Environmental Education: Why It’s Important and What It Means to Me
By Mollie Martin, Summer 2024 Intern
There is so much work being done here at Bald Head Island Conservancy – from sea turtle protection to oyster reef restoration to water quality testing and so much more! But I’ve learned in my time here that education is at the heart of all of this work. Environmental education is important not only in the context of BHIC, but globally as well. There is a vast variety of groundbreaking conservation research being conducted around the world. Spanning from genetics, to climate change, to population dynamics, and more, this research is incredibly valuable to new scientific development and growth. However, it is equally important to share those findings with the public in a way that is digestible, accessible, and engaging. Scientists can only do so much. If we truly want to conserve our barrier island ecosystems and protect the endangered species that call it home, we need as many people as possible implementing conservation efforts in their everyday lives.
As an education intern, I have the amazing opportunity to lead all the education programs we offer at BHIC. Through my work, I have seen the impact of environmental education firsthand. I see it when a family smiles at each other while watching a sea turtle lay her eggs. I see it when a nervous kid becomes comfortable and curious dissecting a squid. I see it when I hear someone say “Wow! I’ve never seen that before!” on a nature tour. I see it when a parent tells me “I feel like I’m learning too!” when her child comes back from camp sharing everything he’s learned.
I have the best job because I am witnessing a love for science and nature spark in both kids and adults alike. Everyone here at the Conservancy is working here because someone taught and engaged us in science in a way that stuck with us forever. I can only hope that I am planting seeds that will bloom into future biologists, conservationists, researchers, and environmental educators who will go on to change the world.
We couldn’t protect Bald Head Island and its wildlife without you! To those who have participated in a BHIC program, thank you for taking steps to learn more about BHI ecosystems and how you can make an impact in the environments around you. To our BHIC members, thank you for supporting this organization and helping us continue to protect BHI’s wildlife and educate visitors and residents. We hope you have been able to take the experiences and knowledge you’ve gained through educational programs here at BHIC and implement conservation efforts in your own everyday lives. If we all work together, we can make this island and our planet a cleaner, safer, healthier place for the wildlife that inhabit it.
If you’ve never joined us for a program before, I would encourage you to explore the different experiences we offer and sign up for one today. Who knows—it just might be the start of a new admiration and curiosity for the natural world!
