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NCYCC Wraps Up 2018 Summer Season

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We are nearing the end of the North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps (NCYCC) 2018 summer season and all is well on the trails and in the parks. In just a few short weeks, our corps members have accomplished so much.

We have 36 amazing young people contributing thousands of hours of work to improve, restore, and preserve North Carolina’s parks and trails. At the same time, they are receiving a rich education in job and life skills, environmental stewardship, leadership, community service and personal responsibility.

This summer has been a truly life-changing experience.

N.C. Crew 1 – State Parks AmeriCorps Chainsaw Crew

Hazard trees are dead or dying trees at risk of injuring people because of their proximity to public trails and park facilities. Hazard tree removal is a priority maintenance need of the NC State Park system because of severe storms in recent years.

This year launched a new partnership between CTNC and the N.C. Division of Parks to employ a chainsaw-certified crew to address hazardous tree removal within state parks. NC Crew 1 spent their first week doing trail work in heat indexes well over 100°, filling in “the biggest hole known to human existence” caused by flooding at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. They followed up by completing a North Carolina State Park chainsaw certification course at Morrow Mountain State Park. The crew returned to Cliffs of the Neuse State Park to use their new chainsaw skills to remove hazard trees along the park’s hiking trails. The crew also spent weeks supporting parks staff at Jones Lake State Park and Lake Waccamaw State Park.

In addition to getting paid hourly, the crew members will receive an AmeriCorps education award at the end of their service. This education award can be used to pay higher education or training institution expenses or to repay qualified student loans. The members will also gain valuable job qualifications with the chainsaw certification they obtained. One member has plans to apply for a wildland fire fighting position after he completes his NCYCC season.

Not only has the crew visited some of our states most celebrated state parks, but they also used their free-time to eat some local barbeque, visit the North Carolina Aquarium and attend the Eno River Festival.

The Goldsboro Daily News had this to say about N.C. Crew 1.

This partnership was made possible thanks to legislation introduced by Representative Jimmy Dixon, with the support of Representative Chuck McGrady and Senator Harry Brown, during the 2017 legislative session.

N.C. Crew 2 – United States Forest Service Trail Crew

N.C. Crew 2 built a set of box steps on badly eroded trail section of the Upper Creek Falls Trail in the Pisgah National Forest. The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are the most visited national forests in the United States.

This NCYCC youth crew (15-18-years-old) spent the first two weeks of the summer restoring the Upper Creek Falls Trail in the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest. They later moved to the Pisgah District of the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard where they are restoring a number of trails around the Pisgah Visitor Center.

The crew is seeing how high traffic and water flow erode trails. They are learning how to build re-routes, trail structures and strategically place large rocks to restore and preserve the trails. The USFS rangers are giving them a big “thumbs up” for the quantity and quality of their work. Because the members work on some of the Pisgah District’s most highly used trails, they have received plenty of thanks from hikers.

The crew has used their weekends to visit Chimney Rock State Park, Sliding Rock and the town of Brevard.

Two members of the crew are returning from last year and one of those has decided to pursue a degree in sustainable development at Appalachian State University this fall. Another crew member is using his NCYCC experience to fulfill his high school program’s internship requirement.

N.C. Crews 3.1 and 3.2 – Land Trust and Local Government Crews

N.C. Crews 3.1 and 3.2 are this year’s two three-week teen crews. Both crews’ work includes two weeks of long-leaf pine restoration, trail building and maintenance, and park and campground improvements for the Coastal Land Trust. Crew 3.1 also worked on removing invasive species and trail maintenance for Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation in Charlotte. Crew 3.2 will do an additional week of work building a boardwalk and removing invasive species for Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association in Durham.

Charlotte’s Spectrum News interviewed N.C. Crew 3.1. Take a look here!

What’s Next…

The crews will end their NCYCC program on August 4 with a professional development event in Raleigh. Duke Energy Foundation funds a full day of workshops to help NCYCC participants prepare for the next step of their education and career journey. The day includes sessions on financial literacy, skills matching, and goal setting, interviewing, project management and gap year opportunities. It also includes a natural resources career panel of representatives from local, state, and federal agencies, a nonprofit, and a for-profit company to give participants information about natural resource jobs in each of these sectors.

The NCYCC program is supported by Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, N.C. State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, Duke Energy Foundation, N.C. Electric Membership Cooperative, Wells Fargo, Coastal Land Trust, Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, Fred and Alice Stanback, the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Foundation, Little Acorn Fund, the Smith Family Foundation, and the generosity of individual donors.

It is because of this generous support that these young people have an opportunity to learn about the natural world, grow in their understanding of the value of public lands, connect with nature on a daily basis, gain work skills and certifications, and discover new things about themselves and other people.

You are helping CTNC cultivate a new generation of conservation leaders for North Carolina.

2018 Diversity in Conservation Interns

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CTNC is excited to welcome the 2018 Diversity in Conservation Internship Program participants!

Through this initiative, we hope to encourage future conservation leaders by providing professional development and networking opportunities and creating employment pathways to conservation careers with land trusts, nonprofits and government agencies.

Through this and other CTNC programs, we hope to contribute to a more equitable and diverse conservation sector that meets the needs of all North Carolinians no matter their race, gender, or background.

This year’s program was made possible in partnership with CTNC AmeriCorps, the Land Trust Alliance, and the United States Forest Service.

Meet our 2018 Diversity in Conservation Interns!

Khrystle Bullock
United States Forest Service

Khrystle Bullock is a RAPS Intern at the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C. She has a background in public health and neuroscience with a concentration in health disparities and health equity. Her passions also include environmental justice, urban planning and infrastructure, and community engagement. She plans to use her experience and talents to connect the relationship between environmental health and public health with the goal to improve human health, especially those from under-resourced populations. She will be engaging D.C. youth in the importance of environmental innovations and how to be a good steward in their community.

Tamia Dame
Asheville GreenWorks

Tamia Dame is a student at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, taking classes to complete her degree in environmental management and policy at UNC-Asheville. Raised in rural Lenoir, N.C, Tamia has always had a love for mountains and the outdoors. This summer she will be serving as a Youth Education Leadership Program (YELP) assistant for Asheville GreenWorks, where she will help facilitate educational workshops and workdays with local environmental organizations for young people of color.

“I hope to build meaningful relationships, gain leadership skills, and make significant progress toward earning a North Carolina Environmental Educator Certification.”

Berekia Divanga
Triangle Land Conservancy

Berekia N. Divanga was born in Kinshasa, D.R.C. She currently resides in Raleigh, N.C., and attends Meredith College. Her majors are environmental sustainability and economics, including a minor in geoscience. During the summer of 2018, Berekia will be working as a community conservation asset analyst intern at the Triangle Land Conservancy.

“I hope to gain hands-on experience through this internship, which will guide me further toward my aspirational career path as an environmental economist.”

Brooks Falkner
Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO)

Brooks attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying business and public policy. This summer, Brooks is working in his home county with Green Rural Redevelopment Organization on a new program that provides produce to 50 participants who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. In addition, he will be constructing a farm school, which will educate people in the community with the skills necessary for good farming practices.

“Through this internship, I hope to gain experience in managing and marketing a program as well as basic carpentry skills.”

Jendayi Joell, Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center

Jendayi Joell was born in Bermuda and raised between both the island and Winton, N.C. She is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences with a minor in plant biology. This summer, Jendayii will serve as the Farm to School to Healthcare intern at the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, where she will communicate her knowledge of sustainable and organic farming practices to rural communities.

“I hope to continue to share my knowledge and experience about sustainable gardening and land conservation with the community and to continue to serve people and the environment.”

Elias Larson
Dig In! Yancey County

Born Ivan Rodriguez in Tulcan, Ecuador and adopted by U.S. citizens, Elias lived in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania for 18 years before coming to Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. Elias is earning a double major in agriculture and history. He looks forward to working with Dig In! Yancey Community Garden working with community individuals to improve access to locally grown healthy food.

