!!!
Posted 8/8/07

Susan Ashley
Nebo, NC (McDowell County)
What does she do? - Susan is employed at Lake James State Park as the lead Interpretive and Educational Ranger.
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Susan found earning her EE Certification to be an enriching experience. She was able to meet old and make new acquaintances within the park system as well as professionals from other agencies across the state, many with whom she still corresponds. This training
also allowed her to visit various parks, obtain valuable educational information and gain a greater scope of divisional operations, all of which she found particularly rewarding.
Certification experience that stands out? - Her most memorable experience
during the training was attending the Primer at Carolina Beach. In one
week she learned so much about the coastal area's plants and animals as
well as wetland conservation. She also enjoyed assisting in presenting
the Lake James EELE.
Her Action Partnership? - Susan worked with the local Order of the Arrow honor group with Boy Scouts of America. They constructed several sturdy and beautiful benches along the lake shore for elderly and handicapped individuals to use. Susan says, "by enhancing our knowledge and meshing it with established ideals, we as new Environmental Educators will be able to continue to successfully
communicate the State Parks' commitment to conserving North Carolina's natural resources."
CONGRATULATIONS SUSAN!!!
Posted 2/23/07

Jayme Bednarczyk
Wake Forest, NC (Wake County)
What does she do? - Nonformal educator, volunteers with Wake County Master Gardeners and the JC Raulston Arboretum, works with 4-H camps ages 5-12, the Speakers Bureau and creates plant databases for WaterWise gardens and rain gardens.
Favorite Part of earning her certification? - Being given the tools and confidence to easily work with children of all ages and meeting amazing educators.
Certification experience that stands out? - The Project Design and Evaluation workshop offered by NOAA and working with hummingbirds at Weymouth Woods.
Her Action Partnership? - Developed a "community awareness rain garden" to be used as an outdoor classroom for community residents, teachers and students. The garden is centrally located and wheelchair accessible. Jayme partnered with the Town of Wake Forest, Master Gardener Volunteers, Boy Scout Den 885 and the Wake Forest Garden Club. The photo above shows Jayme (in red) leading an interactive water quality game for the Scouts and their parents. The Scouts earned their Conservation Badges through this project.
CONGRATULATIONS JAYME!!!
Posted 10/16/06

Michael Crouse
Millers Creek, NC (Wilkes County)
What does he do? - Educational Ranger at Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest. Teaches pre-K through college students from area schools as well as adults.
Favorite part of earning his certification? - Visiting all of the EE sites that the program has you explore.
Certification experience that stands out? - The IYE's conducted by the NC Forest Service. They are so interesting and hands on with various after hours extras. They are really worth a lot to the program.
His Action Partnership? - Applied for a Lowes Hardware Grant for Outdoor Classrooms and received $35,000 for implementing five classrooms which were constructed at Rendexvous Mountain Educational State Forest.
CONGRATULATIONS, MICHAEL!!!
Posted 10/10/06

Ann Walter-Fromson, Ph.D.
Greensboro, NC (Guilford County)
What does she do? - Psychology professor at Greensboro College
Favorite part of earning her certification? - Visiting state parks for the EELEs
Favorite outdoor experience while earning her certification? - Hunting for salamander and frog eggs and larvae as part of the Amphibian Days and Nights workshop that was sponsored by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and taught by Mike Dunn.
Her Action Partnership? Ann coordinated the design and development of 5 fiberglass-embedded interactive interpretive trail signs focused on Piedmont forest communities for the Evergreen Trail at Price Park in Greensboro.
CONGRATULATIONS, ANN!!!
Posted 9/26/06

All of North Carolina's Certified Environmental Educators are listed below by county:

Alamance
Twila Buffington, Mebane
Alicia White, Burlington

Alexander
Judith Abernethy, Hiddenite
Jeffrey Moose, Taylorsville

Alleghany
Greg Church, Roaring Gap
Roy Farr, Roaring Gap
Jeffrey Jones, Roaring Gap
Susie Miller, Sparta
Shawn Wolfe, Ennice

Ashe
Paul Bailey, Jr., Jefferson
Douglas Blatny, Jefferson
Michael Edwards, Roaring Gap
Michael Lambert, Crumpler
Jeffery Matheson, Jefferson
Rebecca Rose, Jefferson

Avery
Patricia Hopper, Newland

Beaufort
Linda Boyer, Washington
Daphne Cullom, Washington
Curtis Dykstra, Washington
Andrew Fairbanks, Washington
Carolyn Garris, Washington
Jay Greenwood, Washington
Elizabeth Niser, Bath
Mary-Walter Rumley, Washington
Marlene Salyer, Washington
Kelley Thompson, Washington
Phoebe Wahab, Washington

Bladen
Angelia Allcox, Kelly
Ronald Anderson, Bladenboro
David Coburn, Kelly
Jeff Corbett, Elizabethtown
Garrett German, Elizabethtown
Sean McElhone, Elizabethtown
Chris Meggs, Elizabethtown
John Stewart, Elizabethtown
Cheryl West, Elizabethtown

