DEQ Secretary Michael Regan recently visited the Harnett County Soil and Water Conservation District to recognize Lynn Lambert for completing her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification, a program of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Lambert is the natural resources director for the district and serves as their conservation education coordinator, providing educational opportunities to both youth and adults throughout Harnett County. Lambert works with farmers and farmland owners in developing conservation plans for their farms which involves educating them on best management practices to be used to protect the soil, water, plant and wildlife resources available on their property. In her educator role, she organizes field days, workshops, civic group presentations, Envirothon teams, day camps, and classroom presentations pertaining to natural resource conservation and agriculture.
When reflecting on her experience in the program, Lambert said that the people she met during the workshops stood out. “So many were passionate about their fields and their students. They were willing to share their experiences and knowledge and proved to be a great resource.”
“North Carolina’s soil and water conservation districts are essential for protecting natural resources and assisting landowners. Their contribution to education in the state is invaluable,” said Regan. “Lynn Lambert is an excellent example of a district educator who is making a difference in her county.”
The certification program requires a community partnership project. For her project, Lambert installed an outdoor environmental learning center at Dunn Middle School in Harnett County. The school was selected because it is the most urban school in the county. “The students often played only on the sidewalks or in a small park with no real opportunity to interact with the natural environment. Installing the outdoor learning center gave them a space to explore and learn,” says Lambert.
Lambert says the program provided a well-rounded professional development experience based on science and sound educational theory. “This certification process made me realize the importance of allowing others to make their own choices by presenting them with factual information in hopes that it will increase their knowledge and if we are lucky, adopt practices that make positive impacts on the natural resources around them.”