LCHS Students Partner with Community in Local Nature Projects
High school students are contributing to local conservation efforts while also getting first hand biology experience.
For the past two years, Amy Litton’s dual-credit biology classes have helped Knob Creek Conservancy with a variety of nature projects.
In 2023, students created a series of signs and a website to teach elementary students about the importance of natural ecosystems like the Vernal Pond that is on the trail. The biology students focused on teaching about the species that are native to the area as well as the ones that are invasive. They also discussed the importance of removing invasive species whenever possible.
This year, students assisted with the Pearman Forest Trail’s signage. They created a series of signs that would inform visitors about various trees throughout the trail and also explain the ecological significance of those trees to the ecosystem.
“We highlighted the importance of those species in the ecosystem and why it is important for us to care about maintaining places like Pearman Forest for future generations,” Litton said.
Litton said the hope for students is that they can take this hands-on experience and apply it to community engagement. Litton explained how each part of the Learner Profile is met and developed through these unique opportunities.
“They learned to be engaged citizens in their community by completing a project that will benefit ecotourism in the area and hopefully it gave them insight into the importance of being a life-long learner,” Litton said. “In addition to these things they also learned the importance of collaboration while working with members of their class and their community to create a cohesive story along the nature trails.”
LCHS senior Sophia Thompson said her involvement gave her an exciting perspective on how what she was learning in class affected her life.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to explore a new reserve and learn about the symbiotic relationship between us and the forest,” she said.
Previous students like Katherine Nall (now a University of Kentucky freshman) also look back fondly on the project.
“The thing I enjoyed most about the project was getting to do research on something that connected to the things we had learned in class, while getting to experience a natural ecosystem in our hometown,” Nall said. “We exist surrounded by beautiful things in nature all the time but don’t take into account what is truly involved in making it successful and sustainable. Getting to experience this project while being surrounded by my closest classmates all interested in sharing our knowledge with the community was an amazing opportunity that I am so thankful Mrs. Litton gave to us all.