A Bryan County teacher’s proposal to increase biodiversity and ecosystem resilience on campus earned her school a $1,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Kari Wilcher, outdoor educator at Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary in Richmond Hill, was named the 2025-26 Conservation Teacher of the Year, DNR announced today. The annual award recognizes a Georgia kindergarten through fifth-grade teacher who demonstrates innovation and excellence in teaching life sciences. Funding is provided by The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.
Linda May, outreach coordinator for the agency’s Wildlife Conservation Section, said Wilcher was selected for her project called Seeds of Stewardship: Increasing Native Biodiversity at Carver. “This proposal outlines a creative and sustainable plan for place-based outdoor learning that includes soil testing, collecting seeds from native plants, restoring wildlife habitat and contributing data to community science projects,“ May said. “Ms. Wilcher’s plan is well written and demonstrates scientific expertise and a deep passion for the environment.”…