Honors partnership with wildlife refuge instills passion and skills
- Rick Weber
- Engagement
- Contributors: Cadence Bakker, Photos
5 – minute read
Temmy Shannon didn’t have much interest in nature before she became a student in Jessica Rhea’s Honors College service course, “Trails for Tails.”
Now, the Florida Gulf Coast University junior criminal justice major speaks like a seasoned environmental activist on a mission to spread awareness.
“Nature was once unfamiliar to me,” Shannon says, “but now I cannot imagine my life without this connection. Environmental projects such as cleaning up the habitats for protected animals, removing harmful fishing lines and gardening play an essential role in strengthening Southwest Florida. They serve as a reminder of our responsibility to protect and restore the natural beauty that surrounds us.
“Clearing away debris and properly discarding monofilament not only protects the wildlife but also enhances the environment that both locals and tourists cherish. In order to prompt more sustainable habits, people must become more aware on how delicate our environment is without the balance of its health and human activities.”
Shannon’s passion was powerfully ignited in two of Rhea’s classes that worked closely with the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.
Rhea took over “Trails for Tails” in 2017 and oversaw its transition from focusing mostly on service, leadership and hands-on learning to forming sustained partnerships with local environmentally focused agencies. She had previously met and worked with Ding Darling leaders because they are community partners of FGCU through the Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement. After Hurricane Ian’s rampage in September 2022, refuge staff needed volunteers to help with various restoration efforts, so they reached out to Rhea.
“They were excited to partner with this course,” Rhea says, “and we worked together to create service-learning opportunities that allowed students to contribute in meaningful ways to hurricane relief and environmental education efforts.”
Since the spring 2023 semester, students have engaged in direct service-learning with Ding Darling through coastal clean-ups, exotic species removal, habitat restoration and more. They have also learned, from Ding Darling staff visiting their class, about eco-psychology and the value of being in nature as it relates to mental health and well-being.
In an effort to boost mental health and well-being on FGCU’s campus, students in last spring’s class designed Mindful Moment stations within the campus Food Forest, a student-led edible garden featuring tropical/subtropical fruits and plants. They also applied for and received funding from the Honors College and the Friends of Ding Darling organization to print durable metal signs that were unveiled Nov. 20 at the Food Forest.
“The students’ diversity of interests, creativity of thought and unique passions impress and inspire me,” says Jessica Barry. She is a visitor services specialist/refuge ranger for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s SWFL Refuge Complex who is stationed at Ding Darling and has worked closely with the classes. “I have likely learned more from them than they have learned from me.
“Connecting and engaging with our Southwest Florida college demographic is one of my favorite parts of my career. Our planet needs a community that is connected to the mission of conservation — and these students are the future. There is so much power in collaboration and partnerships. Especially in the field of conservation, there is so much work that needs to be done and limited staffing. Finding creative partnership opportunities like this one allows us to work smarter and harder — achieving more together than we ever could have separately.”
Adds Rhea, “It is a true partnership. After each semester, we reflect on what went well, what changes we will make and what project and leadership opportunities will be offered. The best part is that Jessica Barry now serves as a true co-instructor with me. Together, we review course plans, present lessons to the class, and she, along with ranger Yvette Carrasco and other park rangers, educate our students outside the four walls of the classroom.”
FGCU is one of the only public institutions to make service-learning a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. FGCU students have engaged in 5 million hours of service-learning since the program’s inception and continue to add approximately 275,000 additional hours each year.
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service that meets actual community needs. As one form of experiential learning, service-learning enriches the learning experience, teaches civic responsibility, encourages lifelong civic engagement and strengthens communities. FGCU graduates leave with a deeper understanding of and engagement with the world around them.
“Experiences like this set our FGCU students apart when they are applying for graduate school or applying for their first professional position,” Rhea says. “They are able to share their real-world experience as well as the valuable, transferable skills they have gained — from teamwork to communication to problem-solving and leadership. Students that graduate from FGCU don’t just know things; they can do things.”
