Service Learning
Habitat Stewardship Project née Return of the Natives
Reflective Narrative: When I first became a service learner with the Habitat Stewardship though at both times I volunteered with them they were still called Return of the Natives. I like to believe I gained a higher appreciation for these kinds of groups. They try to restore the land to what it once was before human intervention, as well as show people of any background the importance of taking care of our environment. Showing both adults and children what they can do to show their support. Each week we would transplant smaller pants into bigger buckets. Or we would travel to a plot of land owned by them to restore the natural beauty of the land. Removing invasive species and in their place planting native plants. We would also head to a nearby beach to replace a plant with its correct variation. CSUMB is also a prime location for planting and for the last several years has seen hundreds of plants added to the land of the university. It gave me a chance to see what can occur if our communities come together in order to accomplish a singular goal. In the case of the Habitat Stewardship was to restore the environment and cover the land with native plant life in California. I also got the opportunity to interpret our objective for the day to Spanish speaking individuals. Though reflecting on that time I could have done a better job, I couldn't find the right words as well as having very little coordination with other interpreters made the situation awkward and overall a bit chaotic. We should have prepared ourselves beforehand and practiced what we had to say rather than trying to interpret on the spot. At the end of my time with them I was made to present what I experienced with them and reflect on my actions.
Service Learning Project: Essay and Presentation
Courses that fulfill this requirement:
Service Learning Group