Professionals, college students and middle school students gathered last May at the 26th annual California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL) conference, held in Santa Barbara. It was three great days of learning from colleagues, experts in their fields while making new partnerships and contacts.
As part of each conference, SERCAL has a poster presentation competition for college students across the state. This year, younger students from Oxnard also took part. Sixth graders from Rio Vista Middle School created presentations on three topics; “Trout” in the Classroom Project, “Endangered Species of California”, and Solutions to Plastic Pollution”. The students went on field trips sponsored by Friends of the Santa Clara River through a grant funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast Grant. Students explored their local coastline and had fun learning about nature outdoors. They also studied the Santa Clara River and its restoration.
As part of each conference, SERCAL has a poster presentation competition for college students across the state. This year, younger students from Oxnard also took part. Sixth graders from Rio Vista Middle School created presentations on three topics; “Trout” in the Classroom Project, “Endangered Species of California”, and “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”. The students went on field trips sponsored by Friends of the Santa Clara River through a grant funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast Grant. Students explored their local coastline and had fun learning about nature outdoors. They also studied the Santa Clara River and its restoration.
The SERCAL conference gave a great connection between college and middle school students through ecological studies and through sharing ideas. This project was entirely a teamwork effort! Special thanks go to RVMS teachers John Franckowiak and Ronda Plomteaux who gave their time to help their students make the posters. Many thanks go to SERCAL and its Admin Director Julie St. John. Also, FSCR, Channel Islands Restoration and all the staff and students at Rio School District in Oxnard. Awesome teamwork helping the next generation have fun whilst learning about protecting nature and the environment for all wildlife including humans!
By Holly Wright, FSCR Board Member
Friends of the Santa Clara River 