“I am looking forward to being in a more managing role and working with my organization skills to advance the area’s goals of a healthy sustainable food system.”

Tyler Potts
Conserving Carolina

Born in Akron, O.H., Tyler Potts has lived in 14 different places! Tyler currently calls Winston-Salem home where he attends the Wake Forest School of Law. He is a devout vegan who loves the environment. Tyler is a hockey player, was captain of his undergraduate team and captain of the Wake Forest club team, and his favorite activity is getting on the ice with friends.

“I am big into working out and make it a priority to do so five times each week. I also am an avid guitar player and when I am not working out or playing hockey, it’s usually guitar. I would love to one-day practice environmental law or family law!”

Chandler Whitfield
Coharie Tribe

Chandler Whitfield grew up in Clinton, N.C., and currently attends Fayetteville Technical Community College where he is pursuing a degree in criminal justice technology. This summer, Chandler is returning to the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program to work with the Coharie Tribe as their Great Coharie River Initiative Project intern.

Americorps

CTNC AmeriCorps Members Gather Hundreds for MLK Day of Service

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Each year, CTNC AmeriCorps members join a nationwide movement to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in the annual Day of Service. In partnership with six host organizations in western North Carolina, the Triangle and coastal region, CTNC’s AmeriCorps members organized events that drew hundreds of volunteers to spend time outside and contribute to conservation projects in their local community.

Scroll down to see photos from each of the events where staff, AmeriCorps members and volunteers cleaned up a public nature preserve, collected oyster shells for a living reef installation, reforested open fields to revitalize habitat for wildlife and much more.

Anne Maxwell Ellett
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Eighty people attended a clean-up event organized by Anne Maxwell to support stewardship of Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association’s Beaver Creek Marsh Preserve. The group worked on clearing invasive species (ivy and privet), collected multiple truck-loads of trash, and mended fences. More CTNC AmeriCorps members joined Anne Maxwell for the event including Emily Goetz, Bald Head Island Conservancy; Ashley Meredith, Durham Hub Farm; Joy-Lynn Rhoton, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust; Kate Conery, NC Coastal Foundation; Reilly Kelly, NC Coastal Foundation; Lauren Huffstetler, Piedmont Triad Regional Council; Kayla Kohlmann, Piedmont Triad Regional Council; Molly Richard, Triangle Land Conservancy; Jade Woll, NC Coastal Land Trust.

Click here to see photos!

Kristin Gibson
North Carolina Coastal Federation

In partnership with Leadership Carteret, AmeriCorps member Kristin Gibson organized an event for 12 students to bag oyster shells. The effort totaled 200 bags that will help construct a living oyster reef. Volunteers were so dedicated, they stayed longer than necessary to get all the work done!

April Hausle
North Carolina Arboretum

AmeriCorps member April Hausle participated in a workday at Shiloh Community Garden in Asheville. Residents of the historically black community added mulch to the garden and completed a social justice art project where children cut out magazine photos to design a mural of the United States. Michelle Durr, who is serving at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, also attended.

Jannette Morris
Eno River Association

An old farm field along the Eno River will be restored to its natural habitat after 100 volunteers gathered to plan 200 hardwood trees. Jannette Morris organized the tree-planting, which will contribute to cleaner water flowing from the Eno River into Falls Lake, the main drinking water source for Raleigh and eight other reservoirs.

Click here to see photos!

Bethany Sheffer
Balsam Mountain Trust

Representing CTNC AmeriCorps, Bethany Sheffer volunteered with Conserving Carolina’s Project Conserve members at Asheville’s Burton Street Community Peace Gardens. The event was led by DeWayne Barton, founder of Hood Huggers International, which offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. The Burton Street Peace Gardens is a sanctuary for positive action, designed to create neighborhood food security, community cohesion and a vibrant, sustainable local economy.

Click here to see photos!

Jonathan Hill, Keep Durham Beautiful

In partnership with Duke Roundtable, a Duke University student service group, Jonathan Hill organized a litter clean-up recruiting 100 volunteers to participate in the Keep Durham Beautiful event.

Click here to see photos!

Dawn Keyser
Keep Durham Beautiful

AmeriCorps member Dawn Keyser organized two tree plantings that put 120 trees in the ground. Many of the 70 participants were students of the School of Science and Math and Emily K. Center volunteers.

Click here to see photos!

CTNC AmeriCorps is a 10-month national service program in environmental education and outreach. This program, along with CTNC’s N.C. Youth Conservation Corps and the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program are part of CTNC’s Emerging Leaders Program, which seeks to reconnect people with the outdoors and to develop future leaders in conservation. AmeriCorps members develop service projects that help remove barriers to environmental education throughout North Carolina, as well as help expand the diversity of backgrounds among conservation leaders in our state.

2018 CTNC AmeriCorps Members

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Conservation Trust for North Carolina is the proud host organization for AmeriCorps, a 10-month national service program in environmental education and outreach. Through CTNC AmeriCorps, we seek to reconnect people with the outdoors and to develop future leaders in conservation.

Kate Conery
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Kate is serving at the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., as the coastal community engagement specialist. She’s originally from the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York but moved to Wilmington in 2012. She earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and minor in geospatial technologies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. As a former intern of the federation, Kate was thrilled to come on board as an AmeriCorps member. She will be designing and implementing education programs, working on oyster restoration and stormwater runoff initiatives and working with volunteers in coastal communities. She also previously interned for the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. Through these opportunities, she was able to share her love of the environment with others. In her free time, Kate enjoys hiking, traveling, yoga and playing with her dogs.

Michelle Durr
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Michelle is serving at the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in Asheville, N.C., As the Roan Highlands volunteer and outreach associate, Michelle focuses on stewardship efforts and outreach opportunities for those in surrounding areas. She is a recent graduate of Eckerd College with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School. Most recently, Michelle worked as a unit leader at Camp Arrowhead in Lewes, Delaware and as a FoodCorps service member at the Kona Pacific School in Hawaii. “I am passionate about the southern Appalachian region and am excited to serve with CTNC to ensure that future generations can have the same experience.”

Anne Maxwell Ellett
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association
Anne Maxwell is an environmental educator for Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA). Prior to joining ECWA, she was an environmental educator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Maryland after graduating UNC-Chapel Hill. During her time at UNC, Anne Maxwell studied biology and marine science and spent a semester in the Galapagos Islands studying marine ecology. At ECWA, Anne Maxwell leads Family Explorers Club and Explorers Club and also assists with nature walks: all of which aim to get Durham residents, big and small, outside and connected with Ellerbe Creek. She is also involved with the planning and implementation of volunteer workdays, assists with outreach for various programs through social media platforms and helps with fundraising for the education program. It was during her undergraduate career that her love for environmental science and educating the public was solidified.

Kristin Gibson
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Kristin is serving as the Coastal Community Engagement Specialist at the North Carolina Coastal Federation central office in Newport, North Carolina. During her time at the Coastal Federation, Kristin will be working with volunteers, creating and implementing educational programs for K-12-aged students, and participating in restoration projects. Kristin graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in December 2016 earning her degree in Environmental Studies. Her passion for the environment was solidified during her time studying ecology in Germany. She began to focus on coastal ecology when she interned at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. In the future, Kristin hopes to attend graduate school for Environmental Science.

Emily Goetz
Bald Head Island Conservancy
Emily Goetz is serving as the community outreach and stewardship coordinator at the Bald Head Island Conservancy. She studied conservation biology at Middlebury College and has since used her degree in the areas of coastal field research and environmental education. She is particularly excited to apply these skills to her term as a CTNC AmeriCorps member, where she is contributing to public outreach efforts, developing citizen science projects and stewardship management practices, and assisting with volunteer coordination. While Emily enjoys working outdoors in any capacity, she especially loves introducing others to outdoor exploration. “During my service term, I hope to encourage more kids (and adults) to get outside, get muddy and climb trees.”

