Today, we are celebrating the incredible impact of Lori Davis as she reaches an amazing milestone of 25 years of service with the state of North Carolina.
“Ms. Lori,” as she is called by most, strives to live by this quote from Rachel Carson: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
For the past 25 years, Ms. Lori has served as an Education Specialist (11 years) and as the Education Coordinator (14 years) for the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve. In this role, she manages K - college education initiatives, teacher and educator programs, and community outreach efforts. If you have ever been fortunate enough to learn from or work with her, then you know how she transforms the natural world into a place of discovery and excitement through her words, enthusiasm, and knowledge.
For Ms. Lori, this is not just where she works. It is home. As she says, “There is nothing better than the smell of marsh mud to remind you that you are home.” She wants “coastal residents and visitors alike to appreciate that smell too and to understand how valuable and magical the estuarine ecosystem can be.”
When asked what has kept her motivated these past 25 years, she says, “It’s really easy to stay motivated when you’ve had the best job in state government for 25 years.” And we are grateful Ms. Lori remains dedicated to estuaries and public service! Come join her this summer for summer camps, teacher workshops, and public field trips!
To hear why she has the best job in state government, Reserve communications specialist Jillian Daly sat with Ms. Lori and asked her to reflect on this time. Below are highlights from a conversation reflecting on her 25 years of inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and love for North Carolina’s estuaries.
What do you love most about your work?
What I love most about my work is sharing the magic of North Carolina’s estuaries with program participants. Through our field programs, participants often discover something new or gain a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna they observe firsthand and that is truly rewarding.
What do you remember most vividly about your first days here 25 years ago?
I remember thinking how incredible it was that the islands of the Rachel Carson Reserve were now going to be the place that would serve as my classroom which was very different from the high school classroom from my previous position as a classroom teacher.
How would you describe the Reserve then versus now in a few words?
The Reserve program has grown tremendously. We’ve protected more property along the coastline and expanded our staff to better fulfill our mission of research, education, and stewardship.
You have worked with generations of kids and adults. What does that continuity mean to you?
Oh, this is my favorite! After 25 years of sharing the magic of estuaries with program participants, I’m now seeing a full-circle moment with people who once came on field trips with me, returning as chaperones with their own children or dropping them off at summer camp. It means so much to me that their excitement for estuaries has lasted and that they’re eager to pass that enthusiasm on to the next generation.
What accomplishments are you most proud of from your 25 years here?
- Strengthening the summer camp program for the Reserve system and developing a strong partnership with the Maritime Museum
- Mentoring 30 college and high school students who served as summer camp interns and helpers
- Serving on multiple state and national groups advancing estuarine education and ensuring estuaries are highlighted in NC education standards
- Sharing the magic of estuaries with over 18,000 students through field trips and summer camps
What moments remind you why this work matters?
I believe that learning happens when the environment feels like an adventure rather than a lesson. When I hear students say, “Best field trip ever!” or have kids come back to the same summer camp just weeks later because they enjoyed it so much, I know I am making learning fun.
I love hearing, “I never want to leave” from an elementary student who is scampering in the mud trying to find a fiddler crab. A quiet middle school student saying, “this is a cool place,” or a teacher sharing, “I can’t wait to share this with my students” after learning about all the cool worms that call estuaries home are moments that stay with me.
It is also powerful to see high school students begin to understand how water moves through an estuary and why water quality is so important to our state. When they make the connection to the rich biodiversity we have right here in coastal North Carolina, it reinforces why this work matters.
The smiles and curiosity on students’ faces when we start our adventures, whether it be hiking through the estuary, looking at plankton, or starting a squid dissection, are what keep me going. I want students and teachers to always enjoy exploring estuaries, and I love seeing schools and groups return to the Rachel Carson Reserve year after year.
What have you learned from the people you have worked with, especially the kids?
From the kids, I’ve learned the importance of curiosity, observation, and approaching each day with the enthusiasm of a school field trip day. They’ve taught me to slow down, pay closer attention, and ask questions about the things that spark curiosity—no matter how many times the same question comes up.
To know Ms. Lori is to love her. Here are a few words from Reserve staff who have worked alongside her during the past 25 years:
"Working with Lori always reminds me how impactful education can be in science. While my background is in research, her approach has influenced the way I communicate and think about our work beyond the lab. Her enthusiasm for educating others is contagious and the work she does makes science feel accessible, meaningful, and worth sharing.”
"'Ms. Lori' has impressive estuarine knowledge that benefits our young students but more impressive, is her ability to relate well with children of all ages. Her superb ability to connect is the reason that children remember fiddler crab or brackish water facts for many years after they participate in a Reserve education activity."
"She is an exceptional professional educator that has brought the wonder and joy of learning about the coastal environment to so many students.”
"I love how much she loves educating students - she never loses her excitement no matter how many times she does it. It’s truly a gift!"
“Lori loves teaching, children especially, about the natural world and the plants and animals of the estuaries. She has always been quick to smile and puts those around her at ease. Her humor and sense of wonder have helped her connect with thousands of people over the years - students, teachers, the public, coastal decision makers, others within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System as well as her coworker friends. We so appreciate the dedication behind 25 years of service and Lori’s work will continue to resonate through all those she’s educated for many years to come!”
"Lori’s passion for estuaries and warm and open nature allow her to meet students where they are, no matter their age or ability. Her work with exception students in Carteret County is so important and inspiring. Lori is fostering life-long environmental stewards across NC through the connections she builds in the estuary."
"Lori has helped shape curricular standards in NC and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Teacher on the Estuary (TOTE (program). These efforts ensure educators are inspired and have the resources and information they need to share the importance of estuaries with students of all ages."
After 25 years, Ms. Lori’s greatest legacy may not be counted in programs or numbers, but in the thousands of people who now see the estuary not just as a place, but a home to many, and worthy of protection.