Say hello to KAEE member, Carolyn Waters.
Tell us more about yourself!
I have worked in environmental education for eighteen years—spanning nonprofit, government, and higher education sectors. I currently teach environmental studies at Bellarmine University in Louisville and I provide consulting services to organizations with educational or environmental missions.
My research and teaching focus on critical pedagogies that empower learners and educators to transform their social and ecological communities. I collaborate with community members using participatory methods. Topics of my publications and presentations include diversity, equity, and inclusion training for environmental educators, student voice in public high school ecology classes, and curricular design that engages young people in environmental decision-making.
I live on an urban homestead in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood with my partner of thirteen years, our dog, cat, and a handful of chickens.
What projects or programs are you working on that particularly inspire you?
Right now, I’m working with the River Heritage Conservancy in southern Indiana to fund and develop programming in Origin Park. The park is still under construction and involves significant brownfield remediation and native ecosystem restoration. So, it’s exciting to think strategically about how programs will help the organization meet its mission.
Another project that has inspired my thinking in the last year was designing and delivering three on-site trainings for state park rangers across the state of Oregon. Their programs are largely interpretation-based, so we had exciting conversations about the overlap and distinctions between environmental education and interpretation methods. They were also just restarting programming after several years without it because of COVID-19 restrictions. Their unanimous passion for outdoor teaching and learning and for the places where they work was a joy to witness.
What do you think is the most beneficial part of being involved in KAEE?
KAEE has so many great resources—it’s hard to choose! I really benefit from the many different opportunities to meet colleagues and get to know about EE programs all over the state. The annual conference is a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening and build relationships with people who are just as passionate about this work as I am. And in between the conferences, there are online opportunities—like the JEDI Community of Practice—where I can check in with folks on a more regular basis.
What is an area you feel you could use support in from this network of fellow educators?
I'm interested in exploring all the opportunities EE can offer us, especially those that are outside of our usual boxes. I’d love to engage in more conversations with people in this network about ways to improve the field. Let’s chat!
What is something you feel could be beneficial to share with this network?
I love brainstorming ideas for how different organizations can collaborate to achieve common goals. Drop me a line if you'd like to share ideas about the things you’re most interested in, struggling with, or wondering about!
What goals do you have for your organization or programs within the EE field?
One aspect of education in general that I'm interested in exploring more is the prioritization of play in learning—not just for young children, but for adolescents and adults as well.
Environmental education gives us opportunities to push the bounds of education in ways that can result in positive changes for our society. Play is just one example.
