For Plastic Free July this year, I decided to take a hard look at my monthly consumption.
I saved all the plastic I used and then would need to discard during the month. I did not count long term use plastics that I was not throwing away at the time. I cleaned items that had food or drink in them so that they would not attract any crawling friends.
Unfortunately, what you will see below is not everything. I was not able to keep some plastic cups while at a few restaurants. So multiply the plastic cups by a few!
I want to preface that I did A LOT of traveling in July, so I tried my best to be prepared and bring my own snacks or drinks. When I did buy drinks while out, I tried to get things in glass or aluminum cans.
Sorting
I began the sorting by making 2 piles: locally recyclable and non-recyclables (or unknown).
Locally recyclable
Other
Where I live, recyclable plastic includes numbers 1,2,5, and 7. It is important to do this research prior to tossing it in your bin. Wishful recycling, which is recycling an item with the hopes of it being recyclable or not knowing for sure, is unfortunately a hinderance to the recycling process. Read more here.
Now, within these piles, I sorted further into reusable items (that I actually have a plan for) and items TerraCycle will collect.
Here’s a rough breakdown of quantity and types of the plastics that landed in each category:
Reusable/Recyclable:
2 take out containers
1 bug keeping container (I have a pet bearded dragon!)
1 square almond container – I like to poke holes in the bottle and use these with the lids as pots for plants
Almond container not pictured…it was being used to hold items below.
Recyclables:
1 olive oil bottle
1 juice bottle
5 pill bottles
1 camera packaging
1 small portion cup
8 to go cups and lids (add a few cups to this that I could not keep)
TerraCycle/Upcycle/Compostable?/Non-recyclable:
1 colored party cup – will be cleaned and reused
2 plastic forks – will be cleaned and reused
30+ daily contact packs – I can TerraCycle these and the contacts, but I did not save those (I ran out of my monthly and had to switch to the daily ones I have as back ups)
6 grocery store bags – I use these to line my small trash cans but can also recycle at my work (from takeout, drive through pharmacy, forgotten farmers market bags)
1 World Centric compostable container – unfortunately, from the website, it says that this breaks down in a commercial composting system and is not recommended for home composting, which is the only thing I have access to right now
8 clear plastic bags – I can recycle these at my work and also reuse them as I can for compost or food (from local granola, packaging for farmers market greens, few Ziploc bags from camera shipment)
1 large non-clear Ziploc from medical powder – will use to freeze compost
Non-recyclable:
6 pieces of medical waste and their packaging including Humira pens, an at home antibody test, and poor contact lens case
About 30 pieces of food packaging – including wrappers from candy, frozen burrito, tofu, flatbread, granola bars, chip bags, local tea, salad dressing, and local cheese
3 miscellaneous bits from SD card reader and camera shipment
109 pieces of plastic later…
After going through my consumption, I am both proud and sad. No matter how hard I try to reduce and reuse, I will have some plastic waste. I cannot stop using plastic altogether because how else will I be able to administer my medication?
I have come to terms with that and prefer to focus on the hundreds of plastic waste I have been able to avoid. For example, you don’t see much plastic silverware in this pile. I try to bring my own straw and silverware when I get takeout!
There are easy steps we can take to reduce our personal plastic consumption through individual action, including:
Buy food and home items in paper, glass, or cardboard packaging.
Bring your own silverware, straw, cup, etc.
Use a reusable water bottle!
Ultimately, to make a large dent on our plastic problem, we need to hold companies accountable.
#BreakFreeFromPlastic Movement provides pathways for our individual actions to come together and enact change. Not only do they have toolkits to assist with effective action, but this global movement is currently working towards getting support for plastic punting legislation.
I recently moved into my first apartment! It was unfurnished, so I had a blank canvas to create the space I wanted to live in. Following my own philosophy, I aimed to do this as sustainable as possible.
Here are some of the things that I focused on when furnishing and stocking my apartment!
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
1. Used furniture
Probably one of the easiest things to find is used furniture. On the streets with a FREE sign, thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, your attic, or even a friend’s house.
One of my favorite pieces from Marketplace. The tea towel is from Goodwill!
I got most of my furniture from Facebook Marketplace, which would sometimes take me to places where I would find even more. I got quite a few things from a couple who I guess just resell stuff for fun in retirement? They have yard sales often and let me walk through their set up.
The Facebook Marketplace also directed me to antique stores, where I did find the most lovely refinished, robin egg blue dresser and buffet.
I also saved a lot of furniture from my college apartment, including the futon no one wanted (it’s a college couch…used for many years…need I say more?), a lamp, storage cubes, wire racks, pillows, and a comfy chair.
The only brand new things in this image are the TV, the rug, and the Biden sign.
To spruce things up a bit, I decided I wanted to put a navy cover on the futon. When I was looking at futon covers to buy, I realized I had a navy sheet from my extra long twin sheets set. Now, it does not fit on the ends perfectly, but it does fit well enough and the pillows on the end cover it up.
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2. Used kitchen and household items
Anything from silverware, dishes, pots, or even a drying rack!
From Facebook Marketplace, I got bundles from people who were moving or getting rid of a variety of different kitchen tools. This was incredibly cheap compared to buying new silverware, bowls, plates, and cups. I got things I never even thought I would need, like a peeler, bottle opener, and a can opener. I also got a rice cooker!
The used dishrack may seem odd, but why let a good one go to waste? I just cleaned it up, sanitized it, and it was good to go.
While perusing, I found collectible plates that matched a mug I bought at a Salvation Army while living in Florida this summer!!! What a find!!
At Goodwill, I picked up a spatula, a Pyrex measuring cup, and the most important tool: a pizza cutter.
If you buy new, try to get plastic free and reusable items, like food wraps, and bowl covers.
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3. Do It Yourself!
Or have a loved one do it themselves. My boyfriend found a metal stand and a thin, round piece of wood. He painted it white, put it together, and now I have a great kitchen table.
