2020–2022 Cohort

Favorite Hobby: Hiking, backpacking.

What does environmental education mean to me? For me, environmental education is all about connecting to, learning about, and protecting our home and its inhabitants.

Favorite Hobby: Macrophotography, anything on the water, shark tooth hunting, jewelry making.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education to me means turning people on to their natural surroundings – increasing their appreciation of the environment by viewing it through new and different lenses.

Favorite Hobby: Kayaking or being on the water.

What does environmental education mean to me? Trying to install an appreciation for the natural world by sharing its wonderful stories and showing our interconnectedness with those stories.

Favorite Hobby: Ceramics and other visual arts (drawing, painting).

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental Education is facilitating lasting connections between people and the world that sustains us.

Favorite Hobby: Fly fishing and fly tying.

What does environmental education mean to me? EE serves as a vital link in connecting people to the world around them and to generations past and future. In some ways, modern conveniences have lessened our connections to the natural world, made us less aware of what is going on around us, and let us consider ourselves separated from nature. Environmental education can help to rebuild that relationship and remind us of our role in protecting the place we live and how to lessen our impacts. EE connects us to practices in the past, both good and bad, and reminds us that we are leaving a legacy for the future. Hopefully, that legacy is a healthy planet and an appreciation of the natural world with us as a part of it.

Favorite Hobby: Clemson football and hanging with my hubby & 4-year old son.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental Education means a lot to me. It’s important to pass along knowledge about the environment to children. But you are never too young to learn so I am happy I get to teach adults as well. I want to foster learning and create Earth stewards that will love and respect this planet and its inhabitants a little bit more than when they first attended my program. I like to hope that if people know better, they’ll do better.

Favorite Hobby: Walking along the river and singing.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education is one of the things I love most and think is crucial for living in our world. It’s time to learn to care for the earth and each other. Harmony, health with humanity.

Favorite Hobby: Working with the earth…farming, gardening.

What does environmental education mean to me? We live in such a robust eco-system and I crave to plunge myself into the depths of it: then to share this knowledge and understanding of life with everyone.

Favorite Hobby: Pottery or shark tooth hunting.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education means having the tools, resources, and knowledge to inspire and spark the love of outdoors in a child. We can’t make them drink from the pond but we sure can make them thirsty!

Favorite Hobby: Riding horses with my girls

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education means informing our peers, children and the community about our natural environment, the importance of this environment and how, to me, we need to preserve the environment.

Favorite Hobby: I enjoy craft bartending, scuba, and interior design to bring out my creative side.

What does environmental education mean to me? Instilling a passion for taking care of our surroundings in those that surround me.

Favorite Hobby: Sitting outside, paddle boarding, yardwork/gardening, cooking, making bracelets out of poptops and beads out of paper.

What does environmental education mean to me? Sharing a love for the natural world. The more we know about something, the more we tend to care for it which promotes Conservation. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.

Favorite Hobby: This may seem a bit strange since my favorite hobby is also my “job” and I love what I do, so I will have to say spending time with friends since I don’t get to see them often! 

What does environmental education mean to me? To me, environmental education means growing our next generation of scientists and leaders to do right by the world we live in. We only have one planet that is inhabitable by mankind, and we must do what we can to protect it for generations to come. 

Favorite Hobby: I love cooking and trying new recipes, taking walks with my two dogs (Behr and Pnut).

What does environmental education mean to me? It means a way to ensure a future for our earth through educating students about the earth. It means providing a better future for those to come through education. It means hands on education to excite and get students excited about taking care of the earth locally and nationally though adulthood.

Favorite Hobby: Swimming, kayaking, and gardening.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education means children and adults learn about good and bad environmental issues occurring in our world today. They then learn various conservation projects they can work on to help improve conditions in our environment. 

Favorite Hobby: Kayaking, Dog walking, Taking pictures.

What does environmental education mean to me? “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” “I am glad I will not be young in a future without wilderness.”  ― Aldo Leopold 

These two quotes from Aldo Leopold’s classic, A Sand County Almanac, really capture the essence of the vital role that environmental educators hold in our society. My purpose as an environmental educator is to interpret information, and tell the story of natural things; to connect people with, and spark interest in, the natural world so that they are inspired to explore and protect their environment. Everything that I do, personally and professionally, is powered by this intention and filtered through the lens of connection. 

Favorite Hobby: Weaving mountain baskets.

What does environmental education mean to me? Learning how to protect, preserve and present the natural world to others not just lecture or printed document forms, but how it all fits to keep our planet and its people healthy. Environmental education is about using tools like our eyes, brains, and energies to sustain us in a healthy and safe manner, even when the choices are tough. Environmental education encompasses good stewardship, protecting spaces for our grandchildren and their grandchildren. Practicing sustainability, finding other sustainable means for all plants and animals is a part of environmental education, too. It is all about learning and practicing living together in harmony, as. much as possible, on this planet. Environmental education is helping others with different needs to live and sustain as much as possible. We should always be together in this effort.

Favorite Hobby: Watching movies, gardening, and spending time with family.

What does environmental education mean to me? To me, environmental education means the ability to engage, connect, and explore the environment. Also, connecting with the environment for enjoyment and learning while taking action to improve our world. Lastly, it means taking steps to explore and appreciate the beautiful surroundings right outside your door because the world is full of possibilities of learning something new every day!

Favorite Hobby: From hiking to kayaking I love to be outside exploring and learning about the natural world.

What does environmental education mean to me? As an environmental educator, my goal is to foster an empathy and understanding of the natural world by providing a safe space for students to engage and learn with nature.