From classroom to camp: Purdue student’s AmeriCorps summer service term inspires environmental stewardship
As dawn breaks over the Celery Bog Nature Area, Meghan Hartman, a sophomore in natural resources and environmental science (NRES), prepares to lead a group of campers. Fresh from a stint with AmeriCorps, with lesson plans in hand and a zeal for environmental discovery and stewardship, Hartman is transforming curiosity into action.
“I have always known that I wanted to have a helpful job,” Hartman said. “My experience this summer through a service term for AmeriCorps as a camp naturalist has allowed me to teach young kids about some of the things that I have been learning at Purdue in the NRES program and to share my passion for the environment with them.”
Her story begins with a love of the outdoors and animals. She recalls as a child always wanting to be outside.
“As I grew, I began to learn more about the negative things happening to our environment,” she said. “I started to develop a personal passion to do my part to preserve our planet. To be able to work with kids this summer with many of the same interests that I had around their age has been a very cool full-circle moment.”
That drive set the college-bound Hartman on a path to explore various fields of study in the environmental sector. Purdue University was at the top of the list for the West Lafayette native.
“I did a lot of research about environmental programs, and Purdue’s NRES program was the most interesting to me,” she said. “I loved the size of the program and the various opportunities that are available for students within the different concentration areas. Purdue has always felt like home to me.”
Jumping into her first year, Hartman attended the College of Agriculture Fall Career Fair. She struck up a conversation with the AmeriCorps representative and applied shortly after for the summer service term.
“Honestly, as a freshman I was not sure of my chances, but I wanted to put myself out there to find a way to not only get more experience in my field, but also to give back,” she said. “The AmeriCorps program seemed like the best of both worlds. When I heard I had received the camp naturalist position, I was so excited.”
Hartman’s internship has allowed her to put into practice what she learned as a freshman at Purdue. While teaching about bison one afternoon, she watched a camper get excited to learn about the animal’s past in Indiana.
“That’s what makes it all worth it,” Hartman said.
She worked with other counselors to develop weekly themes and designed hands-on activities for campers.
“You always hear that the best way to learn something is to teach it, and I’ve experienced that this summer,” she said. “It’s been fun to take things I’ve learned about at a more complex level and bring it to a level that an elementary student can understand.”
As her service with AmeriCorps ends, Hartman has developed a renewed passion for her field and her own growth.
“I’m grateful for my opportunity to serve with AmeriCorps and for all I learned,” she said. “I have a renewed passion to continue to grow in my understanding of how to preserve our planet. It is my hope that each of my campers took just a bit of that with them for their futures as well. If we can all look for ways to help, we can make a difference together.”
As the next generation takes up the challenge, she encourages others to seek out service opportunities and become stewards of the world around them.
“I encourage any students to put yourself out there and apply for the internship or the experience. You never know what’s out there and all the ways you can grow.”
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