Chairs and rug are from Marketplace, table runner from Goodwill, and salt a pepper shakers are from my yard sale find!
One of my favorite decorations to make by upcycling are painted wine bottles.
I also have old t-shirts and fabric scraps that I haphazardly sewed together to make my own rags. No need for paper towels!
There’s so many things you can do yourself for your apartment!
4. Phase in different soaps and cleaning products
Disclaimer: use what you have first!
Let’s start with your personal hygiene. I use bar soap for hands and body, shampoo bars, and conditioner bars. There’s also refillable alternatives also if that is not your speed.
For laundry, I am quite fortunate to have a family member that works at a natural food store with a robust bulk section (which if you have access to bulk, DO IT). I bring my own container and fill it with laundry detergent made by Better Life. I have also picked up the Tru Earth Laundry Strips to try.
Although I have never tried it, there are also options like a laundry bar!
When it comes to cleaning nooks and crannies, old tooth brushes are great.
Be creative with your cleaning!
6. Shop local: local farms and farmers markets
Buying from local farms and vendors can cut down on your waste depending on the packaging, but in general it’s a good practice to buy locally sourced. It supports your local economy and reduces carbon footprint. Personally, I find that when I buy local, I am more connected to my food and where it is coming from.
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7. Compost (if possible!)
There are many ways to compost while in an apartment set up if you have a place to put it eventually or can put a system outdoors. I was considering a system like this countertop bin, but I still have not figured out my set up.
However, I have been freezing it in used plastic bags and taking it to my mom’s house when I have the chance.
You can also check if there’s a community garden or a local farm that will take it.
8. Reuse and repurpose containers
I keep all sorts of jars and containers for storing food, make up, all sorts of things! Be creative with this. I use an old jar to hold my tweezers and hair scissors. Even one as a toothbrush holder.
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9. Thrift and mend!
When moving to a new place, you might want to revamp your wardrobe.
Honestly, most of the clothes I get compliments on are second hand. I find such joy in sifting through racks of previously loved items to find the ones that speak to me. In this journey of reducing my clothing cycle, I have also held myself back from immediately buying new first. I try to find it used if I can. Buy from brands that practice sustainability if you are going to buy new.
I also have found that knowing how to mend your clothing or sew a button on is helpful. It gives more life to your favorite sweater or dress.
10. Sustainable toilet paper
You have probably seen these products among the toilet paper shortage. You can get recycled or bamboo toilet paper, packaged in paper! I ordered from Reel Paper and you can sign up for a subscription so you never go without it again.
11. Have a minimalist mindset
I decided to ditch the idea of having a microwave. My kitchen is TINY and it did not seem necessary after having an oven, stovetop, and toaster that also works as an air fryer.
By no means can I call myself a minimalist, but I try to adopt their philosophies.
These are just a few things to think about if you are moving!
There’s so much more to do. What ideas do you have?
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
I absolutely love giving gifts and bringing joy to others!
However, I do not love buying things that don’t follow my philosophy. Like the golden rule says, treat others the way you want to be treated. You should still give a gift they will enjoy, but you can still share your love of the environment at the same time.
Here are some ideas to give a gift they will love while loving our environment!
1. Give an experience
Memories last longer than most tangible items. Although during COVID times there are fewer options in the immediate future but there are still some options! I would rather have a nice dinner, go on a mini road trip, go to the beach, an online class for something fun, at home spa night, or even skydive maybe? There are endless options, just be creative!
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2. Buy small and local
Okay, this is not necessarily low-waste depending on what you buy. However, I believe that buying something crafted from your neighbor and supporting your local, small business economy is the next best thing. Typically, these items will also last longer, are higher quality, made with love, and can be low-waste! It also has to travel less distance and decreases carbon impact.
Love Etsy? You can search for items by shop location. Search for your item and in the left hand column, there will be an option to filter results by location. Just choose how close “local” is for you.
My favorite local gift to give is bar soap!
3. Donate to a charity
Nothing means more than giving to an organization or charity that someone cares about deeply. Giving in their honor is a great gift.
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4. Make something
I LOVE homemade gifts. The amount of care and love that go into them make me cherish them even more. I like to make cards that can be used as decoration as well. It’s great to also to upcycle! I enjoy painting old wine bottles. You can make something small or large. Even food! Make them a recipe in a jar.
5. Get them reusable and low impact essentials
There are many websites, such as Life Without Plastic, where you can get essentials like bamboo toothbrushes, razors, metal straws, travel bamboo cutlery, reusable tea bags, bowl covers, and bees wax wrap. These are great gifts because they support everyday life!
6. Thrift!
You can find some of the coolest things at the thrift store. Whether they love a nice flannel or antique lamps. There are so many previously loved and perfectly great items that will bring your friend joy.
Can’t go into the store? Goodwill has some online auctions!
7. Ask them what they might like
Although some love the element of surprise, you can find that in other ways. We used to make lists as kids for Santa…why not do it again? If someone wants something, then they will most likely keep it for awhile or use it a lot. This makes for a great gift that is not likely to get donated the next day.
8. Ask them what they don’t need
This year my mom and I told each other what we knew we did not need more of in our life. For example, she has a lot of lotion…because she often received it as a gift. Now, we would still absolutely love anything we got for each other and by no means is this a judgement of whether someone likes something or not. However, if you want to give a tangible gift that will not go to waste and will be useful for someone, I do not see anything wrong in asking what they already have in excess!
What other ideas do you have for gift giving this season?
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
Yes, in the midst of a pandemic, I moved down to the Florida Keys for the summer.
Craziest thing I have ever done? Definitely not.
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Post-graduation plans were looking grim with COVID-19 after a virtual graduation, until I was accepted to the Marine Conservation Internship at Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) in Key Largo, FL. REEF is a non-profit focused on citizen science and community engagement in marine conservation.
