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!

Charlotte’s Trail of History Features NC Youth Conservation Corps

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Last summer, WTVI’s Trail of History filmed an NC Youth Conservation Corps crew while working to build trails within the Uwharrie National Forest.  This episode of Trail of History explores how the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Works Progress Administration, and other New Deal programs helped people in the Carolina’s during the Great Depression. Click below to watch the entire episode! The NCYCC segment begins at 18:50.

 

On average it costs $1,000 to fund one NC Youth Conservation Corps crew member for one week. Click here to make a gift that will make this unique conservation experience possible for more young adults.

CTNC Board of Directors Extends Heartfelt Thanks to Departing Executive Director Reid Wilson

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On January 19 North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced his appointment of CTNC’s executive director, Reid Wilson, to be Chief Deputy Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Board thanks Reid for 14 years of leadership and service to CTNC and the NC land trust community.

“On behalf of the Board, we are proud that Reid was recognized by the Governor for such a position of honor at a critical time for our state,” said CTNC Board President Ray Owens. “Reid’s distinguished career in conservation, his strategic mind, his ability to listen, and his passion for conservation issues is exactly what our state needs. He has the qualities and skills necessary to help lead the department and protect North Carolina’s natural resources for the health of all citizens.”

During Reid’s tenure, CTNC conserved thousands of acres along the Blue Ridge Parkway, dramatically boosted financial support and assistance to 24 local land trusts, built diversity and inclusion into its work, and created an Emerging Leaders program (including Diversity in Conservation internships, NC Youth Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps) to cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders and supporters.

Reid’s achievements will have a lasting impact on the conservation community. CTNC has built a strong foundation to continue working to ensure Blue Ridge Parkway vistas are protected, more families have access to parks and natural areas, and natural lands are protected for open space, fresh local foods,  and clean drinking water for generations.

“It’s an exciting time to join the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to protect, enhance and promote the state’s diverse natural and cultural resources for the benefit of public health, quality of life, and economic development,” Reid said. “Having said that, I have mixed emotions because I will miss my CTNC family – tremendous board, talented staff, and committed supporters.  Fortunately, our paths will continue to cross.  So much important and urgent work lies ahead for CTNC, and I am confident that the organization will continue to grow, innovate, thrive, and lead.”

We extend our deepest gratitude for Reid’s commitment to land conservation and all he accomplished for CTNC, and we wish him well as he transitions to this new role within the Cooper administration.

Associate Director Margaret Newbold will serve as CTNC’s interim executive director. Margaret’s experience and love for the organization make her an invaluable asset during this transition. With Margaret’s leadership, our talented staff, and dedicated supporters like you, CTNC will continue to serve as a national leader in land protection, providing assistance to land trusts, connecting young people to nature, and championing equity and diversity in conservation.

The CTNC Board has launched a job search for a permanent executive director. We are confident we will find someone well-equipped to lead CTNC and help achieve our vision for growth. For questions, contact Communications and Marketing Director Mary Alice Holley at 919-864-0428.

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.

Check Out Videos From This Summer’s NC Youth Conservation Corps!

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Here are some highlights from this summer’s NC Youth Conservation Corps (NCYCC) crews!

NCYCC is a comprehensive youth development program that uses the natural world as a platform for teaching environmental stewardship, job and life skills, leadership, community service, and personal responsibility.

The NCYCC is a partnership between the Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC) and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC).   NCYCC participants contribute hundreds of hours of hard work to improve and expand access to protected natural areas so that more North Carolina families can connect with the outdoors.  For many participants, it is a life-transforming experience.

You can learn more about the program here.

Crew 1 – Gales Creek Preserve and the Uwharrie National Forest

Crew 2 – Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, McDowell Nature Preserve, Brumley Forest Nature Preserve, Cape Hatteras, and “The Rocks” Nature Preserve

Crew 3 – Blue Ridge Parkway

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.

2016 AmeriCorps Members

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Welcome to our 2016 AmeriCorps cohort!

