Carlton S. Burke is a naturalist and educator who resides in Mills River, North Carolina, located in the mountains of the western part of the state. He took an early retirement in 2005 from the Western North Carolina Nature Center where he had been on staff for over 25 years, serving most of that time as the Curator of Exhibits.

Carlton operates Carolina Mountain Naturalists, an educational service which offers live wildlife and nature programs to various organizations such as schools and camps. He also serves as a field instructor with Muddy Sneakers, a non-profit educational organization based in Brevard, NC, which partners with public schools to help teach their fifth-grade science curriculum to students on day-long learning expeditions to nearby natural areas in national forests, state parks, etc. Carlton also teaches various classes for the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate Program based at the NC Arboretum in Bent Creek and is a NC State and Federally Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Carlton is also the co-host of the weekly radio program NATURE NEWS which airs on WTZQ 1600 AM and 95.3 FM out of Hendersonville, NC on Saturday mornings.

BRNN Naturalist of the Year recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to the Southern Appalachian naturalist community in exceptional ways.