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Transforming Life through Nature: A Personal Journey in Eco-Education

Transformed expedition to check invasive species transforms teen's weekend, demonstrating the potential of outdoor education to ignite passion, questioning, and potentially even a future career path.

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4 min read
Initially, a leisurely outdoor excursion aimed at examining invasive species turned into a pivotal...
Initially, a leisurely outdoor excursion aimed at examining invasive species turned into a pivotal moment for a high school student, illustrating how experiential education in nature can ignite passion, inquiry, and potentially even a lifelong profession.

Transforming Life through Nature: A Personal Journey in Eco-Education

After a lifetime of getting his hands dirty in the great outdoors, Tucker Garrett was ready to stretch beyond his usual limits. He'd hiked, climbed, and rafted, but an overnight adventure on the Colorado River seemed a giant leap out of his comfort zone. "Rivers can be a bit dangerous," he admitted.

His love for nature and science started young, eventually landing him in Spencer Powell's AP Environmental Science class at Central High School. But that was before COVID-19 turned everything upside-down, leaving school and learning feeling like a drag. So when Powell mentioned a Greening STEM project happening that May, calling for students to help monitor invading species in nearby McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Garrett gave it a half-hearted shrug. Until, that is, his best friend stepped in with a hefty dose of peer pressure.

Greening STEM: Bringing Science to the Wild

The Greening STEM program partners with environmental organizations, universities, and public spaces to provide students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences. It's about making science lessons relevant, unforgettable, and alive. Robert Sendrey, Program Director for Environmental Education at NEEF, explains, "Greening STEM projects offer more than just a field trip. They create enthusiasm for learning, provide real-world context, and build meaningful connections to STEM concepts."

For the 2020-21 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Greening STEM Grant, NEEF collaborated with BLM to develop a project that would introduce students to land management and biodiversity protection. To do that, they focused on the Catalpa and May Flats area of the Colorado River, battling an infestation of Russian knapweed that's been choking out native plants and threatening the Yellow-billed cuckoo, a protected species with specific habitat needs. But traditional methods like herbicides weren't effective, so the solution turned to science: introducing Russian knapweed gall wasps, a species that preys on the invasive plant.

BLM had previously teamed up with the Palisade Insectary, a local company breeding species for biological control, but they needed help releasing the wasps and monitoring their progress. Enter Spencer Powell's environmental science class.

Mother Nature and the Art of Persuasion

Powell, a seasoned science teacher, admired the careful planning that went into this project. He and his students finally boarded a boat for their journey, their classroom-on-water providing stunning views of the rugged landscape. They reached their camp site, already noticing a shift in the air. Their shared tent pole snapping was just the beginning as they faced challenges, like monitoring the invasive species near their sleeping quarters and dealing with the misconceptions about the docile Russian knapweed gall wasps.

Undaunted by these odds, Garrett doubted his own ability to make a difference. "I just felt like maybe I wasn't cut out for this after all," he admitted. But with the encouragement of his teacher and a little more peer pressure, he soon found himself releasing the wasps. And—much to his surprise—they were incredibly calm.

From Adventure to Awareness

Powell noted that the highlight of the trip was observing how his students reacted to their unstructured time. Letting them fill in the gaps on their own helped create lasting bonds that went beyond the classroom. Garrett summed it up perfectly: "Now, we all have this thing in common that we'll share for the rest of our lives."

As the Lorax once said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." For Garrett, releasing those wasps confirmed that helping the environment was more than just going out for a day of adventure with his peers; it was about changing the world.

With renewed dedication to his studies, Garrett wants to understand the world better through science. A dream job as an environmental scientist isn't far-fetched in his eyes. As he continues to make his mark, he hopes to inspire future generations to do the same.

Partnering for Brighter Futures

This experience with the Greening STEM project at McInnis Canyons solidified Powell's belief in the importance of hands-on, place-based environmental education. NEEF was crucial in kick-starting the project, and Powell credits the Colorado Canyons Association for providing the necessary infrastructure.

In looking back, Powell and Garrett both feel the project was valuable for students. For those interested in adapting the Greening STEM approach for their school, check out these resources for K-12 educators, administrators, and parents:

  • Greening STEM Hub: Easily accessible resources to get you started with a Greening STEM project, including examples, activities, lessons, and curriculum.
  • Explore Successful Greening STEM Projects: Take inspiration from projects from around the country showcasing the power of community collaboration.
  • Grant Notifications: Stay informed about future Greening STEM grant opportunities from NEEF.

Invest in your community's future by empowering students to take a stand for the environment.

  1. Tucker Garrett, inspired by his love for nature and science, found himself embarking on a Greening STEM project, aiming to monitor invasive species in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.
  2. The Greening STEM program, in collaboration with BLM, focused on the Catalpa and May Flats area of the Colorado River, battling an infestation of Russian knapweed, a threat to native plants and a protected species.
  3. Garrett and his peers, as part of Spencer Powell's environmental science class, were tasked with introducing Russian knapweed gall wasps to combat the infestation, marking a significant step in their education-and-self-development.
  4. Despite initial doubts, Garrett's experience in releasing the wasps fostered a newfound appreciation for environmental conservation and the role of science in protecting biodiversity, igniting a passion within him to pursue a career in environmental-science.
  5. Recognizing the value of hands-on, place-based environmental education, Spencer Powell emphasized the importance of resources like the Greening STEM Hub, Explore Successful Greening STEM Projects, and Grant Notifications for those seeking to adapt this approach in their own educational settings.
  6. By investing in community collaboration and providing opportunities for environmental education, Garrett aims to inspire future generations to understand, appreciate, and protect the environment, contributing to a brighter future for the public lands we all share.

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