By Jorge Malo Guajardo, Office of K-12 Education & Outreach | NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR)
There’s a deep understanding within me about the power of working with others. It’s something I’ve learned not from books, but from life itself, whether back in college and teaming up with classmates on a school project, or now, collaborating with partners across organizations to bring a community event to life. I’ve seen firsthand how synergy transforms ideas into impact.
Earlier this year, Amy Jordan (Schools in Parks Specialist) and Frances Cassarino (Lead Education Ranger) at DNCR’s Lake Norman State Park reached out with a vision. They had big dreams, and one powerful question that stuck with me:
“How can we connect with our community in a more meaningful way?”
That question became the seed of something special, and a Family Exploration Day grew from there.
Together, we began imagining an event that would bring students, schools, and families into the park, not just to enjoy the outdoors, but to learn about Lake Norman State Park, the rich history of the land, and to see the park as part of their neighborhood.
“We participate in community events regularly, but the idea of intentionally inviting a student’s family to the park for a dedicated family day was new and exciting.”
— Amy Jordan
If you’ve ever worked with Amy or Frances, you know they bring more than just ideas; these two bring heart, energy, and a deep commitment to connecting people with nature. Both work tirelessly to support park programming and outreach initiatives, always with the goal of helping people experience firsthand why NC State Parks are so amazing.
The planning team quickly realized that if Family Exploration Day was to be successful, a strong community partner would be critical. Enter Iredell County Schools, who helped with everything from recruiting participants to planning how visitors would rotate through learning stations across the park. It was a true collaboration, government and community working side by side.
On the day of the event, Lake Norman State Park came alive. There were nature exploration stations led by the engaging Lake Norman team. DNCR’s Learning Happens Here tent stood beside the local mobile library truck. The local high school Latino Club hosted a cultural activity. Lines wrapped around an ice cream truck, and of course, squeal of glee echoed from the ever-popular swimming beach. Throughout the day, students, parents, and siblings rotated through the stations with curiosity, all enjoying a day of learning and connection, together and screen-free.
This event ultimately reflected the mission of the Schools in Parks Collaborative, a statewide initiative that brings together elementary teachers and state park rangers to create outdoor learning experiences for students. Whether in state parks or on school grounds, the program maximizes opportunities to connect students with nature and foster a sense of wonder throughout the school year. The Family Exploration Day was just one shining example of this mission in action.
“We want to show teachers that our resources enrich not just classrooms—but lives.”
— Amy Jordan
This is what it means to serve North Carolinians: to meet them where they are, to invite them into our shared spaces, and to create opportunities for joy, learning, and belonging.
Seeing families relax by the lake, laughing under the sun reminds us why we do this work. Every North Carolina resident deserves that peace, for themselves and their families. By supporting teachers, we reach students. Through students, we reach families. Through families, we build community. And through community, we grow stronger together.
“The seeds were planted, and now together, we are watching them grow.”
— Amy Jordan
About the author: Jorge Malo Guajardo is the Outreach and Engagement Manager for DNCR’s Office of K-12 Education and Outreach. Being bilingual and bicultural, he is passionate about bringing North Carolina communities together in impactful and creative ways. He loves to work with his colleagues throughout the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to build, plan, and/or support collaborative programing. If you have an idea for a collaborative event that DNCR could help make happen, reach out to him at jorge.malo@dncr.nc.gov.