The 10-week internship began in the middle of June. I drove all the way down to Florida in just 2 days from Maryland with the help of my boyfriend. It was a long drive, but we were greeted by the most beautiful weather.
I lived with the other interns at REEF in a beautiful vacation rental house near about almost everything in Key Largo. Not only was our porch screened in (which is perfect because the Keys has MANY mosquitoes), but it wrapped all the way around. It provided the perfect place to eat outside, workout at night without being bitten up, and to simply enjoy the weather.
During this internship, I had a lot of new experiences and gained a lot of new skills. Just to name a few:
Learned more about my late Uncle Andy, his experiences with marine life, and his scuba diving career
My favorite part of this internship was learning about and participating in the Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). This citizen science project allows scuba divers and snorkelers to record and report information about marine fish populations all over the world. My favorite part is that REEF provides the training to learn how to identify fish and makes uploading data very easy. The database REEF maintains is a source for many research publications and provides data for the monitoring and management of important populations and invasive species.
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Scuba Diving Accomplishments
The diving in the Keys is absolutely beautiful. Luckily, I got to enjoy it on my days off. This added up to a total of 35 dives and now my lifetime list is 60 dives.
In addition, I finished my PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Diver certification with Key Dives.
For my Advanced, I dove at Jules’ Undersea Lodge to knock out three of my dives. It is exactly what it sounds like, it is a hotel underwater! The lagoon has low visibility, so it is not an amazing dive destination, but it is a pretty cool concept and you sometimes get to see manatees!
The 5 dives I did for my Advanced were deep, night, navigation, peak performance buoyancy, and fish identification.
PC: Natasha McCluhan
PC: Natasha McCluhan
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At the end of the summer, I decided to go ahead and get my PADI Rescue Diver certification. I am so glad that I did!
As I wrote in my Instagram post below:
This course meant more to me than I expected it would when I first set this goal. I knew that diving emergencies happen. My uncle passed away after a diving accident.
However, this summer I was part of a group who responded to a panicked diver. The situation grew to become very serious and my CPR training became my instinct.
The diver made a full recovery because of the training everyone who was on the boat that day had and the actions they took.
After that moment, I knew I wanted to learn how to better respond in those situations because although I am CPR certified, I was unprepared for how to respond in the water with scuba gear on…in three foot waves.
But thanks to @keydives and @scubavegan, I feel equipped with the knowledge and training to better respond to diving emergencies.
Accidents can happen anywhere at anytime. Although we work to prevent them, we should also be ready to respond to them!
After spending a summer in the Upper Keys, I definitely have some places I would recommend! I did not get to go everywhere, so this is definitely not everything…just what I could do with COVID-19 around!
Harriette’s Restaurant: Home of the largest muffins you have ever seen, except I think they were more like cupcakes, but that’s a whole debate on its own. AND they have huge biscuits.
C&C Wood Fired Eats: Probably the best happy hour AND pizza. $10 for a pitcher of beer and either a whole pizza or wings. Also, loved the pizza. So. Much.
Tacos Jalisco: This food truck is next to Key Largo Chocolates, but do NOT miss it. The most delicious burritos and tacos.
Even though the semester finished online, it ended (almost) like most do.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
I had final projects and assignments to complete. Juniata College’s athletics department had the Alfies, the annual award ceremony. Although a few things were missing, two important events still happened online: Liberal Arts Symposium and graduation.
Juniata Cheerleading Seniors watching the Alfies together
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Liberal Arts Symposium
Liberal Arts Symposium (LAS) is Juniata College’s version of a research symposium. It is my favorite tradition because it showcases students’ work and projects from the academic year. I was able to present my Hollings scholarship project with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia because I have been spending the academic year working on a manuscript for a publication with my mentor. The benefit of this being done via Zoom is that my family were able to listen and support me from afar.
Send Off Zoom Calls
As a senior, this semester was supposed to be my last time to annoy my professors and pick their brains. Some of this time was lost, but many departments still gave their seniors a send off celebration. We had a Zoom happy hour to reminisce and tell stories about our memorable moments in the Environmental Science department and at Juniata.
Photos creds to Liz Ruszczyk
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Graduation
Lastly, I had the infamous virtual graduation.
To be honest, I was not expecting much, but Juniata greatly exceeded my expectations. However, my cap and gown did not arrive in time, so I had to get resourceful. I had celebrated with the Her Campus’ “I’m Still Graduating Event” and had received a cap plus some goodies from a variety of brands, including Havaianas, Conair, RXBAR, Hallmark, and Aussie, so I wore that cap paired with my high school graduation gown.
The Zoom room allowed for 1,000 participants so everyone who wanted to attend, plus the students, were able to join. We sat in my living room and I wore my cap and gown because why not? Unlike most “professional” webinar style Zoom meetings, they allowed for everyone’s screens to be displayed and for us to use the chat box with everyone. This was fun because you could scroll through the pages and see all your friends dressed up, like we would have been.
Messages were sent through the chat congratulating each other and sharing expressions of joy. We had speakers, music, and then a huge surprise. The staff and faculty created a video with heartfelt messages to say congratulations and give us their final goodbyes. During the video, our names and honors scrolled across the screen to honor us all individually. There was also an online program to view degrees and hometowns.
This beautiful video was certainly a surprise. I do not think any other class will have this special moment of pride after months of disappointment.
Watch my moment of fame:
After the celebrating, I hopped on my own Zoom call with my extended family to celebrate.
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Farewell Juniata…
I am extremely upset that my semester did not end the way I was expecting. However, I am thankful for all the time I had at Juniata and all the lessons I learned while I was there. Thank you, Juniata community.
I am proud to announce that I graduated summa sum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. I was also awarded Distinction in my major.
I am proud of myself and all that I was able to accomplish despite my academic, mental, and physical struggles.
As I wrote on my graduation announcement:
Successful despite her Crohn’s Disease. Studied abroad in the Galapagos and lived by Raystown Lake. Loves EVERY water body, scuba diving, science, and connecting with people. In the future, hopes to be able to connect society with their surrounding ecosystem better and help our two worlds coexist together.
