(1)For my STEP signature project, I attended the Buck-I-SERV: Once Upon a Time trip in Walland, Tennessee. On this trip, our group learned about conservation efforts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area, sustainability, and the natural environment. We completed projects aimed at preserving the natural environment, mostly through the removal of invasive plant species.
(2) This trip certainly changed my view on the world and our current ways of preserving the natural environment, especially regarding invasive plant species. When people plant their gardens or have landscaping completed on their property, most thought is put into aesthetics. As I saw often on my trip, this can have negative consequences for the environment, as although these plants may be beautiful, they often originate from foreign places and can spread quickly, wiping out native species in the process.
Another point of emphasis during my trip was on how we handle our waste. As global warming continues and landfills grow, it becomes essential for us to do whatever we can to slow these processes. On the property we housed at, we learned about our hosts’ compost system and how they maintain compost piles over time which they eventually use to fertilize their gardens. This helped me realize how important it is to minimize my waste and impact on the environment.
(3) Almost all the service projects I took part in during my project were centered around the removal of invasive plant species. Often, much focus is put on the presence of invasive animal species, but during my project, I quickly came to realize how much plants have been neglected in the conversation. Multiple days of our trip were spent starting in one spot to clear some invasive plants and later looking back to see that we had pulled nearly everything in that area, since almost every one there was invasive. Seeing how these plants multiply and spread has certainly made me more conscious of how prevalent the issue of invasive plants is, and how peoples’ planting choices can harm the environment.
When we were being introduced to the property that we were housed at, our program hosts spent time to teach us about their methods of composting. After each meal during our stay, we would empty our food scraps into a bucket and cover them in sawdust. Later, these scraps would be put into a compost pile to be monitored. Much effort is put into creating an environment with optimal element concentrations and temperatures so that the compost can be turned into a good fertilizer for their gardens. With what I learned on this trip, I can incorporate composting into my daily life.
When we were not completing service projects, much of our time was spent hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although we were not directly helping the environment through volunteering or learning about conservation efforts from local guides, seeing the beauty of the park gave perspective into why this conservation is so important. When you have not directly experienced something for yourself, it is difficult to truly comprehend its importance. Seeing how incredible nature can be when maintained and allowed to flourish shows why it is so important to advocate for it and to take steps in your daily life to help preserve it.
(4) Overall, my experience during my signature project helped me towards my personal goal of being a more conscious and knowledgeable citizen. By seeing how nature is preserved and why it is so important, I can make different decisions in my life to help make my city, state, and country a better place through both my daily activities and even my voting habits. Additionally, I was able to see things at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that I may have never seen otherwise and meet other Ohio State students that I otherwise never would have met. Ultimately, my project allowed me to meet new people and become a more well-rounded person.