‘cause we are living in a virtual world, and I am a virtual girl
The Coastal Reserve’s training program has been continuing outreach to real estate professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the virtual meeting platform Webex, three workshops were held in August and Septmeber on low impact development and barrier island development issues. Real estate professionals get four elective continuing education credits for participating in these workshops.
“I really miss hosting workshops in-person,” says Whitney Jenkins, researve training coordinator. “But at least we can still host these learning opportunites virtually.” Whitney uses Webex’s polling and chat box features to make workshops interactive.
The goal of these workshops is to raise awareness about stormwater and water quality, protecting native vegetation, and the rules that govern coastal development. “We want to provide real estate professionals knowledge they can pass on to their clients when selling coastal real estate,” says Whitney.
Since 2003, the North Carolina Coastal Training Program has provided coastal leaders and professionals with science-based training opportunities to promote informed decisions regarding our coastal resources. Local officials, realtors, state agency staff, resource managers, non-profit organizations, and consultants all benefit from access to relevant scientific research and training presented by local experts that improve their understanding of the coastal environment and the impact of local decisions on coastal resources. You can learn more about the reserve’s Coastal Training program and sign up for the mailing list at: https://deq.nc.gov/coastal-training-program.