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What’s Next?
After graduation and my 22nd birthday festivities were over, I still had work to do! I was still working on my research manuscript with my mentor. I spent the end of May and beginning of June focusing on this paper and writing as much as I could.
I also enjoyed time at home with my family. My mom and I did yoga together weekly and worked on transforming our yard to a meadow. We also all watched a bunch of movies!
Although we were in the midst of a pandemic, having this time at home, even when I was finishing classes, was extremely beneficial to my mental and physical health.
First of all, I was able to better control my Crohn’s Disease through my diet and fitness efforts.
Second, I spent time doing professional development, applying for jobs, and identifying prospective career paths.
During this time, I was able to solidify my summer plans…
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Reef Environmental Education Foundation
I am spending the summer in Key Largo, FL as a Marine Conservation Intern with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). I will learn more about citizen science through their Volunteer Fish Survey Project and their role in conservation with the invasive lionfish and Nassau Grouper. In addition, I will learn more about my future career options in marine science and outreach.
I also get to dive in the Florida Keys all summer!!!
Super excited to keep you all updated on this opportunity.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
Brady Brunch…class edition
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Sigh…online classes…the end of my college career and they were one of the most popular topics of conversation other than COVID-19 the past few months…
While on my spring break trip to Florida, I found out that Juniata College was going to take an extended break and start virtual classes until the beginning of April in hopes that all of this would blow over. When we returned, I packed up things from my apartment that I thought I would need for the next few weeks.
One week later, on March 17th, we received an email that not surprisingly, Juniata was going to transition to remote learning for the remainder of the semester. Although this was not much of a surprise, it was still not easy to come to terms with. I moved out of my apartment the following week. ☹️
Now, I would be failing my coach if I did not make this point on my blog. What we did was “emergency remote teaching” and NOT online classes. Online courses take a lot of planning, they integrate various methodologies for teaching, and implement multiple platforms or activities for interacting. Although online classes exist in many higher education institutions, such as Juniata, they are only utilized by some subjects or educators for certain classes. Therefore, a transition to EVERY class with EVERY professor is a drastic change and cannot be compared to true online education. Huge shout out to Justine Black, Juniata’s Director of Digital Learning and my coach, for being a leader in making this remote instruction possible!!!
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Juniata Online: an unofficial look inside with 63 anonymous survey participants
Disclaimer: this is not a real study…just me…being curious. Therefore, proper sampling technique and etiquette was NOT followed. I paraphrased all results but if you were one of my respondents and do not want something you said on here, let me know and I will remove it!
I would like to say I think that overall my professors did an incredible job meeting students needs and providing quality education. Students were also given the flexibility to change their courses to pass/no pass. However, I was not taking many courses and wanted to know how my peers were feeling.
I did a survey halfway through this experience to see how other students felt. This gave me a new feeling of connection because as a student body, we had lost our camaraderie. I was no longer sitting in the dining hall listening to the complaints or victories from my friends, teammates, or even the table I was eavesdropping on because lets be honest, we all do it at least once.
I received 63 responses out of the potential ~1,500 students and I asked 8 questions, including free response. So this really is only a small portion of what really happened and the school has received its own survey data since, but like I said, I needed that connections with my peers.
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The Results
Have your professors been accommodating with attending classes and turning in assignments?
Roughly two-thirds said “yes” and one-third said “kinda”. Less than 5 respondents said “no”.
Most things went well: Majority of responses were positive. Most professors were incredibly understanding, allowing for flexibility with due dates and not giving penalties for late work. For students who could not connect with class via Zoom, professors provided recorded videos.
Some things could have improved: Some students did not find that their professors were being understanding and there was not much discussion about due date flexibility. One student found mandatory group work difficult to do in this situation and with slow WiFi. It was noted that as students, our living situation changed completely, which depending on the nature, could make finishing our courses more difficult. For example, taking care of siblings. Also, some students are essential employees and might have picked up more demanding work hours.
Someone even just noted that it was horrible, which I can infer as that the whole situation was just overall unsavory.
It is also important to note that students work differently. I personally prefer due dates because they keep me on track and some students need that structure to stay on task. However, some students may really just need more time because they have too much going on in their situation or even mentally. I think that it was difficult for professors to find the balance between being too strict and being too lenient.
“What Juniata faculty or staff have been the most helpful during this? What have they done?”
To name a few:Dr. Muth and Dr. Grant sent uplifting messages and fun science updates. Dr. Matter did his best to make a lab an online course. Dr. Amy Mathur helped her students by lightening their load and sending out weekly Huntingdon updates. Dr Weimer, Dr Worley, Dr Streb, Dr Kruse, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Poole, and Dr. Peters were all accommodating and reached out to students. Dr. Dunwoody and Dr. Gentile provided extensions when needed. Shannon Cotrell, Lauren Perow, and Dr. Sarah Jane DeHaas also all checked in on students. Bethany Benson got creative and sent her ceramic students a gray play dough recipe. Dr. Lynn Cockett involved students in navigating the new learning environment, asking for feedback to better accommodate students. Blair Cutright continued supporting students by helping make schedules for at home productivity. Kathy Baughman reached out to each of her classes and seniors individually to offer support.
Additional shout outs to: All ceramic professors, Tammy Stuber, Dr. Pletcher, Ryan Gibboney, Jared LaGroue, Jacoba Rock, Justine Black, Molly Thompson, Dr. John Bukowski, Dr. Welliver, Dr. Matt Powell, Dr. Keeney, Dean Damschroder, Dr. Johnson, Jon Cutright, Patty Klug, Dr. James Tuten, Dr. Barlow, and Provost Bowen.
Have your classes changed drastically?
About one-third said “yes”, half said “kinda”, and only about 20% said “no”. Majority of students had drastic changes in their courses.
