NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Westminster College successfully launched a new domestic travel initiative, “Westminster Away,” last spring, and plans are now underway for another trip in spring 2025.
Designed to enhance academic learning through immersive travel experiences, Westminster Away began with a week-long trip to New England last May as part of the spring cluster course “The Birds and the Bees.”
Birds and Bees combines theory with practical field-based experience to comprehensively explore the ecology of birds and pollinators. The first trip to New England allowed students to see conservation work in action, enriching their classroom learning with real-world exposure.
“The Westminster Away Program provides students with a fantastic opportunity to travel outside of their region. Witnessing students connect sustainability, conservation and diverse areas of interest is It’s incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Kelly Dewar, director of the Center for Environmental Harms, associate professor of biology, and cluster course instructor.
The 14 students and two faculty members spent a week visiting farms and parks in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, as well as Vermont’s Champlain Valley and Green Mountain National Forests. I also gained insight into apiary management and the importance of pollinators in agriculture at the University of Vermont Horticultural Research and Education Center. These sites focused on the intersection of sustainable practices and bird and pollinator conservation.
At the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington, Vermont, students practiced tagging birds and monitoring populations.
Brody McGuinness, a senior environmental science major from Heber, Utah, said, “This day was one of the most memorable days of the trip for me. Working directly with bird research was an unforgettable experience.” ” he said.
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the 80-acre Gepragus Community Park in Hinesburg, Vermont. There, students focused on golden warbler shrub management. The park is an 80-acre property owned and managed by the City of Hinesburg. It is home to many species of birds and ephemeral spring wildflowers.
“It was amazing seeing and hearing all the birds throughout the park. I know more about the different types of habitats that birds live in,” said the political science and international studies major from Austin, Texas. said senior Christina Loewe. “Overall, the Gepragus Park and Warbler Tagging experience was one of my favorite parts of the trip and summed up everything I learned throughout the semester.”
At Isham Family Farm in Williston, Vermont, students learned about Audubon’s bird-friendly maple program.
“Visiting Isham Farm and seeing the Scarlet Tanager in the field was a great experience, especially since it is the ‘mascot’ of the Maple Program. It changed my perspective on the practical aspects of bird conservation and sustainable practices,” said Mackenzie Means, a junior political science major from Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Students walked the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences’ Forest Canopy Walk, viewing the landscape 100 feet above the forest floor and getting a closer look at the birds and animals in the environment.
“I am very happy to receive financial assistance through the Westminster Away Program,” said Jayden Benjamin, a senior business administration and human resources management major from Munhall, Pennsylvania. “The Canopy Walk was a highlight of the trip. It was one of the. Seeing the concepts learned in class firsthand made it all worth it. ”
“Experiencing these practices and species in the field made the importance of our research clear. We are deeply grateful to the donors who made this trip possible. Birds and Pollinators “I was able to truly understand and appreciate the conservation efforts of these people,” said Aislinn Andrews, a recent biology graduate.
Westminster Away plans to continue offering students enriching travel experiences that complement their studies. Next year’s New England itinerary is currently being planned.
“The Center for the Environment’s mission is perfectly aligned with our experiential learning travel courses, which foster deep connections between participants and the natural world through hands-on, immersive experiences,” said David E., director of the University of Westminster Outdoor Institute and Environmental said Dr. Patrick Krantz, associate professor of science. Science and cluster course instructor. “By engaging students in real-world environmental problems, this course deepens their understanding of how ecosystems work and the human impact on them.”
For more information about the Westminster Away program and upcoming trips, please contact Westminster College Associate Dean Dr. Karen Rezendes at resendkk@westminster.edu.
Pictured above, students and faculty participating in the Westminster Away Program. In the center photo, Nydia Johnson, a junior neuroscience major from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, stands up and approaches a mourning warbler. Third photo, the group takes a break and gathers around the campfire.
