The environmental biology students’ service learning project, a butterfly garden at WCU’s Tradition campus, was recognized as a Monarch Way Station by Monarch Watch.
As the trimester drew to a close, a four-member Environmental Biology class at our Tradition campus turned the outdoors into a living laboratory.
“This class has been wonderful. It enables us to learn and interact with our surroundings. We are now more knowledgeable of what is happening and what needs progress in our environment. In a life revolving around electronics, it is nice to get reacquainted with our world,” said BIO 390 student Lauren Fernandez.
Over 13 weeks, the class visited wildlife refuges for two endangered bird species, the Least Tern and the Sandhill Crane. They worked on a butterfly garden as a service learning project; the site was recently accepted as a registered Monarch Way Station by Monarch Watch. They conducted biodiversity inventories, counting the number of species on identical mowed vs. unmowed patches of grassland at Carey’s former location on Highway 90.
“It is amazing to see the diversity in one square meter of land that has been unaltered in 10 months. This project was to expand upon and tie in with our coursework on biodiversity and ecosystems,” Fernandez said. “We compared our unaltered square meter to a square meter of monoculture, a simple mowed patch of grass at the neighbors, and the difference is astounding.
The students’ professor, Dr. Lynn Singletary, said these were only a few of the class activities.
“After the butterfly garden was done, we went to a local garden supply store that had Monarch butterfly caterpillars and took care of the chrysalises. They emerged and we had a butterfly release ceremony,” Singletary said.
A senior biology major, Fernandez said: “This project helped show that a few people can make a difference. It improved the aesthetic of our school grounds and provided a temporary resting place for the migratory Monarch butterfly. This activity can be done at home for your own individual enjoyment or to bring the family together.”
Singletary said a class like Environmental Biology is an investment in the future.
“Students are studying endangered species, biodiversity and the global loss of habitat that threatens the extinction of many species. And I like that our service learning project allows them to utilize course concepts to make a contribution to conservation efforts.”
Fernandez said it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.
“Initially I felt overwhelmed by the daunting list of two field trips, two writing assignments, a service learning project with journal, plus expected tests and labs,” she said. “I wondered what in the world was the reason for so much work for an environmental biology class. I even wondered if I should change classes. I am so glad I didn’t change anything.”