Things that changed: There seemed to be a lack of a schedule. The amount of work to turn in changed, due to syllabus adjustments or lack of ability to perform tasks online. Classes became less hands on and there was no opportunity for field work. Asking questions during lectures became difficult and the quality of some lectures decreased. There was less group discussion. Some assignments became more time intensive, it felt like busy work, and there was more writing instead of presenting. Assessment formats were altered. Formats of entire classes changed. Final projects were removed or altered. It was noted that some professors did not hold classes and instead just gave assignments while corresponding with students through email. Software used in some courses changed completely due to lack of access at home. Many courses were also removed from their physical resources such as labs and studios. And overall, students felt less engaged.
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What advice would you give a professor or a student in this situation?
“Be willing to answer questions over zoom, even if that means setting aside a discussion period outside zoom class periods.”
“Make a routine and stick to it.”
“Please understand our situations and how difficult it is to work at home. A lot of us don’t have desks even at home which means we have to work at kitchen tables/bedrooms, which doesn’t allow for very efficient studying.”
“Be prepared for problems because it is technology.”
“Be kind and understanding of one another and the positions that we’re in.”
“To be patient and understanding that everyone’s situation is unique.”
“Don’t overcompensate…focus on content, rather than additional materials.”
“Be patient! Everyone’s trying to figure out how to navigate this situation.”
“I would tell a student to plan their day as if they’re at campus. Don’t try to do too much in a day because it’s less likely you’ll do it. Break down your work on a Monday-Friday schedule like it would be at school. Find a quiet space where you can do your work and be patient with yourself.”
“Just keep pushing. Reach out when you need help. You are not alone.”
“Keep your head up and we’ll keep working together. It will be okay.”
“Focus on your mental health.”
“Prioritize self-care. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health and more important than schoolwork.”
“Always communicate with your professors they are here to help if you need it.”
“Be lenient but keep your students accountable. They need to still turn in homework, but this is a stressful time so maybe if it’s a day late you can still accept the homework for full credit.”
“Give each other some slack during these difficult times.”
“I know this isn’t ideal, but it’s a global pandemic please be understanding to the fact that this is completely unprecedented and nobody trust knows the correct course of action yet.”
Anything else you want to say about the switch to online classes? (other than this sucks)
“It’s sucks a lot.”
“It is very tough to stay focused being home; it’s very hard to stay motivated.”
“Though I do wish I was on campus, I think Juniata has done a great job with this adjustment because it is not easy and nobody was prepared for a situation like this.”
“Can’t wait to be back on campus.”
“This is the future. Get used to it.”
“It’s working out better than I thought it would, but it is definitely not equal to being taught in person.”
How are you socializing with friends from campus?
I wanted to add this question because I was curious as to how people are connecting with campus.
Conclusion:
Overall, it went pretty well. I mean it could have gone a lot worse, but I think we have built a resilient community at Juniata that was able to withstand the changes. Obviously, we hit some bumps in the road, but as many of my peers pointed out, no one really knew what was the right thing to do. In my opinion, Juniata did as well as or even better as many of the other institutions put in similar situations (from what I heard from friends and the internet).
Unprecedented and other overused adjectives…
This was definitely not ideal. The college responded as best as it could, we all did as best as we could. Given the circumstances, I am overall pleased with how the semester worked out, the performance of my professors, and myself.
I also hope this never has to happen again, so abruptly as it did.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
In the beginning of 2020, I was getting ready to begin my last semester at Juniata College. Looking back on my short semester, it is absolutely insane at how much I was able to do…
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Cheerleading…last season
I arrived onto campus early for some pre-season training with my team for basketball season. It was definitely bittersweet to face the fact that I was graduating and not going to be cheering anymore.
But I am so happy that I was able to have this experience!
Classes
For my last semester, I took a lighter load than usual and very practical classes. I was taking Advanced GIS, doing independent research for credit, Water Resources II (hydraulic modeling with HEC-RAS), and Quantitative Ecology (statistics with R).
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Conferences!
Luckily, I had very supportive professors and I was able to participate in a bunch of conferences outside of the classroom.
Delaware Wetlands
The last week of January, I drove to Wilmington, DE to present at the Delaware Wetlands conference. It was an awesome event because I got to see one of my mentors, National Estuarine Research Reserve employees, and some Juniata College alumni. There were amazing talks from all different aspects of wetland conservation.
During the meeting, I had the opportunity to go to the Russell Peterson Wildlife Refuge/DuPont Environmental Education Center on the Christina River, where I learned about their restoration and education efforts.
I also got to catch up with one of my best friends from high school!
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American Fisheries Society
Then, on February 6th and 7th, Juniata College hosted the Pennsylvania American Fisheries Society (AFS) Chapter’s 2020 Technical Meeting. One of our professors at Juniata in the Environmental Science Department, Dr. George Merovich, is the President Elect for the PA AFS Chapter and helped plan this meeting. In addition, Dr. Merovich is the advisor for our student chapter on campus that I served as treasurer for this year.
I was excited to be able to participate in the meeting by presenting my research from my Hollings internship. The first day was full of speakers and research presentations from professionals, academics, and students. After my class was over that morning, I headed over to Ellis Ballroom to begin soaking up information. I walked in when Marc L. Yergin from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History was presenting on freshwater sponges.
My presentation was after lunch. I have had a lot of practice presenting since I have given this same presentation many times prior, but I was nervous to present in front of two of my professors and my friends. I went up there and gave one of my best presentations ever. I enjoyed the experience and the audience had great questions at the end.
That evening, the poster session was from 6pm-9pm. I went back to the meeting late because I had cheerleading practice. I gobbled up my dinner and ran up to the ballroom to socialize and enjoy the posters. At the end of the evening, they began announcing student awards. When announcing best student presentation, the chapter President, Dr. Greg Moyer, asked, “Is Letourneau still here?” and my eyes grew big. That was the LAST thing I was expecting. There I was accepting an award, a little sweaty, in my practice clothes, looking completely unprofessional. I apologized profusely and they assured me it was alright and that my award was well deserved. I was floored by the circumstances, but honored that I was chosen.
