As members of NNOCCI, we all know about the importance of having a community to support our journey as educators. Having a professional community like NNOCCI is vital for our wellbeing and professional growth. A strong sense of community helps reduce isolation in roles that are often solo, temporary, or poorly defined. This can be particularly important when teaching about challenging subjects such as climate change. Being part of a community like NNOCCI can help strengthen professional identity in the field of informal education which often has fluid roles and career pathways. Community supports belonging and retention, especially for early-career and marginalized educators. Working together in community can build our collective capacity to share resources and advocate for the field. It also drives meaningful professional learning through shared practice and peer exchange. Which in turn improves learner experiences, as educator belonging enables more inclusive, confident practice.
As members of the NNOCCI community, we have been fortunate to have access to all of these benefits to our practice and well being. A couple of years ago, I conducted a study* with members of the original NNOCCI study circles from 2009-2011. What we found when talking with this group was the role NNOCCI played in career advancement, positive influences on their personal lives, and the importance of having access to a community of people who cared about and were engaged in the same kind of work. One of my favorite quotes was that joining the NNOCCI network was “like finding something I didn’t know I desperately needed.” The most common theme we heard was about the importance of community support and how NNOCCI allowed the members to collaborate with one another, build lifelong friendships, and find support from “other people who are pushing forward in the same sector.” One person said they were “so grateful to find my people.” Research shows that it’s not enough to know the content, we also need the support of community to cultivate hope and continue to improve our climate change interpretation.
I’ve been a member of NNOCCI since 2010 and am so grateful to all of you who make up this community and help support my practice. Unfortunately, not all informal educators have access to groups like ours. So to try to address this, I am helping to launch a new organization, the Community of Aquarium, Museum, Zoo, and Informal Educators, or CAMZIE. We’re building a new community to connect informal educators everywhere. This is where we can share ideas, swap stories, cheer each other on, and grow together. You’ll find a vibrant forum, a resource hub, skill building workshops, and a newsletter packed with opportunities. If you’re interested in growing your network in addition to the one we have with NNOCCI, I’d like to invite you to join CAMZIE. The website will be launching soon but in the meantime you can learn more about how to join.
Professional learning communities like NNOCCI and CAMZIE are vital to supporting our practice, our career growth, and our sense of community. I hope you’ll reach out to me if you have any questions about our NNOCCI community research or how CAMZIE can support you.
Sea Slugs Make Climate Evolutionary ChoicesSea Slugs Make Climate Evolutionary Choices by Richelle Tanner, July 01 2019 Nudibranchs are a type of sea slug known for their beautiful colors and curious incorporation of other animals and plants into their own bodies (e.g. using plant chloroplasts to photosynthesize, incorporating toxins into their cells, and swallowing anemones’ stinging [READ MORE]
Of Penguins & Solar PanelsOf Penguins & Solar Panels by Billy Spitzer, August 28 2018 Here’s a surprising penguin fact: much like our own communities, African Penguins and the ecosystems they’re part of benefit from our transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Like many people, we at the New England Aquarium believe in safeguarding people and [READ MORE]
My Community is My Hope #100HopefulDaysMy Community is My Hope #100HopefulDays Sarah-Mae Nelson, MS, CIG/CIT, February 03 2017 Today I turn 37 years old. This seems like an impossible number. In my mind, I am a vibrant 21-year-old eager to make the world a better place. I see opportunities to make a positive difference everywhere. I am young, I am empowered, and I am unstoppable. In [READ MORE]
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Federal Funding for NNOCCI TerminatedWe wanted to alert you of a significant event that is impacting our team and work. We received notice earlier this month that our active 2-year grant through the US Embassy in Canada (a part of the US State Department) has been terminated effective immediately. While the details provided by the State Department are extremely minimal, it is almost certainly connected with the recent decisions by the new administration to cut funding for all international partnerships and eliminate funding aimed at climate. [READ MORE]
Meet NNOCCI’s First Canadian Trainer, Kiersten King!Meet NNOCCI’s First Canadian Trainer, Kiersten King! NNOCCI Interview with Kiersten King Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Kiersten King, and I am a Canadian doctoral student at the University of Manitoba. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Guelph in 2021, where I discovered my passion for polar bear [READ MORE]