Service Learning Reflection

This is the first time that I did community hours, for me it was a great experience. Being able to lend a hand to my community and environment, made me feel like a link in the chain of this community, it is strong. My service learning hours were done in different places. The first one was with Estero Aquatic Preserve. It was a very unique and exciting experience, not only was I helping but I also had the opportunity to experience wildlife that I would not usually be able to see. We went out on a boat, launched at Lovers Key and we went to small islands around the coast line to count bird nests. It amazed me that the director was able to identify the species of bird by only looking at the nests. I was not really familiar with the different types of birds but once you have seen the birds it makes it easier to identify them. It was my first time using binoculars and while I was looking through them because of the motion of the boat from the waves it made me seasick. My second experience was done at The Naples Botanical Garden. This was also new for me I hardly pull my own weeds and here I am clearing out a whole section of weeds from a bed of cypress palms. Even though it was hot and a lot of bugs it was still an enlightening experience. I got to see beauty at its early stage when I had the opportunity to plant small birds of paradise plants. I felt that I had left my seed in this place, once they grow I can go back and show my children what I helped create. I have used pruners before but not as much as I got to use them on this day. I now realized that it takes a lot of time and effort to maintain gardens as beautiful as this one in the Naples Botanical Garden. What I took from this experience was the harmony of humans and nature working together to make natural beauty. After I had finished this activity I realized the importance of students doing this volunteer work because it brings them closer to the environment, gives them a hands-on experience and the most important - appreciation of their surroundings. Even after my degree I am sure I would like to volunteer my time again.