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PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Over the past two years, I have had the great privilege of partaking in the educational, yet enjoyable Wood Duck Restoration Project along Otter Point Creek at the Bosely Conservancy. Throughout my two years of participation, I have grown more aware of the impacts that humans have on the environment. I have learned that anyone can make a difference in the quality of their local watershed and can aid the many unique species of wildlife that inhabit our waterways.
Although I have continuously fallen into the murky, muddy marsh on each of our outings, and on one occasion fell through a thin layer of ice, I have always enjoyed being involved in these wonderful learning experiences. While participating in this project, I have acquired the skill of paddling and steering a canoe, a skill that has aided me greatly while maneuvering through the abundant submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and the occasionally shallow, muddy bottom of the marsh. I am grateful to have had the great opportunity to contribute to this restoration project, and I hope to continue to be involved with this project for many years to come.
Joe Seipp
HCS students planning the assembly of nesting boxes
In the past two years, I have experienced tasks that were beyond my imagination with other Environmental students of Harford Christian School. Mentally, emotionally, and most of all, physically I have endured the rugged marshy wetlands of the Bosely Conservancy. In what seemed only a short period of time, together we have endured many arduous work outings covering all of the six coves and lagoons where wood duck nesting boxes exist. Even though our group took the work seriously, there were many enjoyable times while out in the marsh.
Paul Lee
HCS students putting finishing screws into nesting boxes
The wood duck trips that I have taken during the fall were very fun. I think that the best part about the trips were when all of us raced across the water in the canoes. While out in the marsh I learned about things that I would have never had the opportunity to experience if I had stayed home watching television. It was interesting to see how wood ducks nest and why they nest in the places they do. Even though I was part of a small group, comprised of just seven students, together we have been able to get a lot of work done. On one of our outings, it was teamwork that allowed us to install many new nesting boxes that we had built in just one day. We really thought that it would have taken several days to do. We were a very vigorous group with a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Helm, Mr. Burg and Mrs. Stambaugh. I really have enjoyed working with friends and making a better habitat for the wood ducks. I hope that we are able to continue doing this in the future.
Adam Dombeck
Successful removal of old nesting box by HCS students
There were many aspects of the wood duck trips that I really enjoyed. Being the only the girl in the Environmental class at Harford Christian School, I was worried that I would not be strong enough to do anything of importance during our fieldwork. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were many tasks I could do, such as recording data, setting up predator guards, and numbering the nesting boxes. It is neat to think that even one person’s efforts can make a difference in the environment when linked with others that care. At the end of the day, it was awesome to look around at all that we had accomplished together and be able to say, “Wow, I did that!”
These trips have brought our class closer together with many fun-filled times out on the marsh. We were also able to apply what we learned in class to real-life situations. All around, it has been a great experience.
Aubrey Wenzl
Some nesting boxes were difficult to reach
The wood duck project provides an area where education and pleasure overlap. On each and every one of the wood duck trips that I have taken, I have not found a single moment when I have not enjoyed myself. The trips provide both excitement and learning experiences, while helping to preserve our environment. At the end of the day, after working up a sweat canoeing, it feels good to know that we have helped to preserve this wonderful environment God has created for us.
The trips have also allowed bonding time between the members of our group as we canoed or stumbled through the mud, permitting us to learn more about each other that classroom time does not provide. We also learn the valve of teamwork as three or four of the guys must work together to pull up one old pole on which an old wood duck nesting box stood. All in all, these trips have proved to be a valuable lifetime experience for me, and I hope for my other classmates. I also wish that Mrs. Stambaugh would continue to bring along her students to take part in this priceless learning adventure.
Ashley Christian Straw
Detailed records were taken on each nesting site
Personally, I have very much enjoyed working on the wood duck project and look forward to future trips out in the marsh. I have particularly enjoyed canoeing to the various nesting sites. I fell in the water several times while hiking through the muddy marsh, but this added to the field experience. I have not only learned about the habitats and lifestyle of wood ducks, but I have also learned how to build the type of nesting box they prefer to use. I have spent time on the marsh in the cool fall, frozen winter, and warming spring. I never would have thought that helping wildlife would turn out to be fun. I was, however, proven wrong by Mrs. Stambaugh’s determination to make environmental learning activities enjoyable with the support of the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center. I hope to continue contributing my labors to this project and to be a part of it in the future.
Ryan Rutherford
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