Upcoming Events

The Wilderness Society in the 21st Century: New Concepts of Wilderness, Wildness, Inclusion & Belonging

October 24th, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Please join us as Dr. Sutton Lawrence presents "The Wilderness Society in the 21st Century: New Concepts of Wilderness, Wildness, Inclusion and Belonging"

Will China Save the Planet?

November 4th, Monday, 6:30 p.m. Barbara Finamore, NRDC’s senior strategic director for Asia, will present "Will China Save the Planet?"

Read more … Will China Save the Planet?

Film Screening/Panel Discussion: Right to Harm

November 12th, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Filmed across the country, the documentary chronicles the failures of state agencies to regulate industrial animal agriculture.

Four leading organizations - the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, Rocky Mountain Institute, Environmental Working Group, and Yellowstone Forever - are partnering to provide an opportunity for young environmental leaders to learn, create, share, interact, grow, connect, and build relationships.

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News from the Center

by Rebecca Rider

“The Endangered Species Act: A Conservation Legacy with an Uncertain Future”

The Endangered Species Act has sheltered native plant and animal life in the Unites States for nearly 50 years, but now it’s in need of saving. Ben Prater, Southeast program director for Defenders of Wildlife, spoke Thursday night at the Center for the Environment at Catawba College about the legacy of the landmark law, and about its uncertain future.

by Juanita Teschner

New Sustainability Outreach Coordinator at Center for Environment at Catawba

A 2017 Catawba College graduate is now serving as the sustainability outreach coordinator at the Center for the Environment at Catawba College.

Elizabeth Howard of Mocksville joined the Center earlier this year to research and implement ways to strengthen the culture of sustainability on the Catawba campus. She works to engage students and staff through social media, educational materials and resources for workshops. She also researches ways to incorporate community-based social marketing strategies in the Center’s marketing efforts and helps plan and create material for the annual National Environmental Summit for High School Students at Catawba.

by Juanita Teschner

Two Interns from Duke University Working at Center for the Environment at Catawba this Summer

Two Stanback Summer Interns from Duke University are working at the Center for the Environment at Catawba College through July.

Jimena Perez-Viscasillas, a master’s degree student in environmental management at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, and Rebecca Hall, a public policy studies major, are working with the Center’s Sustainability Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth Howard to help plan, develop and promote the National Environmental Summit for High School Students. They are also working to develop projects that will improve sustainability awareness and accessibility on campus. A social marketing campaign targeting sustainable practices at Catawba is a particular focus.

by Juanita Teschner

Providence Day School Receives NC Green School Award

Providence Day School (PDS) has received the NC Green School of Quality award for its ongoing sustainability efforts. The program, under the auspices of the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, recognizes both public and private schools in the state that promote sustainability. Twenty schools have been recognized through the program.

by Juanita Teschner

‘For me, it was life-changing’

Chance Ratliff could conceivably divide his life into “before NES” and “after NES.”

Before attending the National Environmental Summit for High School Students at Catawba College in 2015, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life; his current best friend hadn’t arrived; and he didn’t have a clue about who ran Environmental Working Group (EWG) in Washington, D.C., or Yellowstone Forever in Wyoming.

Now, after attending the summit for two years, he has a sure knowledge of what he wants to do in his life and his career; his association with another summit participant has engendered a three-year friendship; and Heather White, formerly executive director of EWG and now president and CEO of Yellowstone Forever, has become a treasured mentor.