ENF’s Environmental Commitment Focus on Energy Solutions

Cara Varney, Development Director

It’s not news that Eagle’s Nest Camp and The Outdoor Academy have made an environmental commitment. This is an ideal that has shaped our programs since the beginning and continues to flow through everything we do from lessons in science class, to running through the woods on a hot summer day, to the strategic work being done by the ENF Board of Trustees.

Each semester, OA students read portions of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass. Kimmerer, who is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is a professor, biologist, poet, and the founder of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, which is located in Syracuse, NY. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer teaches us that, “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” This excerpt feels particularly “Nesty” to me. It’s the way we teach about the earth and hope our campers and students take this love of nature/environment/earth with them in their life paths. It’s how the Foundation approaches the ways in which we “use” our land and in making choices that are both financially and environmentally responsible. I wonder, how do you celebrate the earth?

Over the years, Eagle’s Nest has put resources and time into much more than celebrating the earth; we are trying to protect, heal, learn from, teach with, and become a part of the global solution to fight the warming of our planet. Here are some steps ENF has taken as part of our environmental commitment.

2016 With Conserving Carolina and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (NC Land and Water Fund), over 76% of ENF’s land was placed in a conservation easement, protecting our wild classroom forever.

2017 We launched a Green Cleaning Initiative that has reduced our use of phosphates, harmful chemicals, and single use plastics. *Cleaning has been an evolving process with the onset of COVID-19 disinfecting protocols, and we hope to return to all green products soon!

2018 We revised our Kitchen Manual to include more environmentally sustainable practices, including sourcing of products, staff structure, and further incorporating the Garden to Table programming into meals.

2021 We began researching and evaluating energy efficiency at ENF. A dedicated group of alumni (aptly called the “Energy Work Group”) have been helping to guide the process of creating a sustainable and actionable plan.

2022 A solar study was completed and all lighting fixtures on campus were upgraded to energy efficient LED bulbs, a project that was funded by a partnership with our utility company. We also completed a solid waste audit and preliminary energy audit with the help of Waste Reduction Partners, who help organizations improve environmental and energy management through efficiency techniques that save money.