Last month, educators from across the state gathered in Beaufort for the annual Teachers on the Estuary Workshop, or TOTE. This workshop – hosted by the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve – introduced lessons on estuarine processes, coastal history and marine mammal ecology for educators to incorporate into their classrooms and programs. This two-day event featured a field trip to the Rachel Carson Reserve, classroom activities, plus visits to the Bonehenge Whale Center and the N.C. Maritime Museum.
TOTE kicked off with a field trip to the Rachel Carson Reserve, led by our Education Coordinator, Lori Davis. Walking along our nature trail, participants learned about the flora and fauna that thrive in the estuary. They poked black needlerush, ate pickleweed, and hummed to mud snails. Even a lack of horse sighting couldn’t put a damper on the hike.
The Maritime Museum’s Education Coordinator Courtney Felton presented the story beneath the sea – what do shipwreck artifacts tell us about the vessel’s purpose and occupants? In the activity, the teachers practiced how to extract an artifact without damaging it. Using toothpicks and dental tools, they were determined to remove their artifacts (chocolate chips) from the surrounding mineral build-up called concretions (cookies). To top off their visit, participants went behind the scenes of the museum’s artifact collection, where they had the opportunity to hold items from Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Nobody said no, of course. When else do you get the chance to hold such an infamous piece of history?
Keith Rittenmaster, a cetacean expert with a passion for wildlife protection, led the teachers through a tour of Bonehenge Whale Center. He told the story of Pitfall, a humpback whale who died from a ship strike, as well as the stories of other whales and dolphins who met an unjust fate. Teachers were moved by the tales of these animals and shocked by the size of the skeletons in the center. Courtney Felton demonstrated a lesson she can bring to their students that involves a dolphin skeleton that fits neatly in a box. Each new tidbit of information sparked more curious questions from the teachers, who were thrilled to be the students for a change!
Having just celebrated 25 years with us, Lori has hosted various education workshops, summer camps, and interns. In fact, Lori helped make TOTE extra special this year.
Two educators in attendance, Janina Millis and Jenna McLamb, were both former Reserve interns. Lori was their supervisor in 2017 and 2024, respectively, and they both attribute their internship as an experience that solidified their current career path. Janina now works for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality as an educator with the Division of Air Quality, and Jenna is a third-grade science teacher.
“Working with Lori and other scientists, but also with students and teachers, really inspired me to talk to people about a place that I love so much, to share my enthusiasm, and help them understand the science behind this special place,” Janina said.
Janina recently completed the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification, which requires 200 hours of relevant professional development within four years. Lori had the honor of presenting Janina’s certificate at the conclusion of TOTE.
“I am so proud of Janina. I have known her since she was a little girl and have seen her grow as a person, as an educator, and this full circle moment of having her complete this certification is just wonderful,” Lori said. “I mean, she's my friend. I served as her mentor. I was an environmental educator for her in the fourth grade. And it just makes me so proud to see how far she's come.”
Lori’s impact as an environmental educator and mentor for the education interns with the N.C. Coastal Reserve continues to transform students’ lives and career paths.
This year’s Research & Education intern, Ada Green, reached out to Janina on LinkedIn before applying for the internship, after resonating with Janina’s passion for science communication. It was Janina who told Ada about her experience at the Reserve and encouraged Ada to apply for the education internship with Lori.
“I feel so grateful to have connected with Janina,” Ada said. “As I listened to her describe her summer as an intern, I knew I would be crazy not to apply. She had so many nice things to say about Lori and the Reserve, and it sounded like a great opportunity. Now, being here for 10 weeks, I can confirm that’s it been nothing short of amazing.”
Environmental education is a field that we need now more than ever, and the Reserve will continue to promote its impact through workshops, internships, and long-term involvement. [If you want to hear more from Lori, Jenna, and Janina, watch our video here.
