South Wake Conservationists were invited to participate in the release of North Carolina’s K-12 Environmental Literacy Plan at Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School in Fuquay Varina on Earth Day, April 22, 2024. This is a refreshed version of the original plan released in 2011. This plan, incorporating environmental education into school curricula and programs statewide, is jointly developed by the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality, the NC Dept. of Public Instruction, and the Environmental Educators of NC. NCWF’s CEO Tim Gestwicki participated in the development of the original plan in 2011.
The event started off with several guest speakers, including Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality. Several third graders followed the guest speakers with messages about how people can reduce food waste going into our landfills (eg: make smoothies of expired bananas, don’t throw them away!). Next came a tour of the amazing programs and facilities supporting environmental education at the school, capped off with students and guests planting several raised pollinator beds in front of the school.
Lincoln Heights is a special location for our chapter, where we have installed numerous bluebird and brown-headed nuthatch houses, developed pollinator gardens, and participated in school events. Laura Wood, Environmental Connections Integration Specialist, has worked closely with us the past several years and is key to our valued partnership there. We are proud to work with this school, which fully embraces the principles and guidelines described in the Environmental Literacy Plan, equipping the next generation to protect our planet and the natural world we depend on!
South Wake Conservationists 