Post-trip Reflections
Maggie Powers ’09:
Break was great. I got to have so much fun working outdoors while helping out other people at the same time. We learned a lot too...who knew that owls are little upside down bobble heads or that you cant make a 12 foot plank level just by looking at it?! It was a great trip where I got to learn about different people and all of the opportunities in a field that I truly enjoy.
Jennifer Starkey, Librarian:
Woodlands Nature Center: Thursday March 2
On Thursday we worked at the Woodlands Nature Center and met John, the Lead Naturalist. John, several Nature Center Staff and our site leader Jonathan worked with us on our afternoon project in what the staff refer to as "the Backyard". In the Backyard live many animal species that are native to the park, many of which are housed there for educational purposes. The staff assured us that all of the captive animals there are there for a reason: either they are in a breeding program (like the endangered red wolf pair), they were rescued as juveniles and became too imprinted on humans to survive in the wilderness, or they have other special needs. They were not captured from the wild for display, but came to the nature center for rehabilitation or some other reason.
Our two afternoon project was to remove 2 bat houses that were not being used by the bats (for transplant elsewhere), and to remove an enormous network of an invasive plant, Japanese Honeysuckle that was rapidly overtaking a section of the Backyard. We also planted several native trees in that area with the hope that they will provide shade and block the invasive plants from getting sun. We were all a little sore after wrestling with that honeysuckle! We learned that Land Between the Lakes is working on replacing all non-native plants used as landscaping with native plants. This project was truly a lesson in what can happen when a non-native species is introduced into an ecosystem.
Alma College students are truly amazing. Every day of the five workdays on our trip we had different work projects, some of which involved tasks that some students and I had never done before. I was amazed by how eager they were to learn how to catch a chicken, to whitewash walls or to swing a mallet. During the trip, students were constantly asking questions about our service projects, about Land Between the Lakes, about nature and the environment, about Kentucky and the people we served. To me, two qualities that define Alma students are a genuine curiosity about the world we share, and an eagerness to serve and truly make a difference in our world.
Christine Wheatley ’09:
One of the significant things I learned on this trip was about how the community was affected and reacted to Land Between the Lakes. It helped to know the history of LBL to understand the community around it and LBL better. I really like learning about farming. It was interesting to learn about how to take care of the animals and to be able to interact with them.
Stephanie Simon ’07:
Land Between the Lakes is more than just a place to visit and enjoy nature, they are very involved in education as well as trying to improve our environment on a larger scale and that’s awesome!
Kate Bruder ’08:
Not only did I get to spend a week with some awesome, environmentally focused Alma students, I also got to help Land Between the Lakes, have a good time, learn a lot about the environment and LBL’s mission (through many many questions!) and the importance of setting aside parks for recreation and preservation. From the moment we arrived at the park headquarters late Sunday night, until the minute we left on Saturday morning, I loved every minute of working with our volunteer coordinator, Jonathan, the work that we were completing, and the fun and interesting times we shared as a group. Even though we were indirectly helping the people that visit Land Between the Lakes, it is an awesome feeling to know that what we did during that week was important work and that our contributions were greatly appreciated. I think it is awesome that Alma the Alternative Spring Break program and that year after year, the Alternative Spring Break program keeps growing.
Emily Whitmer ’07:
I had a blast on my Alternaitve Spring Break. Aside from the allergic reactions I got from capturing chickens and herding ducks that out me out of commission for a day, I learned that I can do things outside of my comfort zone and there is a large community of students at Alma College who are deeply passionate about bettering the world.
Christine Wheatley '09:
Everyday at LBL we had an opportunity to learn more about LBL, including the history and about the environment. On Tuesday, we were at the Homeplace - an 1850's style farm. After lunch, we had the chance to dress up and learn about the clothes that the interpreters wear to teach the public who come to visit the Homeplace. It was really fun to learn about the clothing the men and women wore. The women would wear corsets or many layers of pettycoats under their skirts to make them more poofy. It was really fun to see the girls in skirts and bonnets, and Ben in a pink and green plaid shirt. I am glad that we don't have to wear that many layers today, because they are hot!
Posted: Fri, March 10th, 2006 at 1:05PM
