Groundswell student showcase highlights stewardship, research

"Stewardship projects like these at the showcase demonstrate how local efforts make a big impact, and how no matter your age or your background, you can make a difference in your community," said Jennifer Drake, provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs.

Supporting educators and classrooms with resources and guidance is central to Groundswell's mission, said Groundswell Director Clayton Pelon.

"What we try to do is connect those outdoor experiences to learning," said Pelon. "We try to make it as easy as possible for the teachers to teach the way they've always wanted to teach.

"The funding, the faculty, the experts - we provide all of that. So it invigorates those teachers."

For Witkovsky's class, Groundswell's support meant access to additional field equipment, allowing more students to participate. For many of her students, she said, it was their first time exploring and investigating the natural environment.