GirlsConserve Treats Campers to Environmentally-Conscious Spring Break
By Sara Norton
How did you spend your spring break?
The CGEST team joined forces with the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes (CBO) at ASU to bring a spring break immersion camp to 31 high school students that introduced campers to real-world environmental leadership training.
Students explored how their lived experiences set them up to be change makers in the world. This week-long camp was filled with hiking adventures around Papago Park and the Superstition Mountains, as well as a trip to the Desert Botanical Garden.
"Recently, I had the opportunity to help at the GirlsConserve program," said CGEST Project Coordinator Manfred Reysser. "It was a rewarding experience due to the nature of the program and its focus on underrepresented minorities. Most impressive was the 27 high school students who participated in the program for five days during their spring break!"
Monday kicked off the activities at the CGEST office with a group discussion about mindfulness and self-care. Mentor teachers led the campers in conversation about the importance of self-care, and campers shared their favorite tips with their peers. A delicious lunch followed the discussion, and the campers finished off the first day with a guided hike around Papago Park.
Campers geared up for even more outdoor fun on Tuesday morning. Chaperones, mentor teachers, and campers clambered aboard a chartered bus and made their way east for a day of exploring the Superstition Mountains. Campers learned about the area’s diverse ecosystem and explored the mountain’s beautiful landscape.
Wednesday’s rain didn’t stop the GirlsConserve group from enjoying a day at ASU’s Tempe campus! Campers got a tour of the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health (WCPH) and slithhhhered through a guided reptile walk featuring many of Arizona’s native snake species.
By Thursday, the clouds cleared and ushered in a beautiful clear sky perfect for a day at the Desert Botanical Garden. Campers equipped with paper pads and drawing utensils spent the afternoon exploring the collection of various Arizona flora the garden offered.
“It was so great to see the students get excited about learning the names and features of all the plants at the botanical gardens,” said CGEST Graduate Research Assistant Ali Roberts. “They made beautiful illustrations of different habitats found in the desert and then explained the role that organisms played within the habitats to the group.”
Friday brought the festivities to a close with group discussion on environmental justice at the CGEST office followed with a final hike through Papago Park. Campers enjoyed each other’s company over lunch before gathering for a group photo to top off their adventure-filled week!