April Hausle
North Carolina Arboretum
April is serving as community outreach coordinator at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, N.C. Growing up in North Carolina, April was always taught by her family and community to cherish nature and time spent outdoors. She believes that educational experiences in nature should be available for all people and strives to make that possible through her position as a CTNC AmeriCorps member. April received her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Asheville where she studied international studies, Spanish and ecology. During her time at UNC-Asheville, April managed a community garden on campus and interned at Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). Since graduating in 2015, April has stayed active in the community by participating in a volunteer ESL program through International House in Charlotte, N.C., and engaging in various community gardening efforts. In her leisure time, April enjoys running or walking in the forest, riding her bike, singing, making crafts, dancing,and being with all the people she loves.

Jonathan Hill
Keep Durham Beautiful
Jonathan Hill serves as Keep Durham Beautiful’s community outreach and volunteer coordinator. Born in Durham and raised in Raleigh, Jonathan returned to his hometown to attend Duke University, where he graduated with highest honors and a dual degree in public policy and history. Jonathan fell in love with the environment through course work and his time with the North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps. He has worked as a lobbyist for environmental groups on the state and federal level and currently serves on CTNC’s Future Leaders of Conservation board. Jonathan joined CTNC AmeriCorps to continue serving environmental nonprofits in his native state and has coordinated record-breaking litter cleanups. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys visiting historical sites and going on runs or vigorous hikes on trails less traveled throughout North Carolina and beyond.

Lauren Huffstetler
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Lauren is serving as an environmental educator with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in Kernersville, N.C. She holds a B.S. in environmental sciences with a minor in applied ecology from N.C. State University. College coursework and past work experiences with N.C. Coastal Reserve & NC National Estuarine Research Reserve and NCSU’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology led her to pursue a career in environmental education. While serving with PTRC, she assists in coordinating the Stormwater SMART program by facilitating community volunteer events and providing environmental education on water quality and conservation issues. Born and raised in North Carolina, Lauren’s free time is spent traveling and exploring the outdoors as much as possible. “I love the diverse landscape of our state and hope to foster a love and appreciation of this diversity in others. I joined CTNC AmeriCorps to inspire others to take ownership of their environment.”

Reilly Kelly
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Reilly Kelly is serving at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s northeast office in Wanchese, N.C. as the coastal community engagement specialist. As a CTNC AmeriCorps member, she will be creating and implementing environmental education programs, assisting with volunteer management and helping with the Federation’s restoration projects. Reilly graduated from Mary Baldwin University in May of 2017 earning a B.S. in biology with a minor in math. Although she attended school in the Shenandoah Valley, she is a native of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Growing up on the coast is what fostered her love for the ocean and surrounding habitats. “I am excited to motivate my community, through CTNC AmeriCorps, to get outdoors and learn about the beautiful ecosystems that surround them.”

Dawn Keyser
Keep Durham Beautiful
Dawn is serving as the environmental outreach and volunteer coordinator at Keep Durham Beautiful. She was born and raised in Moore County, N.C., and now lives in Raleigh. Dawn earned her B.S. in zoology from N.C. State University and worked at the Wake County Animal Shelter and as a vet assistant. She is passionate about all things concerning animal and environmental welfare, conservation and waste reduction. Dawn is also passionate about service and is always finding new ways to volunteer. She has spent many years volunteering in the Mammal Collections Department of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, the Well Fed Community Garden and as a board member of Oaks & Spokes, a Raleigh-based cycling advocacy group. When she’s not picking up roadside trash or trying to convince people to bring their own cups to get coffee, Dawn is enjoying the company of her two cats and foster kittens, working in the yard, doing yoga and attending as many bike events as she can. “After many years of experience in the food-service industry and witnessing the waste that occurs there, I decided that the work that called me most was waste management and sustainability.”

Kayla Kohlmann
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Kayla is serving at the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in Kernersville, N.C., as the Piedmont Legacy Trails coordinator. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in environmental biology and ecology, a minor in geography and a certificate in GIS. Kayla is working on a regional trails initiative in the Piedmont and hopes to connect the local communities to nature while increasing wellness. Some of her goals include organizing a 12-county trail system database, building/maintaining a mile of trails while leading volunteers, and organizing a trails summit for 2018. Growing up, Kayla spent a lot of time outdoors and grew to love animals and nature. In her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, hiking, walking on trails and spending time with her dog. She grew up in Kernersville and is proud to come back and serve in her hometown. “I joined CTNC AmeriCorps to pursue my passion for environmental stewardship and outreach. I hope to spark that same passion in others across the Piedmont-Triad region.”

Ashley Meredith
Durham Public Schools Hub Farm 
Ashley is serving as the curriculum development & volunteer coordinator at the Hub Farm where she coordinates volunteer workdays, manages the farm’s social media presence and helps lead field trips. Originally from Virginia, Ashley has spent a lot of time in the mountain forests of the Blue Ridge, the marshes of the Chesapeake Bay and everywhere in between. It was these outdoor experiences that cultivated her love of the outdoors, as well as a need to share it with others! She is excited to witness others as they experience new aspects of nature for the first time. Ashley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geology and conservation/marine biology from the College of William & Mary. After farm hours, you can find Ashley out hiking/climbing, cooking or playing volleyball!

Jannette Morris
Eno River Association
Jannette is serving at the Eno River Association in Durham as their conservation and education coordinator. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2015 with a B.S. in geology and environmental science. At William and Mary, she had the opportunity to conduct geologic fieldwork across the states of Virginia, Arizona and Utah. Jannette’s undergraduate research thesis centered on understanding landscape changes in several Appalachian Mountain watersheds in western Virginia. Since graduating, she gained a variety of experiences in environmental education, including working with and presenting raptors, reptiles, and amphibians at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Georgia, and working with and teaching about plankton, oyster reefs, and nearshore estuarine environments at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland. At the Eno River Association, she is leading education and outreach programming about the Eno River and surrounding conservation lands, monitoring conservation lands, and leading volunteer workdays to maintain trails, remove invasive species and remove litter. She is passionate about strategy board games, traveling, singing, dancing and chocolate!

Joy-Lynn Rhoton
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
Joy-Lynn graduated in May 2016 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and a minor in marine science. She has a passion for water resource conservation and water quality. Through CTNC AmeriCorps, Joy-Lynn hopes to educate those in the Highlands and Cashiers communities through stewardship of the trails, leading environmental education programs and being a ranger for the public properties and trails. Furthermore, she will be in charge of the volunteers for the trail creation on Brushy Face. Joy-Lynn looks forward to earning N.C. Environmental Education Certification and further developing her skills in environmental education, GIS analysis and volunteer management. After the completion of her AmeriCorps service term, Joy-Lynn plans to apply to be a park ranger with the North Carolina State Parks. “The Highlands and Cashiers communities are beautiful and already in the mindset of conservation. I believe that the next generation is the key to the future of conservation, and I would like to keep the conservation mindset of the community by educating the youth about different environmental topics and their connections to the world outside of their homes.”

Molly Richard
Triangle Land Conservancy
Molly is serving as the community outreach and education associate at Triangle Land Conservancy. She graduated from Iowa State University with her B.S. in animal ecology. Molly is responsible for providing volunteer opportunities and environmental education to under-served communities; as well as managing TLC’s Citizen Science and Hiking Challenge programs to increase community involvement at TLC preserves. Molly joined CTNC AmeriCorps to further her ability to communicate with people about nature. “I enjoy serving because I get to teach and inspire kids and adults to love the outdoors as much as I do.”

