About EAC
Our Misson
Create opportunities to experience the outdoors, respond to climate challenges, and promote a resilient mountain environment.
Cataloochee Divide Trail
Our Goals
Finding solutions for environmental and climate challenges
Protecting local, state, and national parks in forests, trails, and watersheds
Building resilience in our community to prevent climate related disasters
Mitigating the effects of floods, landslides, drought, wildfires, storms, and degrading of our environment
Creating outdoor experiences to cultivate care for the environment
Preserving our farmlands and promoting sustainable agriculture
Decreasing utility costs by encouraging sustainable, energy efficient practices for homes and businesses
Our Past Work
2024
Reducing Plastics in Our Community
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Held the NC movie premiere of "Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics" attended by over 120 people.
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Launched Refill Waynesville to reduce plastic use and promote sustainability.
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Volunteer bag makers continue producing and distributing reusable items from upcycled materials, through the Bring Your Own Bag Haywood project.
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Created Earth Month displays at local libraries on reducing plastic use.
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Distributed BYOBH bags and shared plastic reduction tips at Haywood Historic Farmers Market and the Whole Bloomin' Thing Festival.
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Conducted clean-ups in Waynesville and Lake Fontana.
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Partnered with Haywood County Solid Waste Department to distribute official recycling bags at 5 convenience centers.
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Partnered with Master Gardeners to educate 1st graders and give out child-sized reusable bags at two local elementary schools.
Promoting Resilience and Meeting Climate Challenges
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Held “Powering Thru” event with 25 EVs demonstrating disaster resilience, with partners Land of Sky, Ford & Blue Ridge EV Club.
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A sponsor of HCC’s Environmental Summit.
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Partnered with Grace Church for the “Healthy Habitats Eco-Fair.”
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Received TVA grants for a youth Creation Care Camp focused on the environment and Lake Fontana cleanup, removing significant plastic waste.
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Partnered with Compost AVL to bring commercial composting to residents.
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Partnered with Waynesville and its Environmental Sustainability Board to secure a $750,000 federal grant from the Department of Energy, one of only 30 nationwide, to achieve carbon neutrality in the town's operations by 2050.
Advocacy and Action Items
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Collected letters urging Ingles to stop using single-use plastic bags as a WNC Plastic Free Coalition member.
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Advocated for the NC Litter Reduction Act of 2024 and the Congressional EXPLORE Act.
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Petitioned Walmart to stop using single-use plastic bags.
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Supported the successful lawsuit to stop logging in the Southside Project of Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Plan.
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Petitioned Gov. Cooper to ban polystyrene containers.
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Thanked the EPA for stricter PFA standards (forever chemicals) and the Biden administration for pausing Liquid Natural Gas projects.
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Community Engagement and Social Events
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Hosted two social gatherings for 150 attendees to share ideas and connect.
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Expanded the newsletter distribution to over 500 supporters.
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Led weekly hikes of 3-5 miles, 4-10 hikers each week.
2023
On January 6, 2023, the Articles of Incorporation for the Environmental Action Community of WNC were officially recognized by the North Carolina Secretary of State, establishing it as a nonprofit corporation. This marked the coming together of the citizens' group Climate Action Coalition with the nonprofit Outdoor Mission Community.
Reducing Plastics in Our Community
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Provided plastic education to youth and college students: Elementary School, Haywood Community College, and the Western Carolina University CURE Conference.
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Organized multiple Plastic Free July Events including displays at both libraries, a public program with an expert panel & table displays attended by 85 participants and 3 other organizations. Launched Green Business Initiative to help area businesses adopt sustainable practices.
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Volunteer bag makers continued to produce and distribute reusable items from upcycled materials, through the Bring Your Own Bag Haywood (BYOBH) project.
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Distributed BYOBH bags and shared plastic reduction tips at Haywood Historic Farmers Market, Milltown Farmers Market, and the Whole Bloomin' Thing Festival.
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Organized cleanups in Haywood County and Lake Fontana.
Promoting Resilience and Meeting Climate Challenges
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Held a Sustainable Energy Series for individuals, homes, businesses, and transportation.
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Facilitated the launch of a commercial composting service for Haywood County residents.
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Secured TVA grants for a youth Creation Care Camp focused on environmental education and Lake Fontana cleanup, removing significant plastic waste.
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Assisted in establishing the Town of Waynesville’s Environmental Sustainability Board.
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Hosted NOAA Scientist Dr. Carl Schreck for a program on climate change in Appalachia, attended by over 100 people.
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Partnered with Haywood Community College for an Earth Day Event
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Presented an outreach program to the Master Gardeners.
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Hosted “Tuscola to Everest” programs with National Geographic Explorer and climate scientist Dr. Baker Perry, attracting over 1,000 attendees.
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Held a second Women’s Weekend Backpacking Trip with 10 particpants.
Advocacy and Action Items
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Launched regular Action Alerts in our Newsletter.
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Advocated "say no” to a massive expansion of methane gas export terminals on the Gulf Coast.
Community Engagement and Social Events
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Hosted three social gatherings to share ideas and connect.
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Initiated monthly newsletters to our 300+ supporters.
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Led weekly hikes of 3-5 miles, 4-10 hikers each week.
Our Story
Environmental Action Community of WNC is a non-profit organization founded in January 2023. We were formed through the joining of two pre-existing organizations, the Outdoor Mission Community (OMC) and WNC Climate Action Coalition (CAC).
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OMC and CAC found natural connections in our missions and overlapping efforts across Western North Carolina (WNC). We first came together to work on reducing single-use plastic bags through a joint project launched by OMC called, “Bring Your Own Bag Haywood.” Next, grants were received from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to clean up informal campsites at Lake Fontana. OMC joined with Haywood Community College, HIGHTS, and later CAC and Shining Rock School to work side by side "Returning Campsites to the Wild." This grant partially funded Creation Care Camp also, a free, one-week summer camp for youth focused on care for the environment. They worked on efforts to clear trails, restore stream banks, and clean up creeks. In working closely together and combining our efforts, the Environmental Action Community of WNC was born.
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EAC is influenced and inspired by the local mountains, home to a unique temperate rainforest with outstanding biodiversity. The dynamic region is home to two pristine watersheds and is surrounded by protected lands: Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pisgah National Forest, and Nantahala National Forest. Importantly, this area is the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee people and the still current home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. We are dedicated to protecting this important ecosystem and the people who live here.
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Writers Group/Monthly Columns/written articles
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Educational meetings with expert speakers, video showings
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Youth Climate Conservation Corps
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Creation Care Camp
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Energy efficiency/solar energy/electric vehicles
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BYOBHaywood: reduce single use plastic bags
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Green Business Initiative
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3R’s: recycling, composting, plastic reduction
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Sustainability and Resiliency Initiatives for governments, businesses, homeowners
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Pollinator gardens/rain gardens/native plantings/eliminating invasive species
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Creation Care ministries at local churches
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Campsite, roadway, creek, and lake clean ups in local areas
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Outdoor Adventure
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Backpacking for women
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Wilderness programming for disadvantaged youth