Registration for the NC Outdoor
Classroom Symposium is now full.

We would like to thank our Partners:

North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Botanical Garden is part of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We further the University's mission of teaching, research, and public service through our own mission:"To inspire understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants in gardens and natural areas and to advance a sustainable relationship between people and nature."The North Carolina Botanical Garden has been a leader in native plant conservation and education in the southeastern United States for more than 30 years.

Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program

APNEP was among the first national estuary programs established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1987. Unlike traditional regulatory approaches to environmental protection, APNEP is a cooperative effort jointly sponsored by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the EPA in cooperation with the Virginia Department on Conservation and Recreation. APNEP is designed to encourage local communities to take responsibility for managing the resources in their respective jurisdictions. The program is made up of representatives from federal, state and local government agencies responsible for managing the region's resources, as well as citizens, business leaders, educators, researchers and other community members. These stakeholders have worked to identify problems in the region, develop specific actions to address those problems, and create a formal management plan to restore and protect the estuary. APNEP staff, the policy board, and three advisory committees work together to guide the implementation of this plan.

North Carolina Office of Environmental Education

The N.C. Office of Environmental Education in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources was established to encourage, support and promote environmental education programs, facilities and resources in North Carolina for the purpose of improving the public’s environmental literacy and stewardship of natural resources through planning, policy development, community involvement, innovative partnerships and collaboration. The office serves as North Carolina’s clearinghouse, or central source, for all of the environmental education resources in the state and is responsible for disseminating information on those resources to PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, environmental education centers, citizen groups, business and industry, libraries and the general public.

Natural Learning Initiative, N.C. State University

The purpose of the Natural Learning Initiative is to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children, through environmental design, action research, education, and dissemination of information.  The mission of the Natural Learning Initiative is to help communities create stimulating places for play, learning, and environmental education - environments that recognize human dependence on the natural world. We collaborate with educators, play leaders, environmental educators, planners, politicians, and all professionals working for and with children.


North American Association for Environmental Education

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is the professional association for environmental education. Our members promote professional excellence in nonformal organizations, K-12 classrooms, universities (both instructors and students), government agencies, and corporate settings throughout North America and in over 55 other countries. Since 1971, the Association has created opportunities for its members to improve their skills in creating and delivering programs and services that teach people how to think, not what to think.

Environmental Education Fund

The mission of the Environmental Education Fund is to facilitate productive partnerships which raise public awareness of the environmental consequences of our actions. As we look at the future, we see environmental education as the most essential component of any environmental management effort. This country and state have a natural heritage that forms the basis for the quality of life we have here. Environmental regulations serve an invaluable role in protecting our critical natural heritage, but they alone are not sufficient to sustain it. Environmental education builds a foundation of understanding and respect, and a culture that encourages stewardship of this invaluable resource.


Whole Foods Market, Chapel Hill

North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation

The Division of Soil & Water Conservation provides programs, technical services and educational outreach promoting voluntary natural resource management and conservation on the private lands of North Carolina through a non-regulatory, incentive-driven approach.


Whole Foods Market, Raleigh

With additional support provided by:
CLH Design, P.A.
Evergreen, Canada
LS3P Associates LTD.
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
N.C. Department of Public Instruction
N.C. Division of Forest Resources
N.C. Museum of Natural Resources
North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
N.C. State University
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
N.C. Zoological Park
Portland State University
Prescott College
UNC Chapel Hill
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


A Special Thanks to all the Session Facilitators and Tour Providers.