As a new student and a new member of the sustainability floor I am constantly learning about new ways to be sustainable and discovering fascinating new ways science and extraordinary people are revolutionizing the civilization to make it more sustainable. Since I have been on the floor I have learned how to compost, make organic cleaning products, and how to properly recycle. I’ve learned an incredible amount about being more sustainable, however, my favorite and most educational experience this far in the semester has been our floor retreat to Assateague national park. During the trip I learned the purpose of the fences on top of the dunes, information I had priorly no knowledge of and really never questioned. I learned that these fences are constructed in order to strengthen the dunes. The fences collect sand and builds the dune up over time while strengthening it from within. We were able to get hands on experience building these fences and working together to help provide protection to the beach environment. It was an amazing experience the not only helped the world we live in but helped foster bonds with the people we live with. While on the dunes everyone was careful not to step on or harm the plants as they are detrimental to the health of each dune. I have also always secretly wanted to walk on the dunes, mostly because I know it’s not allowed, and so I was glad to be able to experience that while also helping the dunes. After the dunes we took a trip the the salt marshes. While at the salt marshes those brave enough to venture into the water were able to take a net and gently brush it across the floor of the marsh. Most of the time the result would be a mess of mud and seaweed, however, on the rare occasion that something was caught in the net it was fascinating. I was lucky enough to catch four flounders, a few crabs and about a dozen shrimp. When everyone was done fishing all of the catches from earlier were placed in a tank and the group was able observe what was caught. There were so many species that I have never seen before such as pipe fish, miniature lobsters, and the smallest flounders I have ever seen. It was amazing to see a whole ecosystem full of species usual and new to me could exist within a salt marsh with water that came up to my midsection. The entire event was fascinating and I was so excited to learn about the environment in a hands on way while learning about things I have never even heard of before.

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