SEEDS: Newsletter > Volume 4, Issue 7 - September 2006

SEEDS Highlights: Chapter Workshop

The second annual Campus Ecology Chapter Workshop was held last month at the 2006 ESA Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. The lunchtime workshop provided an opportunity for all Chapters represented at the Meeting to share their accomplishments over the last year and their plans for the year ahead.

Alabama A&M University
Normal, AL
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. William Stone
Over the past year the AAMU Chapter spent a lot of time and energy on their Flamingo Park Special Project. Club members worked on improving their Outdoor classroom project at Flamingo Park in Triana, Alabama. They finished erecting tree signs along three trails over the summer and built interpretive signs. They also developed posters and other interpretive information for the signs. They also hung bird houses and gathered natural materials to display. Other activities over the last year included a T-shirt fundraiser, a tree planting fundraiser, and traveling and competing in the ASFC (Association of Southern Forestry Clubs) annual forestry conclave and the SAF (Society of American Foresters) national convention. Ideas for the next academic year include a third phase of the Flamingo Park project, planting more seedlings, and participating in an Earth Day celebration.

American Samoa Community College
Pago Pago, AS
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisors Drs. Karolyn Braun and Eric Hanson and student members Forest Duldulao, Faiane Miller, Derek Toloumu, and Malia Tuamoheloa
The ASCC Chapter initiated the first aluminum can recycling program on campus; conducted an island ecology comparison between Upolu Samoa and Tutuila, American Samoa; participated in monthly village stream clean-ups; conducted educational outreach program with elementary schools; held coral reef discovery day; served as camp counselors for Enviro-Discovery Camp; and, were survey volunteers at the kick-off to the Year of the Sea Turtles. Plans for the next academic year include continuing many of these efforts plus creating environmental education activities for middle school teachers and conducting an island ecology comparison with Savaii, Samoa.

Chicago State University
Chicago, IL
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Tim Bell
The Chicago State Chapter held a plant sale fundraiser; sponsored a "Spotlight on Undergraduate Research" symposium in April; hosted guest spears; and, planted an oak in a campus garden.

Clayton State University
Morrow, GA
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Jere Boudell and student member Charlee Glenn
The Clayton State Chapter held a toner cartridge recycling drive; attended Atlanta's human body exhibit; went to the New Georgia aquarium; participated in Earth; took a camping trip to Florida; sponsored science lyceums at the University; and, sponsored an alumni picnic. Future plans include creating a SEEDS information board; visiting botanical gardens; participate in Georgia's Adopt-A-Stream program; build bat houses; visit middle and elementary schools; and hopefully participate in the SEEDS Coweeta field trip.

Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Julie Korb
The Fort Lewis Chapter held a number of meetings over the last semester and held its first activity the week of Earth Day by spending a workday in a campus organic garden. Plans for the year ahead include increasing student membership by going to classes and working with diverse student organizations. The main activity for the upcoming academic year is to integrate a natural area in the center of campus for many purposes including to serve as an outdoor teaching lab.

Hampton University
Hampton, VA
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Barbara Abraham
In the last academic year the Hampton Chapter took a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to collect sand samples; conducted outreach to high school and middle school students on careers and opportunities; held fundraisers including a spades tournament and a movie night; held two cleanups and an Earth Day clean up. In the next academic year the Chapter plans to work with the Virginia Aquarium to do outreach and assist with special events; take a trip to the Outer Banks again as well as the Baltimore Aquarium; continue doing outreach and cleanups; and hold seminars.

Howard University
Washington DC
Represented at the workshop by student member Tyra Pendergrass
The Howard University Chapter has been involved in several community outreach activities including developing a science fair for sixth graders; presenting a workshop on plant ecology; partnering with Environmentors, a Washington DC based program to mentor high school students; and, cosponsoring seminars. Plans for the future include raising funds to adopt a Liberian village; connecting with more Washington DC environmental groups; and, developing a website to promote the Chapter.

Johnson C. Smith University
Charlotte, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Fail, Jr. and student member Jallah Rouse
The JCSU Chapter focuses on education, research, and field trips and summer programs. The Chapter activities include teaching ecology to local fourth and fifth graders; conducting research with neighboring UNC Charlotte; and, conducting trips to San Luis, Costa Rica and hurricane-devastated New Orleans.

LeMoyne-Owen College
Memphis, TN
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Stanley Abell
The LMOC Chapter collaborates with the local chapter of the Sierra Club to address environmental justice issues in Memphis. The Chapter has held an on-campus collaborative workshop with the Sierra Club; participated in the Tennessee pollution prevention roundtable; participated in a GIS laboratory activity to demonstrate the relationship between pollution and race, disease, and income levels; and, facilitated a community concern discussion meeting on campus.

Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Sashi Sabaratnam
This past year the Livingstone Chapter visited the Duke University Marine Laboratory to learn about graduate programs and career opportunities as well as North Carolina coastal vegetation and marine life. The Chapter also built a greenhouse with a SEEDS Special Project grant to conduct short-term research training for students to study plant responses to the environment.

North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Godfrey Uzochukwu
The NCAT Chapter held an Earth Day fair this year with a campus clean-up and distribution of environmental information. They also participated in the NC Environmental Education Community Outreach Meeting; help a campus clean-up in October and February; and participated in a World Food Day teleconference.

United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, ND
Represented at the workshop by student members Marla Collins and Michaele Lindeman
The UTTC Chapter shared their research projects at AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium this past year with Marla Collins winning Ms. AIHEC. The Chapter planted Sweet Grass in a campus garden and planters as well as other culturally significant plants. Through a SEEDS Special Project grant the Chapter planted native plants, shrubs, and trees along a future campus walking path.

University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Honolulu, HI
Represented at the workshop by student member Ku'ulei Vickery
The UHM Chapter participated in outreach activities with Hokulani Elementary School, a beach clean-up, volunteering for the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Conference in February, and Earth Day activities. A highlight of the Chapter's year was their Special Project, an ecological field trip to East Maui. The trip helped expand student knowledge regarding the conservation of endemic and native species, appreciation of Native Hawaiian culture, sustainable living, and protected area management strategies.

University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Represented at the workshop by student member Jolene Trujillo
The UNM Chapter hosted the November SEEDS field trip along with the Biology Department and the Sevilleta LTER Program. The Chapter has been trying to grow its membership via pizza luncheons at which they have graduate student presentations about research. In 2006-2007 the Chapter will continue their chapter development and plan for additional activities. One upcoming event in fall 2007 for which they received some funding will be a SEEDS mini-workshop for the UTEP Chapter of SEEDS.

University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX
Represented at the workshop by student members Noemi Baquera, Alex Benhumea, Cristina Campbell, Fernanda De La Cerda, Lisa Garcia, Brenda Nieto, Claudia Ramirez, and Jorge Ramos
This past year the UTEP Chapter provided information on environmental hazards at the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta; participated in a tumble wee round-up; celebrated Earth Day; held a bake sale fundraiser for water pump maintenance for the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park; and, led butterfly tours at "Bosque in Bloom," an event to create support for the wetlands. Over the last year the Chapter also conducted floral and faunal monitoring at Rio Bosque and participated in an outreach program designed to expose children to ecology and strengthen their abilities in science for the annual state mandated test. Future plans include continued traditional annual events as well as activities with Rio Bosque.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Randy Jackson
The UWM Chapter held two ecology symposia - one in September and one in April featuring UW-Madison and visiting faculty. The Chapter also held a strategic planning dinner to introduce the Chapter and encourage support. Two student potlucks were held and a Lake Mendota boat tour with a limnology data sampling demonstration for local high school students.