BLM--Volunteer feature of the month

Biologists, marine educators, a soil scientist, geologist, forester, botanist, zoologist, and a petroleum engineer--these volunteers from seven agencies kept the hands and minds of 25 students engaged for two weeks this summer during the Sixth Annual Environmental Education Camp sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management’s Eastern States, Jackson Field Office.

Offered in conjunction with the Summer Enrichment Camp at Piney Woods Country Life School, the Jackson Field Office conducted the camp for minority 7-9th grade students. Since most of the students are from urban areas in states east of the Mississippi River, this camp was an opportunity for many ‘firsts’. This year the camp theme was ‘Introduction to Watershed Management”.

Since 1992, The Environmental Education Camp has introduced junior high and high school students to the importance of preserving and managing the Nation’s natural resources. Geared toward minorities, the camp familiarizes students with natural resources related fields of study with the hope that some of the students will go on to seek natural resource degrees and possibly enter the workforce in one of these fields. The camp is organized by BLM’s Jackson Field Office and is taught primarily by volunteers who offer their time to enrich the lives of these students. Each year a different natural resources theme is selected.

This year, the two week camp, July 13-24, was taught by volunteer professionals from seven different agencies, each bringing expertise in subjects relative to watersheds through field trips and hands on activities.

The first week consisted of half day programs and field work at Piney Woods on topics such as watersheds, water quality, soils, plants and animals, and forestry. Week two was a series of field trips to various watersheds in south Mississippi to see first hand the characteristics and management of these areas. A visit to a Ship Island, a barrier island 12 miles offshore in the Mississippi Sound, was a unique experience for all.

On the last day, students learned the importance of an estuarine marsh in the lower reaches of a watershed that we had visited earlier in the week. Students left the camp with an understanding of what a watershed is and the various issues relative to management of these areas. At the closeout session, many students told about their ‘firsts’ at the camp, first canoe trip, first night hike in the deep woods, first stargazing adventure, and first time to see the ocean. It then became clear that many of the young people had a camp experience they would not forget.

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Feature

Bureau of Land Management
Volunteer Feature