SEEDS » Component Programs » Chapters » Chapter Directory » Fort Lewis College
"SEEDS-Campus Ecology" » Durango, Colorado
|
The SEEDS Campus Ecology Chapter of Fort Lewis College has a threefold purpose: (1) to expose students of color at Fort Lewis College to opportunities in the field of ecology and environmental science; (2) to use ecology and environmental science to address environmental justice issues in the Four Corners region; and (3) to encourage dialogue about different cultural perspectives on environmental issues. Visit the Chapter's website: http://envcenter.fortlewis.edu/ce/index.html. |
Activities of 2009-2010
- This year the chapter’s activities occurred under the auspices of the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center. Students used the chapter’s focus to pursue partnerships with other groups representing students of color, including the Native American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), The Buffalo Council, and The Biology Club. The students organized two meetings to bring representatives of these clubs together with the hope of working out a governing structure for an ongoing partnership and to promote opportunities through SEEDS, such as the field trip and travel awards.
- The first meeting was well attended, with approximately twelve people, despite it being close to first semester finals, and the idea of an ongoing partnership between these groups had widespread support. The second meeting was not well attended, with only 6 people. Second semester making contact the representatives of the other clubs proved challenging despite the offer to use chapter funds to collaborate on the activities of these other organizations. The students in the Chapter attempted to connect with the AISES to organize a SEEDS presentation for their regional conference held at our school, but the AISES students were too busy pulling things together to connect with our students.
- Students also distributed the Horse Gulch Interpretive Guides, produced with a special project grant, to local stores with the goal of selling enough to pay for a community-wide clean-up of Horse Gulch in partnership with the City of Durango and local trails groups. By the end of the year, they had sold 11 of the approximately 60 guides that were printed. The students decided to keep this project going.
Plans for 2010-2011
- The Chapter needs to re-evaluate its strategy of engaging other student clubs on campus. A formal structure for collaboration and allocation of funds and vigorous marketing to other clubs will hopefully allow the Chapter to recruit more members. Fort Lewis College recently established a student grant program for sustainability projects and joint promotion of opportunities through the Chapter with this other fee might help recruit additional participation. The Environmental Center will also be seeking out additional partnerships with El Centro de Muchos Colores and the Native American Center and SEEDS can be one of the programs around which we can build additional collaboration.
- In terms of specific activities, we would like to leave this up to the existing and new students that become involved with the group and so do not have specific ideas for next year laid out.
Faculty Advisors
- Julie Korb
- Marcus Renner
"Fort Lewis Demonstration Natural Area and Garden" Special Project |
|
The goal of the project that SEEDS funded was to demonstrate the value in having a natural area in the center of the Fort Lewis College campus. We planned to accomplish this by increasing use of the Environmental Center's current demonstration garden and the adjacent demonstration natural area through a series of simple infrastructure improvements, the development of outreach and education materials, and student research and experimentation.