Come Join the Muddy Shoes Crew
A recent graduate shares memories of a once-in-a-lifetime class.
Next year, the Field Ecology/Conservation of Natural Resources courses will once again be available to students who have passed Biology with a C or better and meet dual enrollment requirements. This spring, we are running a series of articles to let students know all the amazing opportunities the courses can provide. As Ms. Zacks explains, “Students who want to earn college credit while hiking, camping, gardening, and learning about the environment should sign up for Field Ecology/Conservation of Natural Resources.”
The following article was written by Class of 2018 member Kaitlyn Zedeker.
Out of the Classroom, into the Garden
Do you have a garden at home? Would you like to be able to garden at school? Part of the Field Ecology/Conservation of Natural Resources dual enrollment course is to learn how to garden. What better way is there to relax during a stressful day at school than to play in the garden?
During this course, there are weekly garden days. You get time to sit back, relax, and grow your own food to take home and enjoy with your family. During my class, we grew sweet radishes that tasted amazing in a salad, and garlic my mother used in everything she cooked. Why go to a store and buy produce you can easily grow?
Hands-On Learning Opportunity
Garden days are also times to grow and learn. You’re not stuck in a classroom, but outside enjoying our desert sun. While gardening, we learned so much about plants, insects, and each other. We even discovered aphids, tiny green insects that can ruin a whole garden if not stopped.
One doesn’t need a green thumb or experience growing a garden for this class. It’s a learning experience for everyone.
Learn with Friends
We learned not only the basics of gardening, but how easy it is as well. One doesn’t need a green thumb or experience growing a garden for this class. It’s a learning experience for everyone, and there is no better way to learn than with friends. The feeling of eating carrots, radishes, garlics, onions, lettuce, and beets you grew is incredible! My favorite class was Field Ecology for more reasons than one, but garden days is definitely at the top.
I had time to relax and not worry about projects, deadlines, papers, homework, or exams. While this is a college-level course, and the workload is slightly heavier than a normal class, Ms. Zacks gives you a day each week to take a breather and not be stressed. Field Ecology is one of the best courses offered at Yucca Valley High School.
Katelyn Zedeker is an environmental sciences student at Humboldt State University.