Accepting the award from Dr. Greg Moyer
The next day, participants had the choice of 4 different workshops in the morning. I attended the workshops: “Begin using R” and “Cyprinid ID”. Not only were these informative, but I also was able to network with other participants. All in all, it was a successful meeting and I am humbled I was able to attend and receive such an honor.
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Ocean Sciences Meeting
Lastly, on February 16th, I got on a plane and flew to San Diego for the Ocean Sciences Meeting. I went to present a poster on my research from my Hollings internship, network with professionals, and learn about potential career opportunities.
My poster presentation was fun and I got some great questions. I also ordered a fabric version of my poster for easier travel and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!
One of my highlights of the conference was when I attended the COMPASS Town Hall. COMPASS, which originally stood for “Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea”, was co-founded by my marine science idol, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, former administrator of NOAA. COMPASS focuses on effective science communication, which has become a strong passion of mine. This was my 2nd time listening to Dr. Lubchenco talk and I actually was able to nervously introduce myself this time.
I also had the opportunity to meet a woman who I had no idea was everything I want to be and more. Dr. Dawn Wright is the Chief Scientist of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), which is the leading Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and data science company. GIS might look familar if you have been reading my blogs. That is because I have learned how to use GIS in my courses and absolutely love it.
And my Story Map I made last summer? That was made using GIS software and web-applications!
I was able to talk to Dr. Wright and discuss my project with her. She proceeded to give me her business card and since then I have actually shared my project with her via email.
Dr. Lubchenco (far right) and Dr. Wright (to the left of Dr. Lubchenco)
Definitely the highlight of my conference experience!!
I also got to see a bunch of my friends from study abroad, the Hollings Scholarship Program, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Hollings Scholars at OSM!
In addition, I took advantage of the area and I adventured to Oceanside to run with the big dogs and the La Jolla area to do some tide pooling.
And with all these pretty sites, I unfortunately saw a bird playing with some trash 😦
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Senior Dinner
Before spring break rolled around, the senior class had our annual senior dinner. Little did we know that it was going to be the last time we celebrated in person, all together.
Juniata senior cheerleaders put a bow in our class time capsule and we all signed it.
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Spring Break
Before we became aware of the pandemic and COVID-19 broke, the Juniata Scuba Diving club planned a trip down to Florida to go camping and diving. When the trip rolled around, there were no positive cases in the areas we were planning to go to, so we were still able to continue our descent. Luckily, we were able to complete our trip entirely, but we definitely washed our hands a lot.
There were only a few of us this year, including the residential director at the Raystown Field Station, but we had fun and were able to do a lot of dives.
We began at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in the Tampa area and dove at Ginnie Springs. This was my first freshwater dive and we got to go down into a cave.
On our off day, we went to the Florida Aquarium. One of the highlights was that the aquarium was hosting a Washed Ashore exhibit, in which art is built with plastic debris from coastal clean ups. In December at AGU, I had met someone who was part of this project and seeing it in actions was very neat!
Then, we went to enjoy the Clearwater Beach!
We then traveled down to Miami and camped at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park.
The next few days, we did 5 dives total in Key Largo, including one night dive!
We saw some cool stuff including a pod of dolphins, a HUGE grouper, turtles, nurse sharks, barracuda, parrot fish, lobster, moray eel, and MORE.
It was SO COOL! I have not gone through my dive footage yet…I will soon I promise.
While we were down in the Keys, we also ate some yummy key lime pie.
I really loved this trip. Not only was I able to enjoy the recreational side of scuba diving, but I was able to improve my own skills and learn more about other dive opportunities available.
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Then we drove back to campus, leaving paradise behind…
While we were on the trip is when Juniata College announced they were extending Spring Break due to COVID-19. So we knew when we got back that we had to then go home but the worst part of drive home is that we drove through snow.
What happened next will be a whole new post, but you likely already know… #GraduatedInAPandemic
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
Self-isolating…social distancing….all boredom inducing. I wanted to join in on sharing free experiences and science projects you can do at home. A lot of these are from my Facebook timeline, but I wanted to put them in one place. I will attempt to organize them! Even though we are being given an invitation to stay home and do nothing, why not stay home and learn something also?! Educate yourself, educate your family, and educate your friends!
I will also warn you that most of these are science and what I think is cool. So this is not everything out there. They are hyperlinked so just click on titles you think suit you.
***I will be updating this as I run across things!***
These are what the teachers usually get but if you are teaching yourself or your family members, then you will need this! There will be background information and activities included in them. Think of it as a whole recipe, not just the ingredient list or the cake.
3. Daily Questions (sent to me by Coach Justine Black):
What am I grateful for today?
Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
How am I getting outside today?
How am I moving my body today?
What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?
4. Go on a walk in your neighborhood or in your yard.
5. If your trails are still open, go on a hike…and play in a stream!
Found mayfly larvae in the stream!
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Obviously, there’s a lot out there…
And this is only a small percentage of what is available!
Let me know if you have a favorite resource that you want me to add to this list!
And please, only use the term quarantine if you are distancing because you are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick. If not and this is simply to reduce your contact to save you and others, then use the terms “self isolating” or “social distancing”.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
As my summer ended, my school year began. I was nervous about going back to living on campus since I had just spent the year away, at the field station and then abroad on the Galapagos. Although I spent the summer in Virginia, readjusting to a life on campus as a college student again is another change. I have mentioned this before, but reverse culture shock is definitely real. I am lucky to have had a lot of support on campus with this adjustment.
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Tour Guide Training
My experience back onto campus began with tour guide training. Every year, I have to participate in this training even though I have been a tour guide since sophomore year. Many things on campus change over the summer and it is important to stay up to date. However, when you are off campus for as long as I was and there are major curriculum changes, all day training about campus is a little overwhelming. I made it through and had the opportunity to enjoy my new apartment with one of my roommates and friends.
