Over the past few months, we have had the incredible opportunity to work with Sustain Mizzou and the MU Office of Student Engagement to curate volunteer events for MU students in ways that increase their ability to attend and participate. By working with student-led groups and programs, we have been able to offer volunteer opportunities that more students can commute to and at times that complement busy campus schedules.
We have had members from Sustain Mizzou, Tigers for a Cause, MU Forestry Club, CAFNR, SNR, and multiple fraternities and sororities all join us to participate in environmental and conservation work, and it’s been a pleasure to get to know so many wonderful students who are excited to make a difference in their community.
Monarchs at the A. L. Gustin Golf Course:
On a warm September afternoon, MCC Naturalist Laura Semken led over 20 MU students on a mission to catch and tag Monarch butterflies at the A. L. Gustin Golf Course. These students volunteered their time to roam the native pollinator plots with butterfly nets, searching for a Monarch butterfly on its migration journey south. This was a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Monarchs with our passionate naturalist and educator, Laura, and Isaac Breuer, A. L. Gustin Golf Course Superintendent and pollinator plot enthusiast. This event caught the attention of dozens of MU students, including two MU journalists, who photographed and reported on the event in an article for The Maneater.
Though we did not catch many butterflies, everyone took the time to learn about Monarchs, see how commercial spaces like golf courses can incorporate wildlife use, and enjoy a beautiful fall evening.
Read the full article on The Maneater here.
Cleaning up the MKT Trail:
Twice during the fall, MU students walked across campus to meet us on the MKT Trail at Bridge #1, south of the MKT Trail Plaza. There, we talked about invasive species, their impact on native wildlife, and how we can help restore native habitats. Students quickly took to identifying and removing bush honeysuckle, cutting and sawing away at the hoards obscuring Flat Branch Creek and picking up trash along the way.
Considerable progress was made during the first event in early October, and they returned in mid-November to continue clearing the trail. Revisiting the site they had already cut and seeing the difference before and after was so satisfying, and many were encouraged to come back, use the trail, and see all the hard work they had done.
New Trees at Gans Creek Recreation Area:
This past fall, MCC partnered with Columbia Parks and Recreation to begin an ambitious project reforesting Gans Creek Recreation Area with hundreds of new trees. Our first collaborative tree planting brought over 50 volunteers, many of which were MU students from Sustain Mizzou, the Environmental and Recreation Graduate Student Association, several service fraternities and sororities, and other members of the student body. They, alongside community volunteers like COMOTA and Missouri Master Naturalists, made up one of the largest volunteer events we have had all year!
Within three hours, volunteers and Park staff planted, mulched, and secured 150 trees throughout Gans Creek RA. Later that fall, multiple students rejoined us to plant even more trees, becoming expert tree planters!
Read the full article on Gans Creek RA here.
The student body at the University of Missouri have really shown their hearts throughout the fall semester, and we could not be more grateful to have these enthusiastic, hard-working students volunteer with us and the Columbia community. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered with us, and we hope to see you again in the spring!
