CREEK RELEAF - A SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT PLANTING THE SEEDS TO SUCCESS

Since 2010, my Introductory Geology students have participated in a service learning project called Creek Releaf. Creek Releaf is an annual tree-planting event designed to reforest stream floodplains in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The project requires students to research the benefits of planting trees along riparian areas and to present their research findings to a college classroom. The purpose of the presentation is not only to inform the class, but also to recruit student volunteers for the event. After the event, students submit a reflection paper on what they thought of the activity, and if they thought the project was worth their effort.

This year’s event was held on Saturday morning November 18, 2017. Twenty students from my Introductory Geology class, along with 25 volunteers they recruited, went out with several hundred other volunteers to plant 1500 trees along Briar Creek in the Chantilly Park neighborhood of Charlotte. Over the eight years of this project, about 400 of my students have been involved in planting over 20,000 tree saplings along the Little Sugar Creek, Briar Creek, Irwin Creek and McDowell Creek in Mecklenburg County.

There are a myriad of benefits to this service learning project. First off, the students attain greater knowledge, interact more with their colleagues, network with professionals from state and non-profit agencies, and gain valuable hands-on experience. Many students tell me this is the best learning experience that have had at the collegiate level. Most really enjoy getting back to nature and contributing to the health and beauty of their community. Next, the community gains as a result of the project. By planting trees adjacent to waterways, our streams gain the benefits of reduced storm water runoff, improved water quality, increased wildlife habitat, and greater aesthetic value. In addition, students aspire to take on more of a civic responsibility within the community. Finally as a faculty member, I gain in a variety of manners. I learn about community issues that impact me and my family, establish relationships with community organizations, get to know my students on a more personal basis, and in the process become a better teacher.