Cheerleading
Shortly after, I had my last preseason for football cheerleading. This is a few days of cheerleading ALL day. We also did some team bonding like our annual scavenger hunt and tie dying!
Tie Dye
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt
SENIORS!
Classes Begin
Classes began a few days later. It was my very last fall semester at Juniata! This semester was overwhelming and completely different. Not only did I return from a year off campus but I also experienced having roommates for the first time and starting a new job position.
My classes this semester included Hispanic Culture in Film, Environmental Geology & Lab, Conservation Biology, and Global Environmental Issues. I also took a credit of research to work on my project from my internship from over the summer. I really enjoyed taking geology and I highly suggest it to everyone. It is so important to understand the building blocks of our earth, literally!
Working Girl
I began working in admissions as a freshman as Student Assistant for an admission counselor. I worked my way up to Tour Guide and now this year, I began my position as an Assistant Admission Counselor. I assist the admission counselors by interviewing students who visit Juniata, informing families about Juniata financial and application details, and assisting during open houses. This position is more money but also allows me to do one of the things I love to do most: get to know people. I get to talk about the place I love but also understand student’s backgrounds and why they interested in Juniata. I love being a professional in the office.
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Conferences
Wyoming: The Cowboy State
After my study abroad semester, I became part of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Alumni Network (after completing the program which provided me with a scholarship to go abroad). As part of this network, I was invited to the U.S. Future Leaders Topical Seminar: Energy and Natural Resources in Laramie, WY. So I missed the 2nd week of my classes and went to Laramie!
These few days were hosted at University of Wyoming (UW). Here are some highlights! One of our speakers included a Senior Executive at Exxon Mobil Corporation and he sat at my dinner table with his wife. I toured the High Bay Research Facility, which aims to improve the efficiency of the extraction of oil and natural gas resources. I also visited the High Plains Wind Farm as part of Rocky Mountain Power, learning about how wind power is used in Wyoming and in surrounding states!
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Down South to Charleston
In November, I traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina for the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Association Annual Meeting. I was able to go because of my internship last summer at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia. At the meeting, I had the opportunity to be in the same room as almost all the staff from each of the 29 different NERRs. The networking I was able to do was phenomenal. I also got to catch up with other Hollings interns that I met through the program.
Here are the highlights!
I began with a Climate Change Communication workshop by the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI). This was a super awesome workshop backed by research. The next day I sat with the Education Sector for the morning to discuss internships and putting diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice. We then went to the South Carolina Aquarium to investigate interpretive design best practices for exhibits at visitor centers. This included touring and understanding the construction of their newest exhibit about their turtle hospital. They also gave us extra time to enjoy the rest of the aquarium!
That evening, I presented my research in a poster format and got to interact with many people from all over the reserve system. It was super fun to also have my mentors there for support!
My last conference of the semester was the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2019 in San Francisco. I roomed with one of my friends I met through the Hollings Scholarship and got to see many more of my friends while I was there. I presented my first oral presentation about my project at a large conference. It was an incredible experience and I was glad to be part of it.
I also attended many different presentations, visited a wide variety of posters, and participated in great science communication workshops.
Mike Bloomberg & Jerry Brown
Exhibit Hall
Jane Lubchenco (an idol)
One of my favorite ones was about marine debris and the plastic problem. We learned about plastic found on the coasts and the origin of the mass of it. We also learned how different programs such as Washed Ashore, are using their debris from clean ups to build plastic sculptures and putting them in public spaces to create conversation. During the workshop, we got to make our own designs with actual plastic pieces from the clean ups. Not only is this promoting environmental consciousness, but it is also adding the art literacy component. When we created our own designs, we focus on colors, or types of plastics.
What are some origins of the masses of plastics in the ocean?
Commercial Fishing (traps and nets left in the ocean)
Container Spills (large shipments of goods such as hockey gloves, dolls, or shoes)
Afterwards, I actually had lunch with the presenter and got some career advice from him!
I also got to see my mentor from my internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and more people from my scholarship program!
AND I saw one of my friends (huge surprise) from study abroad!!!!
We explored San Francisco in the evenings after a day full of taking in all the science.
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End of Football Cheerleading
In the midst of all of this, I also had my last game cheering for football. I will miss being on the sidelines so much!
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Last Traditions/Moments on Campus & in Huntingdon
I also had my last of many traditions and favorite activities on Juniata’s campus and in Huntingdon
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Mountain Day
There’s nothing quite like having class cancelled, but Mountain Day is the epitome of cancelled classes. This annual tradition is one of my favorites and began in the late 1880s. On this day, classes are cancelled with no prior notice. The saying on campus is “Mountain Day is always tomorrow”.
On Mountain Day, students are given the opportunity to spend the day at Raystown Lake to enjoy a picnic, swimming, water sports, crafts, yard games, and inflatables. There are usually surprise raffles and treats. This year we had FREE Rita’s Italian Ice!
The scenery is picturesque. Hammocks swing from trees, laughter roars from the waterside, students are falling off kayaks, and speakers sing anthems of a fun day. My favorite part is that faculty and staff are invited. Professors engage in conversation with barefoot students, who insist on petting every dog in sight.
After lunch, each class battles in tug-o-war until the strongest group takes on the faculty and staff. In the finale, we brought in many seniors who were nervous to join but were persuaded by our camaraderie; we barely had enough rope for everyone to hold on. As a proud member of the class of 2020, I would like to announce that we won!
This year, Mountain Day was a total surprise for me and many others. It was a great day with the Juniata community including faculty, staff, and students. Only Juniatians really understand the magic of Mountain Day, everyone else is just insanely jealous because they want their classes cancelled.
But this day is much more than that.
