New Hanover County

Public Speaking Contest Information:

• Eligible Grades: 7th and 8th Grades
• Open to all public, private, and homeschool students in New Hanover County
• Open to student clubs (i.e. 4-H, FFA) in New Hanover County
• Participants will perform their speech during a live Zoom presentation on January 28, 2022.. Winners will be announced via email later that day.

Learn more: https://soilwater.nhcgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Public-Speaking_InfoandEntryForm_Grades7-8.pdf 

Important Dates:

• Each participant must register for the contest in advance by January 24, 2022. To register, email arenfranz@nhcgov.com.
• Contest: January 28th, 2021 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
• Contest Winner Award Recognition Ceremony: TBD

Prizes:

• There will be a 1st and 2nd place award in each grade category.
• 1st Place Winners: Will receive a $25 gift card, an Awards Certificate, and an invitation to the Award Recognition Ceremony
• 2nd Place Winners: Will receive an Awards Certificate and an invitation to the Award Recognition Ceremony

11/22/2021 UPDATE: This event has been postponed. It will be rescheduled ASAP.

This workshop is designed to address drainage, stormwater management and flooding prevention for residential and commercial development on landscapes with large areas of jurisdictional wetlands. Specifically addressed will be northern New Hanover County, NC, an area of more than 20 square miles within which the soils are predominantly poorly drained and very poorly drained hydric soils. Thus, the area is a large contiguous wetland ecosystem within which most of the area is also jurisdictional wetlands subject to regulation by the US Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The principles, practices, and regulations to be discussed in this workshop are applicable to drainage, stormwater management and flooding prevention for wetland conversion to development in any large wetland ecosystem. Topics covered will include wetland definitions and characteristics, wetland regulatory programs and water management systems to facilitate wetland conversions to development uses.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop will be valuable to local government personnel in planning, stormwater engineering and environmental positions; consultants in the fields of planning, stormwater engineering and environmental assessments; land developers; real estate professionals and anyone else with an interest in wetland conversions to development uses. The workshop will include a primer on the structure and ecological functions of wetland ecosystems, so little to no background in wetlands is needed.

Registration

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is a limited number of seats for professionals, however with the success of this workshop we will plan to present the workshop again in the spring for a larger more diverse crowd.

You can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stormwater-management-tickets-200363632017.  There is a $10 registration fee and lunch is included.  Participants will also receive a thumb drive with all presentations from the day.  Professional credits are available.

For more details see please see the attached flyer and agenda.  Please feel free to forward this information on to those who might be interested.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dru Harrison at drharrison@nhcgov.com.

Workshop Structure

Indoor presentations

Continuing Education Credits

• Engineers will be given a certificate of participation to self-file for 5.5 PDHs
• Landscape architects will receive 5.5 continuing education credits from the N.C. Landscape Architect Board (pending approval)
• American Institute of Certified Planners will receive 5.5 certification maintenance credits
• Certified Floodplain Managers will receive 4.5 continuing education credits (pending approval)

The New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors will hold all monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noticed.

All meetings will be held in Conference Room 118 of the New Hanover County Government Center, located at 230 Government Center Drive in Wilmington, and are open to the public.

Meeting dates include:

• January 5, 2022
• February 2, 2022
• March 2, 2022
• April 6, 2022
• May 4, 2022
• June 1, 2022

For additional questions, agendas or more information, residents may contact Dru Harrison at drharrison@nhcgov.com.

February 4-5, 2022

Methods of Teaching Environmental Education Workshop

New Hanover County – New Hanover Cooperative Extension & Arboretum

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Amy Renfranz

The focus of this 10-hour workshop is to prepare participants from a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences in both the formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary environmental education teaching methods. Participants will learn about a variety of teaching techniques, methods and instructional strategies, and the workshop will include multiple interactive components. This is a required workshop for all N.C. Environmental Education Certification candidates who enrolled in the program after Jan. 1, 2009, as Criteria I credit. This course may also count as credit for Continuing Education for those educators who are already certified.

The course, hosted by Amy Renfranz, Program Coordinator for New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District, will run February 4 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and February 5 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Registration is required. Please register by emailing arenfranz@nhcgov.com. Include “Registration for MOTEE Workshop” in the subject line.

Location: New Hanover County Arboretum Auditorium
6206 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC United States 28403

Agenda

Day One

• 10:00 a.m. Program Begins
• Subjects Include: Introduction to EE, Diverse Learners, Creating the Learning Environment, Teaching Methods
• 4:00 p.m. Adjourn

Day Two

• 10:00 a.m. Program Begins
• Subjects Include: Developmentally Appropriate Education, Learning Cycle, NC Essential Standards, and Assessment
• 2:00 p.m. Adjourn

Other Information

This workshop will include time outdoors. Be prepared for a leisurely pace up to 1 mile per day on relatively flat terrain. You will need to bring your own lunch, snacks, and beverages on each day, as there will not be time to leave the premises or have something delivered. You will also need to bring a notebook and pencil. MOTEE workbooks and other supplementary materials will be provided.

In regard to COVID-19, we will be following the most up-to-date safety guidelines as required by the state. As things are constantly changing, you will hear from me about specific requirements as the date approaches.

NOTE: The Basics of Environmental Education Independent Study is a prerequisite to the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education course for those wishing to earn their Environmental Educator Certification. The necessary course materials can be found here: https://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification/program-requirements/basics-environmental-education.