Summer Lady Slipper Award- Carole Bartol

Say hello to Carole Bartol, our Summer Lady Slipper Award recipient! Carol has been involved with Conserving Carolina for so long she can’t even remember when she started! She served as the board president with the former half of Conserving Carolina, Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC). After reading articles in the newspaper about the work that PAC was doing, she decided to come to the holiday party and it was that event that pushed her to get directly involved in service with Conserving Carolina. 

Given that events are what brought Carole to Conserving Carolina, it’s natural that after being brought onto the board she got involved in the Development Committee helping to plan events for the organization. Carole’s background was in education and she continues to advocate that “education is key,” in all areas, but especially in regards to the preservation and protection of the forest, an interest that is deeply personal to her. She herself has her property under conservation easement with Conserving Carolina. 

Her favorite volunteer experience is a memory of a small boy at a presentation at Walnut Creek Preserve. He caught her attention because he was getting very interested in the presentation and was moving his body in order to see better. At the end of the presentation when Pam Torlina, our Southeast Stewardship manager, brought out her educational bird collection. She recalls how he shyly came forward and couldn’t take his eyes off the birds. Pam offered to let him touch the feathers of one, and he very gently petted it. Carole shared how she hopes that experience opened up a new world for him and she was so glad to have been present for that moment. 

When Carole is not volunteering, you can find her enjoying some of her other hobbies like playing music, reading, and loving on her big cat named Leo August Bartol. Carole hopes to see Conserving Carolina continue to fulfill our mission and continue to make people aware of the importance of protecting this beautiful land that we call home. Thank you Carole for all you do for Conserving Carolina!