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Special Olympics
Every year Juniata College hosts the Special Olympics Central Pennsylvania Fall Sectional. On this day, our campus becomes the stage for athletic excellence and perseverance. Athletes from over 20 central Pennsylvania counties come together to show off their abilities. These athletes work extremely hard for this day, and are full of excitement upon arrival.
I look forward to this event every year. As a cheerleader, we participate in the opening ceremony events by greeting athletes, cheering them on, and doing a short performance. We also volunteer at various stations throughout the day. Although we arrive early in the morning, I keep my energy high and my smile bright. These athletes give their 100% and they deserve my 100%.
I love being able to be part of this exciting moment and support others in their journey to success. No matter who someone is or what obstacles they might face, they deserve the utmost respect for their hard work and achievements.
Special Olympics International has started “The Revolution is Inclusion” campaign to create a fully inclusive world.
I got to represent the Galapagos semester at our study abroad fair on campus! I also got to hang out with a friend who was studying abroad at Juniata and my friend who went abroad with me.
Trough Creek State Park
My family took my friend, who was spending a semester at Juniata from York, UK, to enjoy the local central PA nature at Trough Creek State Park!
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Hydrilla Study on Raystown Lake
When I was at the field station, I got to assist with a study of invasive hydrilla on Raystown Lake. This year, I got to help again!!! It was a full day of fun, sampling the bottom of the lake.
That green stuff…that is invasive hydrilla
Raystown Field Station Alumni Retreat
Only 4 of us remained on campus since our semester at the field station was mostly seniors. So we decided to rent out Grove Farm, have a campfire, and reminesce on our good ole days at the lake without annoying anyone else about it.
The next morning we went down to the lake to take a picture with our RD, John, and his mighty sidekick, Margo.
Grove Farm
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Madrigal
We have a dance and dinner at the end of our fall semester. It was quite fun this year with my roommates and friends!
The crew
My favorite public safety officer
Senior Year
I am of course writing this post on the day we found out we are not returning to classes on campus and will be learning remotely until the end of the semester. I do not want to get too sappy until my next post about the spring semester. However, I do have to say….I wish I would have soaked in some more of Juniata and my memories during my fall semester knowing now that it is all over.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
This past semester was a long adjustment period of figuring out my life at Juniata again, but also trying to think about my future. But before I leap into the future, I want to reflect on the end of my summer and my internship.
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NOAA Symposium Week
All the Hollings scholars spent the last week of the Hollings internship in Silver Spring, MD at the NOAA headquarters. The goal of this week is to practice presenting posters or presentations and learn about other interns’ projects.
In addition, we got to rekindle friendships that we previously made at the orientation and network with like minded students. We also had free time to explore the DC area after our day ended.
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Project Results
If you are not sure what my project was, visit here to gain the full background on it.
First, one of my proudest accomplishments is that I created a full traditional lesson plan and an online Story Map for students and teachers to learn about marsh restoration. Second, I was able to use these two platforms to evaluate student and teachers perspectives.
Ultimately, my project highlighted that both students and teachers have a preference for blended learning, which includes a mixed use of technology and traditional teaching methods.
Through short interviews, I was able to understand how technology is used in science classrooms, the advantages and disadvantages, and how we can improve resources we provide for teachers to use.
Also, for my science-minded friends, here is an abstract:
It can be problematic to engage students in science because some concepts are difficult for students to visualize. One way of alleviating this issue includes using authentic research from scientists, allowing students to explore real-world situations. With the advancement of digital technology tools, teachers are beginning to implement digital learning to aid classroom instruction and the student learning process. Esri Story Maps is an evolving tool that allows end users to explore a topic through images, videos, interactive maps, data, figures, and text. This platform is accessible for educators, researchers, industry professionals, and even students. The objective of the study was to compare perspectives of translating science through traditional learning versus digital learning. For this project, current research focused on a thin-layer placement marsh restoration technique experiment in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) was translated into a lesson plan and Story Map. In addition, a series of short interviews with teachers and students were conducted to understand their perspectives on digital learning. Those same teachers were then provided an opportunity to evaluate the two learning tools and both tools were tested with high school students attending a summer camp at Chesapeake Bay NERR in Virginia. This study outlines the difficulties with utilizing technology in the classroom, but it also highlights the benefits when used in a strategic manner. By better understanding student and teacher perspectives on digital learning, we are able to provide useful resources to assist teachers in quality science education.
I gave a presentation and I had a family friend, a previous coworker, and one of my mentors come watch!
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Are you a science educator?
Check out my tools…Even if you aren’t check out my lesson plan (Mitigating Marshes Against Sea Level Rise) and Story Map!
While in DC…
I had the opportunity to meet up with some of my friends from study abroad!!
Also, I went with some other scholars to the zoo, a Nationals game, saw Bryce Vine in concert, and went to the botanic garden. It was really great to see my peers and spend time with them again. We also continued our tradition and watched another Sharknado movie.
It was a great week and I had a lot of fun sharing science!
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Last of Summer
In the brief time I had before my job training, classes, and cheerleading began, I took a trip up north to visit some friends.
New Haven
First, I went to New Haven, CT to visit my friend Charles from my internship at Oak Ridge National Lab. He is an adult now…works a real job, lives with housemates, etc. It was really great to see what he is doing after graduating and catch up.
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Boston
Then, I went to Boston, MA to visit my best friend from studying abroad, Nicola. I have not spent much time in the area before, so it was really fun to explore and see where she grew up.
I even ventured to Harvard to beg them to accept me. HA just kidding…
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Cape Cod, MA
Nicola and I spent the weekend at her family’s lovely home in Cape Cod. However, on the way we made a quick stop in Duxbury to see my family’s burial plot from years ago at the Mayflower Cemetary.
We spent the weekend catching up, going to the beach, eating seafood, and exploring Provincetown and Wellfleet.
I had so much fun visiting my friends and waved a sad goodbye to summer my last of summer.
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