Environmentally Speaking

Nestled between the cities of Hickory, Newton and Claremont, Conover is one of the most easily accessible cities in the Charlotte Metro region. With nearly 8,300 people living there, Conover is a hub of innovation and opportunity.

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.

DEQ Secretary Michael Regan recently went to Sarah P. Duke Gardens to recognize Rebecca Lauzon for completing her N.C. Environmental Education Certification.

DEQ’s Secretary Michael Regan visited the North Carolina Botanical Garden last week to present Kim Kelleher, a recently retired school counselor, with her North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate.

DEQ’s secretary, Michael Regan, made a visit to the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District this week to present Lisa Pope with her environmental education certificate.

Newport teacher Jason “Mr. Vantaztic” Vanzant was recently featured on the National Project Water Education for Teachers (Project WET) website for his use of Project WET and other environmental education curricula in the classroom.

After months of intensive training and completion of projects relevant to their job duties, six DEQ employees – two each from the divisions of Air Quality, Waste Management and Water Resources – have graduated from the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program.

Secretary Michael Regan recently met with fourth grade students visiting Raleigh from Salisbury Academy in Salisbury, NC.

The N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs invites you to take part in a nationwide effort to connect children to the natural world.

The Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is offering several engaging and in some cases “spooky,” topics for their fall lunchtime speaker series.

Mandy Nix is a nonformal educator who had a very busy year. In addition to working in several seasonal positions, Nix used her training and experiences to complete her N.C. Environmental Education Certification.

More than a Helping Hand

DEQ staff from the Secretary’s office and from the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs joined Bee Downtown Founder and CEO Leigh-Kathryn Bonner last Wednesday for an up-close and hands-on tour of the company’s community apiary at NCSU Centennial Campus. 

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the N.C. Public Schools Science Section have coauthored an article that touts the unique collaboration between the two agencies to unite formal and informal educators in the state.

The DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs took their Lunchtime Discovery Series to the Archdale Building recently to show DEQ and other state employees the benefits of composting.