Brunswick
Alicia Burgess, Winnabow
Mamie Caison, Shallotte
Elizabeth Celia, Leland
Deborah Dellinger, Oak Island
Jill Peleuses, Leland
Elizabeth Sell
Regina Winders, Southport

Buncombe
James Bowles
Laurie Brokaw, Asheville
Debbie Brown, Asheville
Victor Burgess, Asheville
Betsy Chater, Asheville
Stan Cross, Asheville
Brad Daniel, Montreat
James Ellis, Black Mountain
Lynne Garrison, Asheville
Michael Gesing, Asheville
Tonya Gesing, Asheville
Michael Goodson, Black Mountain
Teresa Hembree, Asheville
Jenny Jarvis, Arden
Susan Jensen, Asheville
Jonathan Marchal, Asheville
Keith Mastin, Asheville
Molly Nicholie, Asheville
Rache Park Reeser, Asheville
Katherine Scala, Black Mountain
Dorothea Shuman, Black Mountain
Michael Sonnenberg, Montreat
Eli Strull, Asheville
Glenna Toney, Asheville
Pamela Vivian, Weaverville
Jennifer Williams, Asheville
Amanda Wilson

Burke
Lea-Ann Branch, Morganton
Annette Clontz, Morganton
William Gravley, Morganton
Tim Johnson, Connelly Springs
Sandra Justus, Valdese
Lisa Mackay, Morganton
Allen Rogers, Connelly Springs
Wade Stubbs, Connelly Springs
Michael Woody, Valdese
Cheryl Waltz, Connelly Springs

Cabarrus
Linda Dow, Concord
Deanna Duncan, Harrisburg
Kristy Jordan, Concord
Karen Kimray, Concord
Stacy Schaefer, Concord
Dennis Testerman, Concord

Caldwell
Larry Andrews, Lenoir
Dawn Comer, Granite Falls
Pam Hamby, Lenoir
Scott Leatherwood, Lenoir
Lori Watts, Lenoir

Camden
Joy Greenwood, Gatesville
Carolyn Jennings, Camden
Henry Stokes, III, South Mills

Carteret
Beth Andersen
Cynthia Anderson, Emerald Isle
Samuel Bland, Swansboro
Cristina Bleck, Swansboro
Paul Branch, Atlantic Beach
Katie Cartwright, Newport
Richard Crocker, Atlantic Beach
Cindi Davia, Newport
Charlotte Farris, Morehead City
Jenifer Hoskins, Morehead City
Jane Hoveland, Swansboro
Jeannie Kraus, Beaufort
Jaime Leonard, Newport
Susan Lovelace, Beaufort
Alicia Marin, Morehead City
Brock Harris Martin, Apex
Jody Merritt, Atlantic Beach
Randall Newman, Atlantic Beach
Kelly Odom, Morehead City
Juanita Paull, Morehead City
JoAnne Powell, Beaufort
Margaret Rawls, Morehead City
J. R. Riggs, Jr., Morehead City
Amy Sauls, Beaufort
Susan Schmidt, Beaufort
Benjamin Wunderly, Atlantic Beach

Catawba
Jeanna Goodson, Maiden
Kelly Hoover, Newton
Amy Huysman, Newton
Nancy Lipe, Hickory
Debbie Michael, Sherrills Ford
Rory Price, Hickory
Marie Sipe, Conover
Tony Worley, Newton

Chatham
Carmen Boyette, Moncure
Cecelia Carver, Moncure
William Cox, Apex
Kate Finlayson, Pittsboro
Mark Flaugher, Apex
Grant Gibson, Apex
Robin Kalish, Apex
Jody Kelly, Apex
James Ledgerwood, Apex
Megan Lynch, Apex
Gladys Mattice, Bear Crk
Sue McBean, Pittsboro
Derek Parsons, Apex
Darlene Ryan, Pittsboro
Daniel Stamm, Apex
Diane Steltz, Chapel Hill
Gary A. Thompson, Chapel Hill
Fred Watkins, Jr., Apex

Chowan
Lucille Harrell, Edenton
George Lassiter, Edenton
Nan Laughton, Edenton

Clay
Leanna Staton, Hayesville

Cleveland
Scott Coffman, Kings Mountain
Tim Dorsey, Kings Mountain
Glen George, Kings Mountain
Nancy Scism, Shelby
Daniel Tenney, King's Mountain

Columbus
Rhonda Billeaud, Whiteville
Harry Edwards, Lake Waccamaw
Toby Hall, Lake Waccamaw
Teresa Lengner, Chadbourn
Adrian O'Neal, Lake Waccamaw
Johnnie Uber, Elizabethtown

Craven
Mike Campbell, New Bern
Pamela Hawkins, New Bern
Melda McCoy, New Bern
Freda Pyron, New Bern
Larry Wallace, New Bern

Cumberland
Fredric Booth, Hope Mills
Kay Bullard, Stedman
Rebecca Hildebrand, Fayetteville