People

I am a student at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC.  I am majoring in Outdoor Rec Management with a minor in ski industry business and instruction.

Hi! My name is Ella Kavanaugh and I'm from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I am a first-year student at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio and I'm just beginning the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification process! My hope is to gain skills and experience to be the Environmental Discovery Chief at YMCA Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, NC. After this I'll continue my journey in Environmental Education, Conservation and in the NC certification process. I am planning to major in Biology and Environmental Studies at school. One day I hope to be a Conservation Biologist or something similar and make a difference for the climate and natural world. I hope gain experience working with others and with environmental education, including at Piedmont Wildlife Center summer camps and internships, and other opportunities. I love the outdoors and hope to share this with others!

I'm a nonformal educator (Certified through Environmental Educators of North Carolina - NAI CIG), and looking to connect with others for networking. Feel free to follow or contact me via my socials provided. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

I'm an associate professor at NC State studying children & nature and environmental education. I'm interested how being outside can provide benefits for children, as well as how youth can create positive change in their communities. I have a strong interest in partnering with EE organizations for evaluation, as well as research around community-based environmental learning. 

It wasn't until a few years ago that I felt compelled to take a leap of faith and enter the field of EE. My background is in elementary education. I set professional goals aside and guided my 7 and 9  year old daughters in their virtual education during the 2020-21 school year. During that time, I decided that when my daughters went back to in-person school, I was going to go back to school as well. I carefully picked a masters degree in which I would find value in applying and learning the content, regardless of the outcome of job searches during such uncertain times. I am currently acquiring a Masters of Education in Environmental Education at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. I landed a job much sooner than I predicted. I have worked full-time as an environmental educator at Blandy Experimental Farm - The State Arboretum of Virginia since September of 2021.

 

Hi everyone! I am in my last semester of the Forestry Conservation Master’s program. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2021. I just got married in December! When we aren’t working or traveling, I love to exercise around the National Mall, binge-watch Game of Thrones or Gilmore Girls (yes, very different categories), and put together lego sets. When we are back home in Florida, I love to participate in various water sports, off-shore fishing, and help with construction projects my parents and in-laws have. Sadly, my house was affected greatly by Hurricane Ian as we lived on Fort Myers Beach so we have been trying to help as much as we can. 

I have always had a passion for the environment and trying to make a difference. I would say my superpower is multitasking and the ability to stay calm during hectic situations. With these two traits, my dream is to work with an environmental/conservation-based NGO or a Federal Agency/organization to make a difference toward sustainability. I have such a large passion for limiting plastic pollution. 

 

James McGirt is Manager of Education Programs for National PLT. He is devoted to helping teachers, students, and schools adopt practices to make their campuses more green, and his work with PLT centers primarily around PLT's GreenSchools! and GreenWorks! service-learning programs.