Activities

• Take the “Recycling Survey”!
• Take the “Energy IQ” Challenge!
• Test Your Environmental Knowledge
• Environmental Word Find #1
• Environmental Word Find: At the Beach
• Environmental Word Find:  Water Treatment
• Environmental Word Find:  Soils I
• Environmental Word Find:  Soils II
• Stormy Word Find
• Word Find:  Vegetable Garden I
• Word Find:  Vegetable Garden II

Other sites of interest

• Urban Forestry & Urban Heat Islands:
  • NC State Extension Forestry Wildlife Series publications
  • NC State University Consumer Horticulture Trees web list
  • NASA’s Information on Urban Heat Islands
  • Urban Heat Island Group:  How and why cities are heating up

• Livestock Producer information & upcoming classes:
  • NCDEQ Animal Waste site:  includes permits, rules, updates
  • NCDEQ Animal Waste downloadable forms
  • Animal Waste classes

• General information:
  • Sustainable Living Handbook: A Citizen’s Guide to Thoughtful Action
    
  • Climate Change Handbook: A Citizen’s Guide to Thoughtful Action
  • NCDENR publication:  Improving Water Quality in Your Own Backyard
  • Rainfall Probability…what size rain events typically occur in New Bern and Wilmington?
  • City of Wilmington Stormwater Services
  • Living Green:  Univ. of Florida Extension
  • Aquatic, Wetland, and Invasive Plants!
  • North Carolina Snakes – Many of our snakes are non-venomous and serve a beneficial purpose.

• Landscaping and water conservation sites:
  • Plants for Backyard Wetlands – Brunswick County
  • Drought-Tolerant Plants for North Carolina Landscapes
  • Native Plants – Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 12
  • Ornamental Grasses & Sedges Recommended for Coastal Southeast Landscapes
  • Native Plants for Coastal North Carolina Landscapes
  • University of Florida – Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Program Series

• On-site Wastewater Treatment:  Septic Systems
  • Septic System Owners Guide
  • Septic Systems and Their Maintenance
    
  • Why Do Septic Systems Fail?

• Water Quality Monitoring & Education:
  • Onslow Water Quality Monitoring Program
  • Cape Fear River Partnership (NOAA site)- Action Plan for Migratory Fish (2013)

EPA’s Definition of Environmental Education

“The goal of environmental education is to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues, and to provide the public with the skills needed to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Environmental education enhances critical­ thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision ­making skills. It also teaches individuals to weigh various sides of an environmental issue to make informed and responsible decisions. Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action.”

This definition fits in very well with the mission of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, which is “to help individuals, families, and communities put research-based knowledge to work to improve their lives.”

Just how Long Have Environmental Rules and Regulations Been in Effect in the US?

Well, it turns out that they have been around for quite a while...

“There shall be no man or woman dare to wash any unclean linen, wash clothes, nor rinse or make clean any kettle, pot, or pan or any suchlike vessel within twenty feet of the old well or new pump. Nor shall anyone aforesaid, within less than a quarter-mile of the fort, dare to do the necessities of nature, since by these unmanly, slothful, and loathsome immodesties, the whole fort may be choked and poisoned.”

Governor Gage of Virginia, Proclamation for Jamestown, 1610