Friday, May 11, 2012

Christel Walter

Mill Spring, NC (Polk County)
What does she do? Besides working on her EE Certification, Christel recently graduated from the Biltmore Forest School (Woodland Steward Series, Summer 2009) and is a master gardener. Her woodland is under the Forest Stewardship Program, an incentive program aimed at keeping native vegetation thriving and aliens at bay. Christel is also a volunteer with the Pacolet Area Conservancy (a land trust) and chair of its education committee. This group brings programs and creates opportunities to teach environmental awareness and conservation values to school children and youth groups.
Favorite part of earning her certification? Christel liked that the Certification Program reinforced the values she grew up with in her native Germany. "Knowing that there are many like-minded individuals who are concerned about the natural world and our place in it," says Christel. "The young people I have met and their commitment to make this world a place where all can live in harmony especially impressed me."
Certification experience that stands out? What stands out to Christel was attending the EENC Conference "Renewing a Sense of Wonder" and being in the Long Leaf Pine Forest at Fort Bragg. "The seedlings I received are doing well here in the foothills of Western NC. They are a reminder of the importance of stewardship as we try to preserve what is left of our diverse flora and fauna," she says.
Her Action Partnership? Christel laid out a system of trails and supervised a chain saw gang as they built a hiking trail on an 85-acre tract of land protected by the Pacolet Area Conservancy. This trail has just been included in the guide for the NC Birding Trail - Mountain Region!
CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTEL!

No comments:

Post a Comment