A group of VWC students spent spring break doing their part for the planet—including freshman Katie Rogers, who shares her experiences in a blog
April 2, 2012
While many college students spent their spring breaks relaxing, traveling or soaking up rays on a sunny beach, a team of Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins opted for a week of giving back instead.
As part of the Imagine Alternative Spring Break with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, these students—all women— constructed reef balls, restored dune crossings, installed and prepared rain gardens and improved living shorelines around the Hampton Roads area during the week of March 19-23.
The team was assisted by students from professor Deidre Gonsalves-Jackson's environmental science class during one of the days. Participating students this year included Melinda Hopper (senior), Brianne Leonard (freshman), Sequoia Mulgrave (freshman), Katie Rogers (freshman), Autumn Watson (sophomore) and Sarah Imbesi (junior), who served as site leader.
In the following blog entries, student Katie Rogers shares more about how the group spent their spring "vacation" in service with one of the premiere environmental organizations in the country.
A Little "R&R"—Restorations and Rain Gardens
An Alternative Spring Break Blog | By Katie Rogers
Monday, March 19
Tanner Council, Hampton Roads Grassroots Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CFB), welcomed us in front of VWC's tennis courts. He surprised us with free CBF t-shirts and hats! After taking pictures and packing up the van we acquired the name "A-team" because of the van's resemblance to the one found in the 1980s TV series. Today we were at the Oyster Restoration Center in Gloucester Point doing reef ball construction and additional oyster restoration duties. The weather was excellent and turned out to be a perfect start to our alternative spring break. We all worked together building the molds for the reef balls which included many different tools and handy work. The six of us were able to build 25 molds before the cement truck arrived at noon. We all discovered how these reef balls were going to provide habitat for the oysters and other sea creatures. Pouring the cement into the molds and pounding them to settle took a lot of effort. Most of us returned home quite messy and covered in cement. Overall the day was very exciting and informative.
Tuesday, March 20
Today we built another 25 molds, this time with the help of a VWC environmental science class. Because our group had already been through the reef ball making process the day before, we served as leaders for the class. They looked to us for help and advice. This day went by very quickly. By this time our group was quite comfortable with each other as we were learning more about each other's backgrounds. Sarah and Melinda were very helpful in guiding us to our destinations and giving us insight to what event came next.
Wednesday, March 21
Today we traveled to Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore to do dune crossing restoration. We were instructed to remove very large planks of wood that were currently resting on top of a dune. This work was very tedious and monotonous. All of us were working so hard and found that the most effective way to get the job done was to form an assembly line. Melinda and Autumn did a wonderful job pulling out nails stuck in some 4x4s. Sarah, Sequoia, Brianne and I all worked together to clean up the shore. We stayed at a very enjoyable lodge right in the state park. The six of us played Catchphrase and Headbands, two very amusing games to help pass the time.
Thursday, March 22
Today we drove to Lafayette Wetlands Partnership at 47th Street and Colley Avenue in Norfolk to prepare and install a rain garden. Our work involved about three truck loads of mulch and lots of shoveling it around. We met a lot of really nice locals who welcomed us. WVEC 13 News arrived to broadcast our "green" efforts for the community. This day was quite educational and required much busy work and sunscreen!
Friday, March 23
On our last day of alternative spring break, we went to the Hermitage Museum by the Norfolk Living Shoreline to the pick up trash by the beach and do some landscaping. This area was so beautiful and serene. The weather was very pleasant and created a really peaceful atmosphere. Overall our experience this week was enlightening and gratifying. I am excited to return to Norfolk to check up on the rain garden to see how it is holding up.!