The Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club has launched its 10th year, providing students with valuable hands-on experience in environmental science. The club recently inaugurated the school year with a visit to Jolly Acres, where 28 student members engaged in activities such as pressing fresh apple cider, painting pumpkins, and navigating a corn maze, courtesy of their hosts, the Brewer family.
This outing allowed students to delve into Logan County’s agricultural heritage while fostering appreciation for the rural landscape surrounding their school and community. Over the past decade, the Environmental Science Club has allowed students to explore environmental issues through various hands-on projects and community service initiatives.
Members have participated in activities like removing invasive plant species, planting trees, establishing pollinator gardens, and creating a bluebird trail on the Benjamin Logan campus. They also gained insights into local nature through guest speakers discussing topics such as forestry, native birds, and Ohio bats. Other enriching experiences have included an overnight program at Kirkmont Center and Enviro-Camp, a summer extension of the club active for the last three years.
Looking ahead, the club has an array of activities scheduled for the current school year. Students will conduct dissections of owl pellets to study food webs, measure heart rates of aquatic organisms known as daphnia, and search for microscopic tardigrades, also referred to as water bears. A planned hike through a gorge in Logan County aims to enhance students’ understanding of the region’s geological history.
These activities are tailored to promote inquiry, encourage observation, and familiarize students with potential environmental career paths, as well as their local natural resources. The Environmental Science Club is a joint initiative of Benjamin Logan Local Schools and the Logan County Land Trust, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving natural resources and the rural character of the county.
The club is overseen by educators Ryan Kerns, Spencer Reames, and Bruce Smith from Benjamin Logan Schools, alongside Bob Stoll of the Logan County Land Trust. Smith, a familiar figure in the educational landscape since 1985, has been instrumental in several environmental education initiatives. Stoll, a graduate of Benjamin Logan and a long-time board member of the Land Trust, brings extensive knowledge in forestry and soil conservation.
Open to students in grades four through 12, this year’s 28 club members were selected through an application process, committing to participate in activities throughout the school year. As the club commemorates its 10th anniversary, Benjamin Logan Local Schools expresses appreciation for the ongoing collaboration with the Logan County Land Trust and thanks the Brewer family for their hospitality at Jolly Acres.
The impact of the Environmental Science Club reaches beyond mere activities; it cultivates curiosity in students, encourages environmental stewardship, and empowers them to contribute positively to their community.