Lindsey Carver
The Conservation Fund

Lindsey serves as the AmeriCorps community outreach and volunteer coordinator in support of a partnership between The Conservation Fund, Conservation Trust for North Carolina and North Carolina Community Development Initiative. She will focus her efforts on the A.M. Howard Farm pilot project in Cary in partnership with the Piedmont Conservation Council. After graduating from the College of William & Mary, Lindsey served her first AmeriCorps term with Rebuilding Together Alexandria in northern Virginia. Upon moving to the Triangle, Lindsey began studying and practicing sustainable and urban agriculture. She recently graduated with a master’s degree in agricultural education from North Carolina A&T State University and seeks to support the development of sustainable food systems in the Triangle through outreach and education. Outside of AmeriCorps, Lindsey enjoys photography and spending time outside with her husband, Kevin Howell, and their rescue dog Azure.

Noel Myers
UNC Environmental Finance Center

Noel Myers is an AmeriCorps member who joined the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) in 2016. He is developing environmental finance curricula to be taught to local students and community members, aiming to increase interest in finance as a positive catalyst to environmental improvement. Prior to joining AmeriCorps and the EFC, Noel attended Oberlin College where he received a B.A. in economics and environmental studies. He has previous experience working with revolving loan funds, socially responsible investing and local carbon offsetting initiatives while studying at Oberlin.

Nina Quaratella
North Carolina Coastal Federation

Nina is serving AmeriCorps as a coastal community engagement specialist at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wrightsville Beach office. Nina earned her Bachelor of Science in environmental science with a double minor in biology and geospatial technologies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Originally from Rhode Island, Nina fell in love with coastal North Carolina and is working to create educational programs, organize volunteer events, and conduct habitat restoration for the community to help protect the state’s beaches. Prior to serving with AmeriCorps, Nina was an intern at Carolina Beach State Park and Cape Fear River Watch and later worked seasonal environmental education jobs both down south and in the northeast. Nina enjoys playing volleyball, geocaching, hiking and traveling.

Barbara Goldentyer
Triangle Land Conservancy

Barbara Goldentyer is hosted with the Triangle Land Conservancy coordinating and running nature education programs. From Cary, N.C., Barbara previously worked at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve where she designed and ran nature education classes and summer camps. Barbara completed her bachelor’s degree at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. In 2015, she also earned her master’s degree in sociology from N.C. State University with a concentration in social inequalities. She enjoys hiking, traveling and finding animals outside.

Ashley Toscano
Alliance Medical Ministry

Originally from northern Virginia and the panhandle of West Virginia, Ashley moved to North Carolina in 2014. She received a B.A. in international studies and Spanish from West Virginia University and a master’s in Hispanic studies at Virginia Tech. Although fascinated by different languages and cultures, Ashley has always had a passion for animal rights advocacy, health and the environment. Through courses and involvement with school organizations and volunteer opportunities, she realized that she wanted to serve in a position which would foster these passions, all while enabling her to gain skills within those fields. Having served as a member in AmeriCorps’ Energy Express program, she knew she’d find great opportunities through CTNC. She is now working at Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh where she oversees their community garden and various wellness programs. This position helps to improve the community’s health by providing exposure to agriculture in an urban setting where there is limited access to fresh, local and organic produce. After completing her term of service she hopes to continue helping others to find a passion for growing the food they eat while nourishing their bodies and the environment with love and wellness.

Chris Sajdak
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Chris Sajdak is ECWA’s new AmeriCorps service member. He is a Michigan native and is coming to Durham by way of Indiana. He has 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.

Erica Connery
North Carolina Coastal Federation

Erica is serving as a coastal community engagement specialist at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Manteo office. Growing up in Hillsborough, North Carolina, she has always been drawn to the coast, making frequent trips to the beach with family and friends whenever possible. Since completing her degree in environmental science from N.C. State in 2012, she has lived in several places along the Carolina coast pursuing the field of environmental education. In 2016, Erica became an AmeriCorps member at the Coastal Federation. She is excited to explore the northeast coast of North Carolina and work with communities in the area, hoping to inspire students to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors as much as she did as a child. When she’s not teaching others about coastal environments, she loves hanging out with her dog and paddle boarding around the marsh.