Bethany Sheffer
Balsam Mountain Trust
Bethany earned her B.A. in public administration and liberal studies on social and political development in Latin America with a minor in Spanish from Grand Valley State University located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her Master in Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership in 2016. A native to the forested lands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she grew up exploring nearby creeks and catching crayfish in the tiny town of Rapid River. These experiences, paired with her father’s enthusiasm for the outdoors, instilled a lifelong appreciation of the natural world. Bethany is thrilled to be serving at Balsam Mountain Trust where she hopes to not only contribute her nonprofit expertise but gain quality experience sharing the wonders of the natural world with underserved populations in western N.C. She relishes every moment outdoors in the mountains and enjoys hiking, biking, drawing, traveling and hanging out with her two cockatiels in her free time.

Jade Woll
North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Jade attended Lynchburg College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science with a minor in studio art. Jade will serve as N.C. Coastal Land Trust’s environmental education and volunteer coordinator where she leads creating a pollinator curriculum, which will then be implemented into local schools, along with Venus flytrap and Longleaf curriculums. She is also working to expand NCCLT’s environmental education program to three new counties along the coastal plain. While working at MarineQuest this past summer, Jade was searching for positions that would allow her to continue working in the environmental education field along the coast. “I knew that working with the Land Trust would be an amazing opportunity to connect with my community and build relationships with other members who have similar passions in land conservation and education.”

An Incredible Experience for Rising Conservation Leaders

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More than 100 young adults completed the Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s Emerging Leaders Program this summer. As the N.C. Youth Conservation Corps (NCYCC), Diversity in Conservation Internship Program (DCIP) and CTNC AmeriCorps members concluded their experience, CTNC partnered with the N.C. State College of Natural Resources to organize a two-day professional development conference that would offer pathways to conservation career opportunities.

By the numbers:

  • 110 Emerging Leaders program members
  • 64 host site supervisors and parents
  • 18 job fair vendors
  • 16 professional development workshop sessions
  • 4 natural resources career panelists

Attendees gained professional development experience through a variety of college and career-readiness workshops designed for students at all education and career stages, from high school to post-college.

“I feel, as emerging leaders, these workshops are very important for us to understand and exhibit skills that will benefit us in the workplace,” said NCYCC member Fabian Martin-Bryan.

The conference featured a natural resources career panel, a campus tour and job fair, and keynote speakers who touted the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the conservation sector. Additional workshops allowed members to expand on skills ranging from financial literacy to communications, interview etiquette and best practices for networking. To conclude the conference, more than 20 interns from CTNC’s Emerging Leaders Program and the College of Natural Resources Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program presented their summer projects at an expo attended by conference attendees and their guests.

“The name of the conference definitely speaks for itself and the young adults who attended represented well,” Charles McCall, EDSI Solutions and job fair vendor.

The Emerging Leaders Program fosters future leaders in conservation, but it gives all members a truly unique experience in professional development.

DCIP participant Diamond McKoy said, “It brought so much gladness to my heart to see under-represented groups on the panel.”

The conference “provided a great networking opportunity for people on a variety of different educational and age backgrounds.” said Taylor Mebane, one of CTNC’s DCIP participants.

CTNC hired nearly 400 young adults over the past 10 years into paid conservation positions. CTNC and our partners are proud to cultivate and provide support to future conservation leaders.

See more photos from the Emerging Leaders Professional Development Conference on Facebook!


About CTNC’s Emerging Leaders Program

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s Emerging Leaders Program helps connect young people to the outdoors where they can establish a lifelong appreciation for the natural world and an understanding of the critical benefits that land and water conservation provides. Through the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program, CTNC AmeriCorps, N.C. Youth Conservation Corps and Future Leaders of Conservation advisory board, CTNC creates employment pathways by connecting young people to academic studies and careers in conservation.

Watch the video below to learn more about each program.

The Emerging Leaders Professional Development Conference is made possible by a generous grant from the Duke Energy Foundation as part of its focus on environmental education and conservation.

2017 Diversity in Conservation Interns

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The Conservation Trust for North Carolina is excited to welcome the 2017 Diversity in Conservation Internship Program participants!

Through this initiative we hope to encourage future conservation leaders by creating employment pathways to careers with land trusts, nonprofits, and government agencies.

This summer marks a tremendous milestone as we celebrate the tenth year and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students completing the program, while building diversity and equity in the entire conservation movement.

This year’s program was made possible in partnership with CTNC AmeriCorps, the Land Trust Alliance, and the United States Forest Service.

Meet our 2017 Diversity Interns!

Kimani Anderson, Blue Ridge Forever

Kimani Anderson was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Anderson is a rising junior and a student athlete at University of North Carolina – Asheville, majoring in Political Science and Sociology. When not participating in track and field, Anderson serves as a peer mentor, member of the order of Pisgah, a member of the Political Science Club, and a member of the German club. This summer, he will be serving as a communications intern for Blue Ridge Forever.

Genevieve Barnes, NC Coastal Land Trust

Genevieve Barnes, a native of Raleigh, is currently completing her second year of graduate school at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, pursuing a graduate degree in Communication Studies. This summer she will be working with NC Coastal Land Trust as their Marketing and Development Intern. This summer will provide Barnes the opportunity to gain experience in research and writing, while learning about NC coastal communities and conservation.

Gabrielle Benitez, Eno River Association

Gaby Benitez was born and raised in Austin, TX, and moved to Durham to attend Duke University. Graduating in May 2016, Benitez earned dual degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and Policy. She recently completed a Resident Naturalist internship at the University of Georgia’s satellite campus in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This summer she will be working with the Eno River Association as the Education and Outreach Program Assistant, developing summer programming such as the Festival for the Eno and the iWalk Eno summer camp.

Erin Bishop, United States Forest Service

Erin Bishop is a Chapel Hill native graduating from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Management and a minor in Economics. Erin is currently earning her master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Analysis at Appalachian State University researching the California Air Resource Board’s carbon offset compliance program. This summer, Bishop will be working at the United States Forest Service in Washington, DC as their Volunteer and Service Resource Assistant.

Emma Bouie, North Carolina Sea Grant

Emma Bouie was born in Scotch Plains, NJ, and moved to Raleigh when she was ten-years-old. She is currently a senior at East Carolina University earning a B.S. in Geology. This summer Emma will intern with North Carolina Sea Grant, where she will be assisting with coastal landscape restoration. Her responsibilities will include marketing and communicating with plant nurseries and community partners.

Khrystle Bullock, United States Forest Service

Khrystle Bullock is a RAPS Intern at the US Forest Service in Washington DC. She has a background in Public Health and Neuroscience with a concentration in health disparities and health equity. Her passions also include environmental justice, urban planning and infrastructure, and community engagement. She plans to use her experience and talents to connect the relationship between environmental health and public health with the goal to improve human health, especially those from underserved populations. She will be engaging DC youth in the importance of environmental innovations and how to be a good steward in their community.

Melina Casados, Dig In! Yancey Community Garden

Melina Casados, from Lexington, NC, is a rising senior at Elon University where she studies Creative Writing and Communications. She has a passion for healthy living and is excited to be interning with Dig In! Yancey Community Garden this summer. Through her internship, Melina will help address food insecurity and learn about, advocate, and practice sustainable farming. She hopes to gain a better understanding on how to help spread the love for good food within communities.

Aaron Cinque, Piedmont Land Conservancy

Aaron Cinque, who lives on a small farm in Seagrove, NC with his wife, recently graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical States University with a B.S. in Sustainable Land Management. This summer, Aaron will serve as the Communications and Conservation intern with Piedmont Land Conservancy. Cinque will help actively manage land under conservation easement and engage with the greater community to promote land protection and natural resource management.

Tamia Dame, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Tamia Dame is a native of Lenoir, NC and has been living in Asheville for the last two years. Currently she is a sophomore at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College where she majors in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Management and Policy. This summer she will serve as a Communication, Education, and Outreach Intern with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy dedicated to environmental sustainability and agriculture.

Kenneth Dunn, North Carolina State University

Kenneth Dunn was born and raised in Durham. He recently completed his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from North Carolina State University and will be pursuing his graduate degree in Forestry this fall. This summer he will work at NC State as a Natural Resources intern, performing forest management and GIS work.

