By Sudha Kamath
They’ve come from as far west as New Mexico and California and from as far south as Texas to earn George Mason University college credits—and perhaps just as importantly, a lifetime of memories. Through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation’s residential classes held this month in Front Royal, Va., high school juniors and seniors are learning some hands-on lessons from George Mason students and alumni who are passionate about environmental sciences.
A receiver and an antenna point students in the direction of deer during summer courses at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
Mason alumna Jennifer Souther of Fairfax, Va., studied ecology at Smithsonian-Mason in spring 2013. This summer, she’s taking on several roles at the residential classes, some of them outdoors on the scenic 3,200 acres of the Smithsonian-Conservation Biology Institute.
Souther, who graduated with a concentration in conservation studies in December 2013, is a chaperone, a teacher’s assistant and a project mentor to high school students who’ve come from Virginia and other states including Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee. “I am teaching two of our students in a project that looks at physical, chemical and biological water quality,” Souther explains. “We will focus mostly on collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates in two points along the same stream in Front Royal.”
Students earn two credits for each course this summer through graded assignments, projects, lectures and public speaking. They explore the most current research techniques from Mason faculty, an international community of Smithsonian researchers, and representatives from U.S. and global conservation organizations.
In CONS 100 Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology, held June 15 to 22, students received hands-on experience discovering how conservation professionals contribute to the long-term survival of organisms in their natural habitats. In CONS 110 Special Topics: Stream Ecology and Water Quality, held June 22 to 29, students explore watersheds, hydrology, water quality and aquatic life in and out of the lab.
Mason graduate students Lorrien Lemmon and Amanda Sills are mentors for special projects for the students. Lemmon, of Murphysboro, Ill., is working on her master’s degree in environmental science and policy and is a graduate fellow at the institute.
Breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences await Mason mentors and high school students from across the country during the summer courses. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
This is her second year participating in the Smithsonian-Mason residential courses. This summer, she’s bravely mentoring a herpetology course featuring reptiles and amphibians. “It is important to let the students set the pace and be comfortable,” she says. “Once they see you around or handling certain animals, especially snakes, their fears usually quickly dwindle and they become more comfortable around the animal and being in its habitat.”
Lemmon adds, “It is refreshing to work with new people, especially young people, who are very passionate and excited to learn about nature and conservation.”
The lessons are knee deep for high school students. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
Sills, of Clifton, Va., completed a semester in 2011 at Smithsonian-Mason before earning a bachelor’s in biology from Mason in 2012. She’s currently working on a graduate degree in environmental science and public policy from Mason. Sills is aiming for a career in fisheries science, researching the Chesapeake Bay area.
This summer, she’s reeling in high school juniors and seniors with her insights. “The students assigned to my project are focusing on the importance of monitoring habitat areas and fish populations, and how the field techniques they’ve learned can positively impact conservation.”
Sills is excited by the hands-on—or feet-in—approach. “Any chance to hop into a pair of waders and play in a stream is always a good time for the students. It gives them an opportunity to experience the habitat for themselves and see a lot of fish and invertebrates.”
“I was very passionate about the opportunity to work with high school students and teach them about larval fishes and stream health, because not only are they an important component of the ecosystem, but they can be used directly to assess the level of human impact in the area,” she adds.
Souther’s involvement in the courses provides her with relevant experience for her résumé, along with teacher’s assistant experience, even before she begins graduate school this fall and goes on to earn a PhD in marine biology. Eventually, she hopes to teach at a university and conduct research.
But right now, it’s the personal connections that may be having the most impact on her. “Several of the students obviously have been passionate about conservation for a while and have a lot of background knowledge that I wouldn’t have dreamed of knowing when I was their age,” she says. “They’re very impressive. It’s so important to have knowledgeable young people to continue carrying on the research and work needed to make our world a better, healthier, more diverse place.”
Follow the Smithsonian-Mason journey at www.facebook.com/SMConservation.