Cabarrus employee named N.C. Environmental Educator of the Year
Abby Weinshenker engages with local youth during a hands-on learning session.
Abby Weinshenker holds up a turtle in the woods.
CONCORD — Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Education Coordinator Abby Weinshenker has been named Environmental Educator of the Year as part of the 2026 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards.
The annual awards, presented by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to the state’s natural resources.
Weinshenker remarked that the recognition came as a surprise after she was nominated by a local teacher she often collaborates with.
“It was quite a shock,” she said. “This award validates what I’m doing. It serves as a motivator to continue pushing harder to make sure everyone has the access and support they need when it comes to natural resource education.”
As a resource education coordinator, Weinshenker focuses on helping people better understand the world right outside their doors. Through her work, she helps landowners, land users, students and other community members better understand how to protect and conserve the environment.
Weinshenker has built a reputation for making complex environmental topics accessible and engaging. “My job is to teach about natural resources found in our own backyards,” she said. “I help people understand what they have and how they can protect it. I love that ‘aha’ moment when people get outside, learn something new and really notice what’s around them. It sparks something special.”
Weinshenker has led several initiatives to expand environmental education locally, including launching Cabarrus County’s first Creek Week last year. The weeklong event, set to return Sept. 26 through Oct. 3, promotes awareness of local waterways through hands-on programs and community activities.
Weinshenker also plays a key role in the county’s Conservation Contest, which saw more than 3,400 local students participate this year. Several of those students will go on to compete at the state level.
In addition, she works closely with local schools, supporting Envirothon (an environmental science competition that focuses on wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils and current environmental issues) teams and partnering with educators to bring hands-on environmental learning into the classroom.
“A lot of the students I work with wouldn’t normally get opportunities like this,” she said. “I’ve been very passionate about making sure that they do.”
Weinshenker holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and a master’s with a focus on wildlife biology. Her thesis on wildlife crossings near the Outer Banks was published in 2025.
She will officially accept the Educator of the Year award at a formal ceremony on May 2 in Raleigh.
Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District
The Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) encourages conservation through informed and responsible stewardship of the land and its natural resources. Their customized programs assist and educate landowners, land users, responsible institutions, students and community groups.
CSWCD resources for landowners include:
• Assistance applying for several agricultural cost-share programs that allocate state funds
• Conservation easement guidance
• Equipment rental and soil testing
• Technical assistance with water drainage issues
• Pond management workshops and weed identification services
For more information about the CSWCD, visit https://www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Soil-and-Water-Conservation.
Stay connected to Cabarrus County
Learn more about all Cabarrus County programs and services by visiting www.cabarruscounty.us/CabGo.
Watch commissioner meetings and other special programming on the Cabarrus County livestream at www.cabarruscounty.us, YouTube (@CabarrusCounty) and CabCo TV (Spectrum Cable Channel 22).