Jendayi Joell, Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center

Jendayi Joell was born in Bermuda, and raised between both the island and Winton, NC. She is a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Plant Biology at North Carolina State University. This summer, Joell will serve as the Farm to School to Healthcare Internship at the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, where she will communicate her knowledge of sustainable and organic farming practices to rural communities.

Khidhar McKenzie, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Khidhar McKenzie lives in Stone Mountain, GA and is a senior at Tuskegee University where he majors in Agricultural Business. This summer he will be working with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as their Conservation Leadership intern at both their Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville, NC offices.

Diamond McKoy, Men and Women United for Youth and Families

Diamond McKoy is a native of Council, NC where she lived until moving to Hope Mills, NC in 2012. She is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she is earning a dual major in Business Administration and African American Studies with a minor in Sustainability Studies. This summer she serve as the Youth Ambassadors Summer Program Team Leader with Men and Women United for Youth and Families to provide fresh produce for the community.

Taylor Mebane, United States Forest Service

Taylor Mebane was born in Ft. Hood, TX but has since lived in six other states and one country. Taylor is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Technology and Management. Over the next few months, Taylor will be a Conservation Education Resource Assistant for the US Forest Service in Washington, D.C where she will work on a number of projects and programs geared toward public education of conservation.

Destiny Pratt, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Destiny Pratt was born and raised in Bronx, NY. She currently lives in Greensboro, NC and is a sophomore studying Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Appalachian State University. Pratt will be the Local Food Systems Coordinator as the Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture working on their CRAFT program alongside the Watauga Food Council and Watauga Seed Library.

Valentina Quintero, Ellerbe Creek Water Association

Valentina Quintero was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Madison, Alabama. A student at North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources, Val studies Environmental Technology and Management with a minor in Renewable Energy Assessment. Quintero will be serving as the Stewardship and Outreach Assistant for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association this summer where she will help organize events.

Jennifer Scott, NCState Historic Preservation Office

Jennifer Scott grew up in Fayetteville, NC, and graduated from Salem College with a B.A. in History and English. She earned a M.A. in Public History at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she focused on the histories of underrepresented communities. Jennifer recently completed her M.L.S., with an emphasis on digital libraries, at North Carolina Central University. She is the proud mother of a daughter and twin sons. This summer, Jennifer will intern with the State Historic Preservation Office as the NC Rosenwald Schools Publication Research Assistant.

Guido Shutz, Mainspring Conservation Trust

Guido Schutz was born in Germany, and has also lived in the USA, Mexico, and Argentina. He is currently majoring in Environmental Studies (B.S.) and minoring in Business Administration at Elon University. This summer, he will be working with the Mainspring Conservation Trust doing GIS and Aquatic Biomonitoring work in the Nantahala National Forest.

Chandler Whitfield, Coharie Tribe

Chandler Whitfield grew up in Clinton, NC, and currently attends Fayetteville Technical Community College where he is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice Technology. This summer he will be working with the Coharie Tribe as their Great Coharie River Initiative Project intern.

2017 Diversity in Conservation Interns

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Meet our 2017 Interns!

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina is excited to welcome the 2017 Diversity in Conservation Internship Program participants! Through this initiative we hope to encourage future conservation leaders by creating employment pathways to careers with land trusts, nonprofits, and government agencies.

This summer marks a tremendous milestone as we celebrate the tenth year and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students completing the program, while building diversity and equity in the entire conservation movement.

This year’s program was made possible in partnership with CTNC AmeriCorps, the Land Trust Alliance, and the United States Forest Service.

Kimani Anderson, Blue Ridge Forever

Kimani Anderson was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Anderson is a rising junior and a student athlete at University of North Carolina – Asheville, majoring in Political Science and Sociology. When not participating in track and field, Anderson serves as a peer mentor, member of the order of Pisgah, a member of the Political Science Club, and a member of the German club. This summer, he will be serving as a communications intern for Blue Ridge Forever.

Genevieve Barnes, NC Coastal Land Trust

Genevieve Barnes, a native of Raleigh, is currently completing her second year of graduate school at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, pursuing a graduate degree in Communication Studies. This summer she will be working with NC Coastal Land Trust as their Marketing and Development Intern. This summer will provide Barnes the opportunity to gain experience in research and writing, while learning about NC coastal communities and conservation.

Gabrielle Benitez, Eno River Association

Gaby Benitez was born and raised in Austin, TX, and moved to Durham to attend Duke University. Graduating in May 2016, Benitez earned dual degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and Policy. She recently completed a Resident Naturalist internship at the University of Georgia’s satellite campus in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This summer she will be working with the Eno River Association as the Education and Outreach Program Assistant, developing summer programming such as the Festival for the Eno and the iWalk Eno summer camp.

Erin Bishop, United States Forest Service

Erin Bishop is a Chapel Hill native graduating from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Management and a minor in Economics. Erin is currently earning her master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Analysis at Appalachian State University researching the California Air Resource Board’s carbon offset compliance program. This summer, Bishop will be working at the United States Forest Service in Washington, DC as their Volunteer and Service Resource Assistant.

Emma Bouie, North Carolina Sea Grant

Emma Bouie was born in Scotch Plains, NJ, and moved to Raleigh when she was ten-years-old. She is currently a senior at East Carolina University earning a B.S. in Geology. This summer Emma will intern with North Carolina Sea Grant, where she will be assisting with coastal landscape restoration. Her responsibilities will include marketing and communicating with plant nurseries and community partners.

Khrystle Bullock, United States Forest Service

Khrystle Bullock is a RAPS Intern at the US Forest Service in Washington DC. She has a background in Public Health and Neuroscience with a concentration in health disparities and health equity. Her passions also include environmental justice, urban planning and infrastructure, and community engagement. She plans to use her experience and talents to connect the relationship between environmental health and public health with the goal to improve human health, especially those from underserved populations. She will be engaging DC youth in the importance of environmental innovations and how to be a good steward in their community.

Melina Casados, Dig In! Yancey Community Garden

Melina Casados, from Lexington, NC, is a rising senior at Elon University where she studies Creative Writing and Communications. She has a passion for healthy living and is excited to be interning with Dig In! Yancey Community Garden this summer. Through her internship, Melina will help address food insecurity and learn about, advocate, and practice sustainable farming. She hopes to gain a better understanding on how to help spread the love for good food within communities.

Aaron Cinque, Piedmont Land Conservancy

Aaron Cinque, who lives on a small farm in Seagrove, NC with his wife, recently graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical States University with a B.S. in Sustainable Land Management. This summer, Aaron will serve as the Communications and Conservation intern with Piedmont Land Conservancy. Cinque will help actively manage land under conservation easement and engage with the greater community to promote land protection and natural resource management.

Tamia Dame, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Tamia Dame is a native of Lenoir, NC and has been living in Asheville for the last two years. Currently she is a sophomore at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College where she majors in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Management and Policy. This summer she will serve as a Communication, Education, and Outreach Intern with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy dedicated to environmental sustainability and agriculture.

Kenneth Dunn, North Carolina State University

Kenneth Dunn was born and raised in Durham. He recently completed his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from North Carolina State University and will be pursuing his graduate degree in Forestry this fall. This summer he will work at NC State as a Natural Resources intern, performing forest management and GIS work.

Jendayi Joell, Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center

Jendayi Joell was born in Bermuda, and raised between both the island and Winton, NC. She is a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Plant Biology at North Carolina State University. This summer, Joell will serve as the Farm to School to Healthcare Internship at the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, where she will communicate her knowledge of sustainable and organic farming practices to rural communities.

Khidhar McKenzie, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Khidhar McKenzie lives in Stone Mountain, GA and is a senior at Tuskegee University where he majors in Agricultural Business. This summer he will be working with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as their Conservation Leadership intern at both their Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville, NC offices.

