Enloe High’s Sub-Chronic Exposure team beams with delight as they are proclaimed the NC Envirothon’s state champions for 2012.  The team will represent NC at the international 2012 Canon Envirothon in PA this summer, vying for college scholarships that total $107,000 in all.  The Envirothon is North America’s largest high school environmental education competition.  In NC, the Envirothon is coordinated by NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation, the state’s 96 soil & water districts, and the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts.  All Wake County teams are sponsored and coached by Wake Soil & Water Conservation District.

Photo from left to right:  NC Envirothon Committee Chair John Peeler, Enloe High Team Advisor Chad Ogren, Sub-Chronic Exposure team members Stephanie Huang, Vineet Gopinathan, Rachel Smoak, Rebecca Wall, Prakhar Naithani, and NC Envirothon Committee Vice-Chair Rich Hayes.

The Hornets from Holly Ridge Middle School in Holly Springs receives 1st Place and $100 for their Envirothon Service Learning Project at the 2012 NC Envirothon.  The Hornets are sponsored  by Wake Soil & Water Conservation District.  From left, front row:  Hornet team members Emily Clemente, Cameron Odom, Matthew Flanagan, and Taylor Randall.

Photo from left, back row:  Teachers and Team Advisor Kara Schwartz, Executive Director Dick Fowler of the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and Chairman John Peeler of the NC State Envirothon Committee.

The position will focus on providing outdoor and stream ecology education to children, recruiting and training volunteers to conduct water quality monitoring, and reaching out to homeowners about residential stormwater management techniques. This position is 40 hours per week and will be based at the League’s national headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD. The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides a monthly stipend and benefits. To read the full position description, visit

http://www.iwla.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/25014/pid/25014.    Application deadline: May 14, 2012.

Apex – Tributary to Beaver Creek  (NEW SITE!) VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!  Meet at 9:00 am (4/21) at the Apex Public Works building (105 Upchurch Street) for instructions and a safety briefing.  Pre-registration and signed Release Forms are required—see website at www.apexnc.org/bigsweep or call Apex Public Works at (919) 249-3427.  (Rain Date is Sat., April 28 from 9am-12pm)

Garner – Lake Benson at Lake Benson Park VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!  BREAKFAST SERVED!  Meet at 8:30 am (4/21) at the Lake Benson Park Shelter #1 for registration and a light breakfast.  Pre-registration is not required!  For more information or to schedule groups to participate, please call Zone Captain Stephanie Moody Shaffer at 919-661-6892.

Thank you Volunteers for your time and effort in making our environment litter-free!

It’s time to register for the 2012 Envirothon School for Advisors!  This workshop is designed to provide Advisors the tools and resources to better train your Envirothon teams.

Dates:  July 23-26 (register for 1,2,3, or all 4 days).  Location:  Raleigh-Durham area.  Cost:  $20 per day or $60 for all 4 days Includes meals and overnight dormitory accommodations.  Registration Deadline is July 6, 2012 (or sooner as space is limited!)  See the website for details and registration form.  Here’s the FLYER for 2012 Envirothon School.

Note:  Our Wake County Envirothon Team Advisor Jennifer Broadwell from Millbrook High participated in the 2011 Envirothon School and thought it very worthwhile!

Here’s the Video Contest information with a June 1st deadline.  2012 Video Contest news release here.  Please consider entering this new contest!  Your creativity may inspire more volunteers to roll up their sleeves here in Wake County and across the state.  Plus, you might exterminate those litter bugs for good!

SAT., APRIL 14, 2012

1.  Cary – Numerous Sites

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!  Call to select a town-sponsored location of your choice at a Cary park, greenway or neighborhood.  Gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and trash grabbers are provided.  Part of the Spruce program, Cary’s Spring Litter Sweep is also part of NC and Wake County Big Sweep.  To register for this event, contact Sarah Justice at 919-469-4301 or sarah.justice@townofcary.org.

2.  Morrisville – Lake Crabtree County Park INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS and GROUPS WELCOME!  Meet at 9:00 am at Boat Rental Tower to clean up one of Wake County’s most popular lakes!  Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided.  Volunteers will work until 12:00 pm.

To register, call (919) 460-2723.  Directions here.   Once in the park, take fourth right to go to Boat Rental Tower.

From I-40, take Exit 285 (Aviation Parkway).  Go south towards Morrisville, away from airport.  Proceed downhill less than 1/4 mile and turn left at the light into park.  Once in the park, take fourth right to go to Boat Rental Tower.

3.  Raleigh – Upper Crabtree Creek:  For Crabtree Creek Canoe and Kayak Club ONLY!  Led by Zone Captain Art Ross.

SUN., APRIL 15, 2012

4.  New Hill – Harris Lake County Park:  VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!  From 2:00 pm-5:00 pm.  Meet at 2:00 pm at the Park Office.  Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided.  Volunteers will work until 5:00 pm.  For information, call the park office at (919) 387-4342.  Directions: Take Highway 1 South to Exit 89 – New Hill Road.  Park is 3 miles on the right.

Thank you for lending a hand in improving our waterways!  Spring is beautiful without ugly litter!

See the full article here.

Cedarock Park is near Burlington is only a 1 1/2-hour drive from Raleigh.

Volunteering earns you a T-shirt, food, and a signed Community Service form.  Plus you can always root for Wake County’s teams from Enloe High and Holly Ridge Middle.  Go teams, go!

See this flyer for more information or register to Volunteer here.  Thanks!

This weekend’s Spring Big Sweep is on Saturday, March 24, 2012 the Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson Street, Raleigh, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Call #919-831-1960 for information.  More information here.

Here’s our 2012 Spring Big Sweep schedule for Wake County!

Please roll up your sleeves to help roll out tons of unwanted and potentially harmful litter from our creeks, streams, lakes & wetlands!

To volunteer:

1. Select the date and site where you’d like to volunteer.
2. Contact the Zone Captain to let them know to expect you.  This will also help them reach you in case of bad weather if they need to cancel.
3. Tell your family and friends!  More helping hands are always needed!
4. Ask your Zone Captain for a Liaibility Waiver that every volunteer must sign (parents must sign for those under age 18.)
5. Dress for the weather and wear old clothes & closed-toe shoes that can get wet and dirty.

Gloves, data cards, and trash bags will be provided.

Thank you for keeping our watersheds clean and healthy!