2024–2026 Cohort

A big welcome to our new PEEC participants!

Our Students

E. Ashley Howell

Orangeburg Christian Academy

About Ashley

Favorite Hobby: Hiking

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education means learning to be a wise steward of the natural world so that all can benefit in a sustainable way.

Hayley Fournier

North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

About Hayley

Favorite Hobby: Art and Gardening

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental Education is the gift that keeps on giving. Nature itself is a neccesity to life itself for ALL people to learn about, enjoy, and protect.

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Destiney Rains

Beaufort County Passive Parks Department

About Destiney

Favorite Hobby: Walking my dog on trails and the beach, birding, running, and fishing with my family!

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental Education fosters a sense of love and compassion for our beautiful environment within the general public. It provides folks with the knowledge and understanding of their personal impacts on the environment; and inspires people to protect, conserve, and restore the world they live in for themselves and the future generations to come.

Heather Kraus

Nemours Wildlife Foundation

About Heather

Favorite Hobby: Pottery, walking around my neighborhood, and sometimes baking.

What does environmental education mean to me? For me, environmental education means cultivating curiosity, appreciation, and understanding for the natural world. It should give people the tools to explore the plants, animals, and ecosystems where they live and make a meaningful connection to a particular place.

Nancy White

SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission

About Nancy

Favorite Hobby: Tasting different types of food and beverages.

What does environmental education mean to me? Initiating others to observe, touch, smell, taste, and show curiosity and concern about preserving our natural environment.

Ellisa Poff

Museum of York County

About Ellisa

Favorite Hobby: I really enjoy being outside hiking with my husband and taking pictures of nature. When I can’t get outside, I can usually be found reading and learning to crochet.

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education is essential for the future of our world. I see it as an important opportunity to connect our youth with nature and give them the tools to protect and improve our environment for generations to come.

Esther Wagner

Palmetto Pride

About Esther

Favorite Hobby: One all-consuming thing—but it changes often.

What does environmental education mean to me? New knowledge leads to new ideas and improvements on old ones.

Bonnie Webster

Spartanburg Day School

About Bonnie

Favorite Hobby: Hiking

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education is a way to conect people with the natural world around them. It is a both a way to bring people joy and wonder about our amazing planet and to raise their awareness of the role we can play in protecting it.

Alison Koutroulias

Spartanburg District 6

About Alison

Favorite Hobby: Reading, Gardening, Knitting

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education means empowering the future generations to become active stewards of our amazing environment and ecosystems.

Our Instructors

Lisa Pike

Francis Marion University

About Lisa

Favorite Hobby: Pottery and Nature Walks.

What does environmental education mean to me? A world that cares about the natural environment.

Sara Beth Freytag

Belle W. Baruch Foundation (Hobcaw Barony)

About Sara

Favorite Hobby: Playing the piano, cuddling with my Kitty.

What does environmental education mean to me? To me, environmental education means teaching others to explore, appreciate, and understand the world around us.

Cindy Lilly

Oceanbay Middle School

About Cindy

Favorite Hobby: Beachcombing, reading, and pottery

What does environmental education mean to me? Environmental education I feel is allowing the children I teach to explore and dive deep into environmental matters that will affect their furture. It also is allowing them to fall in love with our planet. I think it is medicine for the soul.

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Rachel Kennerly

Saluda Shoals Park/ Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission

About Rachel

Favorite Hobby: Reading and kayaking

What does environmental education mean to me? Connections. Connection to our place, our community, our past and future. Environmental Education can be part of everyone’s life.

Shana Bury

Bioblitz of the Grand Strand

About Shana

Favorite Hobby: Reading. I love getting lost in a good book.

What does environmental education mean to me? To me, it means a love and passion for the world around us and sharing that love with the next generation of scientists.

Wiltress Felder

Richland 2 science teacher

About Wiltress

Favorite Hobby: sky watching, nature walks with my dogs

What does environmental education mean to me? Teaching students to appreciate the world in which they live.

Administration

Morgan Treon

S.C. Sea Grant Consortium

About Morgan

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.

E.V. Bell

S.C. Sea Grant Consortium

About E.V.

Favorite Hobby: Tennis, gardening, anything water related, hiking, cheering on the Clemson tigers

What does environmental education mean to me? It’s everything! EE connects us to each other and the world around us — humans are not separate from, but interwoven with, the natural environment.