Elaine Nichols
Tar River Land Conservancy

Elaine Nichols is a CTNC AmeriCorps member serving as a land management associate with Tar River Land Conservancy.  She will be working to prepare TRLC’s Ledge Creek Forest Conservation Area for public access. She recently returned to North Carolina after serving her first AmeriCorps term as an assistant crew leader for a conservation corps based out of Denver, Colorado. Before that, she earned her B.S. in environmental studies from University at Buffalo with a dual concentration in policy education and resource management. Elaine has always considered North Carolina home and she is excited to be back in the area to share her excitement for conservation and community service.

Shalanda Grier
Piedmont Regional Triad Council

Shalanda is serving with the Piedmont Regional Triad Council as the outreach & Stormwater SMART coordinator. She will serve 19 municipalities, providing educational programs, presentations and content pertaining to stormwater and water quality. She recently graduated from Hampton University, earning a B.S. in biology and a minor in leadership studies. As a North Carolina native, Shalanda has always been involved in community service. She sees her service as an AmeriCorps member as another avenue to expand her reach to meet community needs. Shalanda enjoys reading, hiking, exercising and watching HGTV in her free time.

Laura Speer
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Laura serves at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as the environmental accessibility & inclusion AmeriCorps member. She coordinates, develops and teaches programs for special populations within the community. She hopes to inspire everyone to be a leader of environmental change by giving them an appreciation for nature and showing that scientific knowledge is accessible to all. In her spare time, Laura enjoys books, long hikes and backpacking trips, concerts and hanging out with snakes.

Larissa Lopez
Balsam Mountain Trust

Larissa is the CTNC AmeriCorps member at Balsam Mountain Trust serving as educational outreach coordinator. She is working to provide accessible environmental education to school children and the public throughout Jackson and Haywood counties in Western North Carolina. Through the Adopt-a-School program, Larissa delivers live-animal programming to 4th and 5th graders that supplements their biological and environmental sciences curriculum. She is also expanding on pollinator programs, with an emphasis on monarchs, for 1st and 2nd-grade students to engage them in an outdoor classroom environment and citizen science. Larissa will also be translating programs into Spanish for Latino school children and families who would otherwise not have access to the material. Larissa holds a B.S. in natural resources with a concentration in ecosystem assessment and a minor in forest management from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, yoga and live music.

Melissa Keeney
Durham Public Schools Hub Farm

Melissa left her hometown in Maryland to study environmental technology & management at N.C. State University in 2009 and has been working towards making communities around the Triangle more sustainable ever since. Her true passion lies with the local food movement and she’s ecstatic to have the opportunity to serve with student groups at the Durham Hub Farm. In addition to teaching students about local food production and environmental stewardship, she has been conducting community outreach to recruit volunteers and develop partnerships, scheduling student and volunteer groups, coordinating monthly workdays, creating monthly newsletters, and assisting in developing a core curriculum for the farm. Melissa is an artist and musician on the side and is excited to be showcasing her work around Durham this year!

Erin Victor
Keep Durham Beautiful

A Michigan native, Erin Victor is serving as the environmental outreach and volunteer coordinator at Keep Durham Beautiful. Erin recently completed her M.S. in conservation ecology at the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Michigan and has a B.A. in health sciences with a concentration in environmental sciences from Kalamazoo College. Her thesis research looked at the influence of livestock grazing on vertebrate diversity in Naxos, Greece. Prior to graduate school, Erin worked on a human-elephant conflict project in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania with Wildlife Connections. Erin is passionate about environmental conservation and environmental education.

Paige Engelbrektsson
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Paige is serving as an environmental education and stewardship AmeriCorps member with Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. She is a Virginia native and graduated in 2012 with 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 will be building trails and creating a new ambassador program to reach visitors. She spends any free time making music and crafts, riding horses and exploring wild spaces.