Diamond McKoy, Men and Women United for Youth and Families

Diamond McKoy is a native of Council, NC where she lived until moving to Hope Mills, NC in 2012. She is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she is earning a dual major in Business Administration and African American Studies with a minor in Sustainability Studies. This summer she serve as the Youth Ambassadors Summer Program Team Leader with Men and Women United for Youth and Families to provide fresh produce for the community.

Taylor Mebane, United States Forest Service

Taylor Mebane was born in Ft. Hood, TX but has since lived in six other states and one country. Taylor is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Technology and Management. Over the next few months, Taylor will be a Conservation Education Resource Assistant for the US Forest Service in Washington, D.C where she will work on a number of projects and programs geared toward public education of conservation.

Destiny Pratt, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Destiny Pratt was born and raised in Bronx, NY. She currently lives in Greensboro, NC and is a sophomore studying Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Appalachian State University. Pratt will be the Local Food Systems Coordinator as the Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture working on their CRAFT program alongside the Watauga Food Council and Watauga Seed Library.

Valentina Quintero, Ellerbe Creek Water Association

Valentina Quintero was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Madison, Alabama. A student at North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources, Val studies Environmental Technology and Management with a minor in Renewable Energy Assessment. Quintero will be serving as the Stewardship and Outreach Assistant for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association this summer where she will help organize events.

Jennifer Scott, NCState Historic Preservation Office

Jennifer Scott grew up in Fayetteville, NC, and graduated from Salem College with a B.A. in History and English. She earned a M.A. in Public History at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she focused on the histories of underrepresented communities. Jennifer recently completed her M.L.S., with an emphasis on digital libraries, at North Carolina Central University. She is the proud mother of a daughter and twin sons. This summer, Jennifer will intern with the State Historic Preservation Office as the NC Rosenwald Schools Publication Research Assistant.

Guido Shutz, Mainspring Conservation Trust

Guido Schutz was born in Germany, and has also lived in the USA, Mexico, and Argentina. He is currently majoring in Environmental Studies (B.S.) and minoring in Business Administration at Elon University. This summer, he will be working with the Mainspring Conservation Trust doing GIS and Aquatic Biomonitoring work in the Nantahala National Forest.

Chandler Whitfield, Coharie Tribe

Chandler Whitfield grew up in Clinton, NC, and currently attends Fayetteville Technical Community College where he is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice Technology. This summer he will be working with the Coharie Tribe as their Great Coharie River Initiative Project intern.

CTNC AmeriCorps Year 2 – The Numbers Are In!

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AmeriCorps and national service programs unite people of all backgrounds, offering a transformative opportunity, and bringing unprecedented skills and willpower to solve local problems. AmeriCorps is essential to North Carolina’s positive quality of life.

CTNC AmeriCorps recently completed year 2 (2015-2016) of our AmeriCorps program, which seeks to reconnect people with the outdoors and to develop future leaders in conservation.

See what our 21 members achieved in the past 10 months!

  • Served 30,898 children and adults in environmental education
  • Recruited and managed 3,472 volunteers totaling 8,167 volunteer hours
  • Volunteer hours equated to a $192,408 donation of services to North Carolina communities

These members exceeded expectation – greatly expanding the number of individuals who showed an increase in knowledge of environmental issues. And AmeriCorps host sites achieved greater organizational capacity on volunteer management best practices because AmeriCorps members utilized volunteers in their programs.

Our members’ work spanned rural and urban communities reaching residents in 38 counties from Sylva to Durham to Manteo. Focused on environmental education and outreach, our AmeriCorps members develop service projects that help remove barriers to environmental education throughout North Carolina, as well as help expand the diversity of backgrounds among conservation leaders in the state.

AmeriCorps works!

In 2017, CTNC launched year 3 of the AmeriCorps service program. Meet our 2017 AmeriCorps members!

2017 AmeriCorps Members

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The Conservation Trust for North Carolina is the proud host organization for AmeriCorps, a ten-month national service program in environmental education and outreach. Through AmeriCorps, CTNC seeks to reconnect people with the outdoors and to develop future leaders in conservation. Learn more.

Chris Sajdak
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association
Chris Sajdak is ECWA’s new AmeriCorps Service Member. He is a Michigan native coming to Durham by way of Indiana. He earned a B.A. in geography – GIS from Indiana University and assisted in research in both food sustainability and dendroclimatology. While in school, Chris worked as a trip leader both at his university and at a summer camp, leading children and adults on extended backpacking, canoeing and rock-climbing trips around the country. During his service, Chris will be providing environmental education to the areas within the Ellerbe Creek watershed, in addition to working with event planning, outreach, and as general support for ECWA.

Paige Engelbrektsson
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
Paige is serving her second term as the environmental education and stewardship AmeriCorps member with Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. She is a Virginia native and graduated in 2012, earning a B.S. in biology from the College of William and Mary. Since then, she has put her degree to good use ranging across the country to work in environmental education. In addition to assisting with HCLT’s Kids in Nature programs, she is continuing to build new public trails and strengthen a ranger program to educate visitors. She spends any free time making music and crafts, riding horses and exploring wild spaces.

Monica Ospina
Keep Durham Beautiful
Monica is serving as the environmental outreach and volunteer coordinator at Keep Durham Beautiful. She was born in Colombia and raised in Miami, F.L. Monica earned a B.S. in environmental studies and a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry from Florida International University. Monica assisted Florida International University’s School of Environment, Arts and Society, educating the public on environmental issues. She is eager to inspire North Carolina residents to become passionate about their environment. Monica loves to swim, hike, dance, read and eat chocolate.

Lindsey Bijas
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Lindsey is serving as an environmental educator at Piedmont Triad Regional Council, based in Kernersville, N.C. She was born and raised in Middletown, New Jersey, and remained there to earn her associate degree before transferring to Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. She graduated in May 2016 with a B.S. in wildlife biology with a concentration in wildlife rehabilitation. As much as she loved home, “the mountains were calling”, and she had to pursue her dreams. She recently completed a six-month internship with Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a vegetation inventory and monitoring intern. While she loves doing research and work in the field, she also enjoys educating others about the environment and how they can make a difference. During her service, Lindsey will be educating students about a Stormwater SMART program, coordinating outreach opportunities, and getting involved with local communities to help keep their water clean and healthy. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking (especially with her dog, Sandy), rock climbing, running, horseback riding and exploring new places.

Bethany Sheffer
Balsam Mountain Trust
Bethany earned her B.A. in public administration and liberal studies: social and political development in Latin America with a minor in Spanish from Grand Valley State University located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her Master in Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership in 2016. A native to the forested lands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she grew up exploring nearby creeks and catching crayfish in the tiny town of Rapid River. These experiences, paired with her father’s enthusiasm for the outdoors, instilled a lifelong appreciation of the natural world. Bethany is thrilled to be serving at Balsam Mountain Trust where she hopes to not only contribute her nonprofit expertise but gain quality experience sharing the wonders of the natural world with underserved populations in western N.C. She relishes every moment outdoors in the mountains and enjoys hiking, biking, drawing, traveling and hanging out with her two cockatiels in her free time.

Matthew Lide
North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Matt is serving coastal North Carolina communities as an environmental education coordinator with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, based in Wilmington. Originally from rural, forested South Carolina, Matt has been passionate about nature his entire life. He recently graduated from Duke University, earning his B.S. degree in environmental sciences with accompanying minors in biology and psychology. During his time at Duke, Matt worked as a research assistant in a plant biology lab and also interned at an environmental nonprofit in Portland, restoring riparian corridors in Oregon’s biggest city. At North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, Matt will develop education materials focused on longleaf pine forests, pollinators, and Venus flytraps. He will also recruit and manage volunteers, in addition to coordinating teacher and volunteer workshops. In his spare time, Matt enjoys running, hiking, tennis and caring for his three guinea pigs.

