One way RIEEA supports our members is with professional development (PD) scholarships to support lifelong learning. Recently, we awarded a scholarship to Katie Schortmann with Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Read on to see how she used the scholarship to expand her connections and environmental education knowledge!
From Katie Schortmann:
On January 12-13th, the 14th New Directions in the American Landscape Annual Design Symposium was held to showcase professional talks on landscape, ecology, and culture. There were themes of ecological restoration and creating spaces that not only welcomed social community, but also biodiversity in a sustainable manner. Throughout the two-day event, there was practical land management advice, community outreach materials, and presentations on applicable mycorrhizal fungi research.
The knowledge gained from the event will aid in the management of Audubon’s Palmieri Pollinator Garden and the Claire D. McIntosh Refuge, including invasive plant removal. Information from the Wild Seed lecture on “decentralizing native seeds” will support the native seed starting efforts beginning at Audubon to replace aggressive invasive plant species with locally sourced and grown native plant seeds to restore habitat for ecosystem resilience. Community outreach endeavors discussed at the symposium will also assist in the development of a Pollinator Protector Project. A project that will, in part, educate the public on the importance of pollinators and native plants within the landscape and give them the tools for creating native garden habitat in schools and communities all over the state.
Thank you to the RIEEA for the professional development scholarship that made attendance to the symposium possible!
Attending a conference or workshop related to environmental education and want to apply for a scholarship? Learn more here!