Rachel Tove-White
Durham Public Schools

Rachel serves as one of two AmeriCorps members for the Durham Public School’s energy and sustainability coordinator. Her efforts will be focused on implementing recycling into Durham’s 30 elementary schools along with other energy and sustainability projects. Prior to this service term, Rachel attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she graduated with a double major in environmental studies and communication studies and a minor in city and regional planning. During her time at UNC, Rachel studied coastal energy at the Outer Banks of North Carolina and alternative energy strategies and urban designs in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. She created documentaries at Pilot Mountain as well as in Germany and Spain. Upon graduation, Rachel served her first AmeriCorps year with City Year in Miami where she worked in a middle school connecting students with resources to help them succeed. She is now excited to be back in North Carolina and serving another AmeriCorps term.

Jessica Bast
Durham Public Schools

Jessica Bast is a CTNC AmeriCorps member serving as an energy and sustainability specialist in Durham Public Schools. She is working to enhance the recycling program throughout the school system and to educate students, their parents and teachers easy and innovate methods to save energy. Jessica has had a passion for addressing environmental issues since high school, and she recently graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in environmental studies. She looks forward to gaining experience in the nonprofit sector and to educate those throughout the school system to make a positive environmental impact and live more sustainably.

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 in 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.

Victoria “Tori” Duval
Western North Carolina Nature Center

Tori graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a degree in environmental studies. During her final semester, she served as an intern for the WNC Nature Center in the animal department, where she learned to care for some of the amazing creatures that western North Carolina has to offer. After graduation, she accepted an internship at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest. It was there that she discovered her passion for environmental education, spending 8 months teaching children about the importance of the natural world and the history of Pisgah National Forest. Because of the opportunity that AmeriCorps has given to her, she is now able to combine her interests in education and animals by serving a 6-month internship at the WNC Nature Center, helping to design and participate in off-site education programming.

NC Land Trusts Gather and Honor Conservation Leaders

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North Carolina’s 24 local land trusts gathered May 25-26 for the annual Land Trust Assembly.

Some of the biggest names in NC politics made an appearance: Governor Pat McCrory spoke during Wednesday’s dinner, and Attorney General Roy Cooper addressed the group at Thursday’s lunch. Susan Kluttz, Secretary of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, also spoke to the group. The presence of these major political figures shows how crucial land conservation has become in the public eye.

Assembly attendees participated in workshops covering a wide variety of issues including farmland preservation, equity in conservation, effective conservation messages and storytelling, legislative issues, community conservation, climate change, and leadership development.

Not only did attendees have the chance to hear others speak, but they also engaged in roundtable sessions and conversations that allowed ideas and collaboration to develop.

To ensure that great conservation leaders have an opportunity to be recognized, the Assembly hosted its annual awards ceremony. The NC Land Trust awards are given annually to businesses, nonprofits, governments, and individuals who lead efforts to protect streams, farms, parks, forests, and trails to help provide safe drinking water, clean air, fresh local foods, and abundant recreational opportunities for all North Carolina families. Five winners were chosen this year.

Pepsi Bottling Ventures won the Corporate Conservation Partner of the Year award for providing generous financial support to the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative and the NC Youth Conservation Corps.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service was named Federal Government Conservation Partner of the Year for partnering with NC land trusts on many conservation and habitat restoration projects. The Service has provided both technical and financial assistance to land trusts and landowners alike.

Chimney Rock State Park was awarded State Government Conservation Partner of the year, given its many partnerships with conservancies and other non-profits to expand, improve, and maintain parklands.

Two individuals also received recognition. Tony Doster was named Stanback Volunteer Conservationist of the Year. His professional management of forests, as well as past and present involvement with a number of forestry boards and conservation organizations, show his commitment to protecting natural lands in the Coastal plain.

Hanni Muerdter was awarded Rising Conservation Leader of the Year for her stewardship work in the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and her involvement in other conservation and community organizations.

Congratulations to these deserving winners!

LEGACY SOCIETY: Protecting Land for Future Generations

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This year the Conservation Trust for North Carolina celebrates 25 years of saving the places you love. As we look back at some of our milestones and accomplishments, we will continue to focus on our goals for the future. CTNC created its Legacy Society to honor and celebrate donors who, through estate planning, have made a commitment to ensure that pristine streams, thriving family farms, healthy forests, and spectacular mountain vistas are protected forever. These future gifts will contribute to the growth and success of CTNC and conservation efforts across the state for generations to come. Connie Backlund is one of our Legacy Society members, and here’s her story of why she joined.

