News Release – November 30, 2009
Media Contact – Elizabeth Burke, 703.281.6626
The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) recently honored Renee Strnad, Environmental Educator for Extension Forestry, with one of the organization’s two awards for Outstanding Service. Strnad was recognized for her efforts to support EENC’s annual conference, assisting with conference logistics and providing professional development opportunities. The Environmental Educators of North Carolina is the state’s professional organization representing environmental educators including classroom teachers, state and national park rangers, museum educators, county extension agents and other educators working in non-formal settings.
In addition to being the state coordinator for Project Learning Tree (multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-12), Strnad supports 4-H natural resource programs statewide. She is also a liaison between the College of Natural Resources at NC State University and environmental educators, sharing relevant information between the two groups. She is currently working with Wiley Elementary School in Raleigh, where students in grades 3-5 get their first glimpse of being a forester, through tree measurement classes facilitated by NC State forestry students.
Commenting on the value of environmental education, Strnad notes, “I feel like most youth today have lost their connection with the natural world, which can be detrimental as they become older and have to decide how to manage our natural resources. EE gives them that link to the natural world, and helps them perform authentic field studies that address state learning objectives across the curriculum. I think it is really amazing how students react to, and are inspired by, classes that take place in a natural setting or include the natural environment around them.”
Strnad is a graduate of Kansas State University with a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. She’s been with NC State University since 2000, and has been involved in environmental education since 1997.
“I am honored to receive this award. I truly enjoy being an advocate of EE in North Carolina and so glad that EENC members played a vital role this past fall to encourage the legislature to continue funding for the State Office of Environmental Education. Because of our members, EENC continues to be recognized as an exemplary professional organization for environmental educators throughout North Carolina”, she noted.
The second Outstanding Service Award was presented to Shelby Gull Laird, a Ph.D. candidate in the Forestry and Environmental Resources Department at NCSU.
For more information about EENC membership, please visit our website at eenc.org.
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Below: Renee Strnad (right) accepts her Outstanding Service Award from North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. June Atkinson