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“Working with this project this summer has changed my perspective about the Natchez Trace. We met many objectives and came across many obstacles. This opportunity has also pushed me to continue to work hard to achieve my goal of working in the animal sciences.” —D.J. Snow opportunity to give back to the community while introducing his students to new career choices. “Our students have a chance to find those areas that they’re interested in,” explained Georgia. “It’s my job to get out and expose them.” Georgia’s service-learning strategy appears to be working. Students are now asking questions about careers they may have never previously considered, including how to become foresters, park rangers, game wardens, educators, and Department of Environmental Quality or USDA agents. “That is more rewarding to me than anything,” Georgia stated. Two of his students—D.J. Snow and Ethan Hunt— were hired by the National Park Foundation as interns on the Natchez Trace in summer 2013 to study the impact of local industries like cattle and turf farming on water quality. Farmer seeks to expand the Adopt-a-Stream program by recruiting more schools located within an hour of the Natchez Trace, for which her office can provide funding for buses and field trips. Farmer encourages schools farther away from the Trace to contact the Mississippi Adopt-aStream program to get involved with state-led conservation initiatives. “It’s been a good partnership,” Farmer said of her work with Attala County. “Over time, the idea is to get schools involved all along the Natchez Trace that have streams near their schools, or at least within a decent driving distance. They can go monitor these streams and use the skills. Then they can report back to us what they’re finding in the streams, and it will give us a database that will help us to have a picture of what is happening in the stream.” 6
CONNECTIONS Fall 2013
Georgia and Farmer hope that Attala County’s CTE students will graduate ready to charge headfirst into the future, armed with increased college preparedness, a love of nature, and an appreciation for service. Meanwhile, Georgia looks forward to welcoming next year’s class. “We’ve got some other projects up our sleeve,” Georgia said. “We’re super excited and hope to leave a lasting mark on our community.”
For more information about the AEST curriculum, please contact Brad Skelton, bradley.skelton@rcu.msstate.edu.