Travis Bordley
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Travis is serving local communities in western North Carolina as the Roan Highlands volunteer and outreach associate with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). Travis is a recent graduate from UNC-Asheville where he earned his B.S. in environmental studies with a concentration in ecology. As a hobby, he is a photojournalist and previously interned with SAHC creating short films to inspire support of their conservation efforts. Travis grew up exploring the Highlands of Roan and is now in a position to inspire others to find the same joy and amazement in the places he loves. In this AmeriCorps position, he will recruit and educate volunteers from diverse communities. Travis will be conducting on-the-ground habitat restoration projects in the Roan Highlands. He also will help build on partnerships with the Center for Diversity and Education, Everybody’s Environment and other new organizations. Travis enjoys hiking, swimming, fishing, climbing, boating, photography, painting, reading, and just being outside! In his free time, he is always plotting his next photography outing.

Kelsey Ellis
Triangle Land Conservancy
Kelsey is serving as community education and outreach associate with the Triangle Land Conservancy in Durham. She became interested in the environment as an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill and graduated with a B.S in environmental science in 2013. Kelsey pursued her interest in the environment through scientific research, obtaining an M.S in marine science from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2015. However, a desire to share her love of nature more directly led Kelsey to branch outside of the lab (and the ocean), and she has since worked as a science communication intern for an aquatic sciences society, Duke TIP marine biology instructor, and state parks environmental educator. In this AmeriCorps position, Kelsey will help TLC expand their reach into the neighborhoods surrounding their preserves through educational programming, outreach and volunteer coordination. When not wandering around outdoors, Kelsey enjoys cooking, drawing and relaxing with a good book.

Samantha Metzner 
Durham Public Schools Hub Farm
Samantha is serving as the outreach and education coordinator with Durham Public Schools Hub Farm. Originally from the outskirts of Chapel Hill, N.C., Samantha grew up adventuring in the woods with her sister and medley of dogs, horses and ducks. She holds a deep passion for the outdoors and greatly enjoys getting kids outside and engaged with nature. After graduating with a B.A in art from Guilford College in Greensboro, she lived in places such as Iceland and Wyoming, guiding horse tours in the mountains and working at an outdoor adventure camp for kids with ADHD. She also holds a 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate and greatly enjoys teaching in Chapel Hill on the side. Still involved in art-making, she also loves hanging out with horses and rock-climbing whenever possible.

Carey Goldman
University of North Carolina Wilmington – MarineQuest
Carey is serving as the Project Ocean Change coordinator for the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s MarineQuest program. He grew up in Boston and graduated from the University of Maryland earning a B.S. in environmental science and policy – marine and coastal management. He then went abroad to attend the University of Oxford where he received his Master of Science in water science, policy and management. Carey has long aspired to work with the ocean, his first passion, and strongly believes in using an interdisciplinary approach to effectively manage coastal resources. His role is to expand MarineQuest’s ability to reach underserved populations in southeast North Carolina, focusing on climate and ocean literacy. Through bringing educational programs to schools and developing resources for educators, Carey’s work will fill critical gaps in students’ knowledge regarding their surroundings and interconnected relationships between society, the ocean and the atmosphere. He has been an intern with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Anacostia Watershed Society. Carey can always be found near the water enjoying hobbies such as scuba diving or sailing. He is excited to apply his interdisciplinary background and passion for the coasts to help foster the next generation of climate and ocean stewards.

Jesse Crouch
Alliance Medical Ministry
Jesse is serving as the community garden and wellness program coordinator with Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh. A North Carolina native, Jesse discovered an enthusiasm for the German language in high school. After two trips to Germany and four years of close study of its rich literature, film and philosophy, Jesse felt called to a greater purpose and sought to escape the existential dread through service. He spent some time in nature serving on a trail crew with the Southwest Conservation Corps. Jesse then served two terms with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. During these years, Jesse fell in love with vegetable gardening and the awesome power food has to enrich lives and combat poverty and public health issues. He is thrilled now to be working at the forefront of this intersection of food and health by serving with Alliance. There, Jesse manages a quarter-acre vegetable garden providing healthy foods to patients that visit the clinic. In addition to the garden, he coordinates yoga, cooking classes, diabetes education and other opportunities that give patients the tools to take control of their health. In his free time Jesse enjoys fixing up and riding bicycles, coaching and playing Ultimate Frisbee, playing guitar and hanging out with his nieces and nephews.

Michael McClure
Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE)
Michael is serving as the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator at Foothills Nature Equestrian Center (FENCE) in Tryon, NC. He is a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where he studied energy and sustainability to earn a B.A. in Environmental Studies. While in school, Michael spent a summer with the North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps working to improve state parks across eastern North Carolina. In Chapel Hill, he worked at UNC’s Battle Park to maintain trails and remove invasive species. A native of Tryon, Michael is excited to work in his home community to help FENCE in their mission of educating students and others about the environment. In his spare time, Michael likes to get outdoors to hike and improve his disc golf game.

Kate Conery 
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Kate is serving at the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., as the coastal community engagement specialist. She’s originally from the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York but moved to Wilmington in 2012. She earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and minor in geospatial technologies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. As a former intern of the federation, Kate was thrilled to come on board as an AmeriCorps member. She will be designing and implementing education programs, working on oyster restoration and stormwater runoff initiatives and working with volunteers in coastal communities. She also previously interned for the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. Through these opportunities, she was able to share her love of the environment with others. In her free time, Kate enjoys hiking, traveling, yoga and playing with her dogs.

April Hausle
North Carolina Arboretum
April is serving as community outreach coordinator at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, N.C. Growing up in North Carolina, April was always taught by her family and community to cherish nature and time spent outdoors. She believes that educational experiences in nature should be available for all people and strives to make that possible through her position as a CTNC AmeriCorps member. April received her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Asheville, where she studied international studies, Spanish and ecology. During her time at UNC-Asheville, April managed a community garden on campus and interned at Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). Since graduating in 2015, April has stayed active in the community by participating in a volunteer ESL program through International House in Charlotte, N.C., and engaging in various community gardening efforts. In her leisure time, April enjoys running or walking in the forest, riding her bike, singing, making crafts, dancing and being with all the people she loves.

Madison Douthitt
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Madison, a native of North Carolina, is serving as a coastal community engagement specialist at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wanchese office. Her childhood summers were filled in beach trips which fostered her passion for conservation and ecology. Madison graduated with a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a minor in Spanish from North Carolina State University. She is excited to have the opportunity to educate and engage local communities and hopes to inspire others to get outside and be stewards in their communities. Madison’s free time is spent hiking and exploring new places.

2016 Diversity in Conservation Interns

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CTNC Diversity Internship Program welcomes its next cohort.

Each year, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina supports promising future conservation leaders in paid summer internship positions at organization across North Carolina through our Diversity in Conservation Internship Program. This year’s program was made possible in partnership with AmeriCorps, the Land Trust Alliance, the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, UNC-Asheville’s Center for Diversity Education and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

Dia Adams
LandTrust for Central North Carolina 

Dia Adams was born in Manhattan, N.Y, and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. Dia graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S in animal science. As an undergraduate, Dia was vice president and then president of Swing Phi Swing Phi Social Fellowship, Incorporated, an organization committed to affecting social change, supporting women in need of growth and promoting higher intelligence as they develop true sisterhood. This summer she will serve as the environmental education & outreach intern for the LandTrust for Central North Carolina.  In this position, she will connect with community members or all stripes and lead groups of middle school youth in field conservation, restoration ecology and environmental education programs.

Genevieve Barnes
N.C. State Historic Preservation Office
Genevieve Barnes, a native of Raleigh, N.C., just completed her first year of graduate school at UNC-Greensboro. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in communication studies. This summer she will work at the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office as the Rosenwald School intern. This internship will provide Genevieve the opportunity to assist historic preservation consultants in the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations for various Rosenwald Schools. As a Rosenwald intern, she hopes to learn more about working with organizations that seek to help primary and secondary institutions preserve their historical architecture.

