Foothills Equestrian Nature Center’s Tracie Hanson, the Nature Director at FENCE in Tryon, has recently

received North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. The North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program recognizes professional development in environmental education and acknowledges educators committed to environmental stewardship. This program establishes standards for professional excellence in environmental education for formal and non-formal educators.

Hanson has spent more than seven years working with area schools to teach nature based science to Kindergarten through fifth grade students.  Her commitment to her students was the incentive to get certified with the State of North Carolina.

Hanson comments, “I get to work very closely with many students in North and South Carolina school systems.  Each day is filled with new adventures – whether in the traditional classroom or out in the natural classroom that is provided to us by just walking outside”.

The EE certification consists of many components. There are instructional workshops, outdoor instructor led experiences, research regarding environmental education resources and facilities, teaching experiences and a community partnership project.