For more information on joining our Legacy Society, contact a member of our staff.

In crafting her estate plan, Connie Backlund was guided by two principles—her love of the outdoors nurtured by her father, and her devotion to land protection. “The common theme of growing up on a family farm and later working for the National Park Service is being a good steward of the land and ensuring its well-being for future generations,” Connie explained. “By including the Conservation Trust for North Carolina in my estate plans I can make a tremendous difference throughout our state with continued land protection that ultimately results in an improved quality of life for all state residents.”

Connie grew up on what she calls an “all American farm” in west central Ohio. She spent much of her time as her father’s shadow, helping harvest corn, soybeans, oats and wheat, and raising their many dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. “I cannot imagine a grander childhood!”

In 2000, Connie’s father placed an agriculture easement on the farm, the second one in Ohio at the time, protecting the land as a working farm in perpetuity. Today the farm remains in Connie’s family where she still enjoys the fall harvesting of soybeans and corn.

The time spent outdoors as a child influenced many aspects of Connie’s life. Majoring in biology at Bowling Green State University, she participated in a biology field class where she discovered national parks. “I knew instantly while attending my first evening campfire program hosted by a young lady ranger in Badlands National Park that that was what I wanted to do!” Connie retired in 2012 after a 38-year career with the National Park Service. Her last position, for 18 years, was as the Superintendent at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock.

Connie became acquainted with the Conservation Trust in 1996 when CTNC was designated by the Governor’s Year of the Mountains Commission to lead and coordinate efforts to protect scenic views along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In 2001, a 22-acre parcel adjoining the Sandburg Home, which served as the backdrop to one of the most scenic areas in the park, was put on the market. CTNC stepped forward and purchased the property, preventing it from being developed as a subdivision. “I am fortunate to have been part of a transaction regarding land protection and to see firsthand the degree of expertise and knowledge that the CTNC team has. It impressed me at that time and continues to do so today.”

Over the years Connie has spent time with CTNC supporters, staff and board members on various hikes and at special events that strengthened her connection with the organization. “Developing these relationships gives me the confidence that, like the land, my contributions and planned estate gift to CTNC will be well stewarded. I am honored to be a member of CTNC’s Legacy Society.”

CTNC’s AmeriCorps Program Wraps Up Its Inaugural Year

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Last year CTNC became the host organization for a new AmeriCorps Program, a 10-month national service program in environmental education and outreach. Our 14 AmeriCorps members wrapped up their work with a closing celebration on January 28 and a day of service the next day.

Our AmeriCorps program offers a life-changing opportunity to serve one’s community and engage people from all walks of life. In addition, there is a living stipend, health insurance, childcare assistance and professional development opportunities. Participants who complete the program can receive an education award of $5,730.

Over the past ten months, the 14 members immersed themselves into the communities where they worked and developed service projects that helped remove barriers to environmental education across North Carolina.  From building a giant inflatable whale and teaching students about the growing problem of marine debris, leading education and community outreach efforts in the Durham neighborhoods around the Ellerbe Creek Watershed, launching a new outreach program focused on monarch butterfly conservation and designing experiential education programs to engage the local community on the N.C. coast, all of the members have made a difference in people’s lives.

Together, they educated over 20,000 individuals and engaged in 3,000 outdoor public service volunteers. Plus, they created lifelong friendships, gained invaluable nonprofit experience, and answered the call of leadership in their communities. These values they will carry with them throughout their lives.

“One of my proudest moments is witnessing the personal and professional growth of the fourteen service members from start to finish,” said Nick DiColandrea, CTNC’s AmeriCorps director. “For the last ten months, these young leaders invested their passion and lives into service by protecting land and water, and educating and connecting North Carolina citizens to the outdoor places we love. “

As the first-year members of our AmeriCorps program move on to their next endeavors, we are already welcoming our second class of 18 members and getting them ready to serve their communities and become future leaders in conservation. The 2016 service year started on February 1 and ends on November 30, 2016.

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