Erin Bishop
U.S. Forest Service

Erin was born and raised in Chapel Hill, N.C., and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a B.S. in environmental policy and management and a minor in economics. Erin’s interest in land use management began while interning for RiverLink, a nonprofit in Asheville, N.C., that works to protect the French Broad River and its tributaries using conservation easements. As a result, Erin realized that she wanted to pursue a career in land use management, and hopes to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn a master’s degree in land use and environmental planning. This summer, Erin will be the special uses specialist intern for the USDA Forest Service where she will assist in preparing and evaluating land use authorization proposals, in addition to monitoring their compliance.

Kenneth Dunn
Center for Human-Earth Restoration

Kenneth Dunn, Jr., of Durham, N.C. currently attends N.C. State University where he is pursuing a degree in environmental sciences with a minor in applied ecology. He has an associate’s degree in agriculture and is a member of Sigma Alpha Pi and Dau Tau Alpha fraternities. Kenneth works at the UNC Kenan-Flager Business School as a conference service assistant and at Duke basketball camps as a counselor. As the field educator intern with the Center for Human-Earth Restoration Conservation, Kenneth will help elementary and middle school kids understand the importance of nature and how it impacts every aspect of their lives.

Troy Hillian
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Troy M. Hillian is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he is a second-year student in the broadcasting and production technologies program at Forsyth Technical Community College. Troy enjoys cooking on the grill and going fishing. This summer, Troy will assist Music Program Director Richard Emmett at the Blue Ridge Foundation, where he will manage ticket distribution, and coordination, reach out to regional blues/bluegrass/folk organizations and assist with marketing.  Troy will also manage weekend concert set up, production and operations at the Blue Ridge Music Center and other venues throughout the region.

Olivia Jackson
The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities Program

Olivia was born in New Jersey but raised in Durham, North Carolina. She is in her last semester before graduating with her associate’s degree in photojournalism. Olivia dreams of documenting not only rural North Carolina but also places all over the world.  This summer Olivia will serve as a photojournalism intern for The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program. She will be traveling all over the state to capture images of innovative community and conservation projects. Her work will help raise awareness of “triple bottom line” efforts and will support communities with much-needed materials to tell their stories.

Emily Johnson
National Park Service- Blue Ridge Parkway

Emily Johnson was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina when she was 11 years old. She currently attends North Carolina State University as a psychology and Spanish double major and will begin her junior year in the fall. She will work with the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer as the social media and community outreach intern in Asheville. Emily is excited to gain experience writing press releases, creating creative social media posts that showcase the parkway and continuing her work as a self-starter.

Sa’Metria Jones
Blue Ridge Forever

Sa’Metria Jones was born in Hampton, Virginia and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She then attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sa’Metria received her Bachelor of Arts in political science in May 2014 and started at the University of North Carolina School of Law in August of the same year. As a rising third-year who is currently undecided about what type of law she wants to practice, Sa’Metria is excited to gain exposure in environmental law this summer as the legal intern for Blue Ridge Forever. As a legal intern, Sa’Metria will research and address legal issues concerning conservation and land trust and the impact those issues will have on those who live in the affected area.

Samantha Liu
N.C. Coastal Land Trust

Yinan Liu (Samantha) is originally from a “small” city, with a population of seven million, called Tangshan in Northern China. She is a rising second-year student at Wake Forest University School of Law. This summer, she will intern with North Carolina Coastal Land Trust where she will work as a legal intern and assist with land acquisitions, conservation easements and legal researches on issues that arise from the ownership and management of land. She is excited to learn about the land conservation practices in the U.S. as well as to offer her knowledge of the law to assist North Carolina Coastal Land Trust in addressing its mission.

Trequan McGee
Wilson Botanical Garden

Tre is a rising senior at North Carolina A&T State University studying urban and community horticulture. This past year he served as president of the Collegiate FFA and N.C. Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Chapter in addition to several other leadership positions within the school of agriculture and environmental sciences. This summer he plans to educate 4H members in Wilson County about soil and plant health through the Junior Master Gardeners Program, which he will be instructing.

Taylor Mebane
Sandhills Family Heritage Association

Taylor Mebane was born in Ft. Hood, Texas but has since lived in six other states and one other country. She is currently in Fayetteville, N.C. Taylor is a senior studying environmental technology and management within the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University. She is an active ambassador of the College of Natural Resources and leads the Committee for Diversity, which works toward creating an open, diverse community in the College of Natural Resources. Over the next few months, Taylor will be a native plant trail intern with the Sandhills Family Heritage Association where she will help manage the trail and well as assist facilitating community outreach programs.

Natriefia Miller
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Natrieifia Miller is from the small town of Dunn, North Carolina. She moved to Asheville seeking a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Originally striving to become a veterinarian, Natrieifia’s goals changed while taking an animal behavior course. There she discovered a passion for being outside, as well as an interest in conservation efforts. With her summer position as Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) leadership intern, Natrieifia will be working to “broaden relevancy” of the trail. By compiling web-based video training resources of trail management and maintenance best-practices as well as conducting listening sessions, she hopes not only to promote interest in the trail to a broader audience but also inspire that new generation of people to value and steward the trail well into our future.

Avery Olearczyk
Catawba Lands Conservancy & The Carolina Thread Trail

Avery Olearczyk, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated from Guilford College with double bachelor’s degrees in biology and environmental studies, and a minor in economics. Avery has completed fieldwork and independent research with the School for Field Studies in Queensland, Australia, and with the Audubon Center of the Northwoods in Sandstone, Minnesota. Avery is passionate about ecology, conservation biology and sustainability, and hopes to explore these areas through this position. She is excited to photograph and document The Carolina Thread Trail and aims to support local community connections to the natural environment. Avery will begin post-baccalaureate work at UNC-Charlotte this fall to continue her love of learning.

Damein Parker
Eno River Association

Damien Parker was raised in Wilson, North Carolina and is currently a senior at North Carolina State University where he studies environmental science with a concentration in applied ecology and forest conservation. This summer, he will be working with Eno River Association in preparation of their yearly Festival of the Eno. Damien hopes to gain knowledge on how conservation information is relayed to the public and how this connection affects people’s views of our natural systems and resources.

Alexa Wright
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Alexa Wright was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from Oberlin College in May of 2014 with a B.A. in biology. She currently attends North Carolina State University and is finishing her master’s degree in horticultural science. This summer, Alexa will intern with the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, where she will assist with stewardship and outreach. By expanding community involvement and assisting with creek management, she hopes to preserve the creek and increase environmental awareness in the watershed area.

Aranda “Randee” Young
U.S. Forest Service

Aranda “Randee” Young hails from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. As a native of Hilton Head Island, she is a seventh-generation islander with roots in Gullah culture. Randee graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, double majoring in marketing and real estate with a minor in women’s studies. Randee recently graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree on May 13, 2016. While at North Carolina Central University, Randee also received a Master of Business Administration. She will begin a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) program at the Washington University School of Law located in St. Louis, Missouri. This summer she will be working with the USDA Forest Service as a land adjustment specialist resource assistant. Randee plans on combining her legal expertise with the knowledge gained this summer to help people in her native South Carolina with heirs’ property disputes.

Emily Zucker
Coharie Intra-Tribal Council

Emily is originally from Winchester, Virginia and currently attends North Carolina State University studying mathematics and statistics. Emily will be working with the Coharie tribe this summer in Clinton, N.C. The Coharie tribe is currently undergoing a project called the Great Coharie River Initiative (GCRI). They are cleaning out their river, which is primarily blocked with beaver dams and large foliage, in order to allow access for fishing, kayaking and other recreational activities. Emily will be assisting in this project by coordinating protection plans for the river and creating a business model for future economic development of the river cleaning volunteers.

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