By Zoe Robinson
Lovett’s annual Marine Bio trip went on just a few weeks ago, with many upperclassmen missing the latter half of their week to head to Skidaway Island.
The two-and-a-half day trip, planned by both Marine Biology teachers, Dr. Reynolds and Ms. Kostka, was led by Dr. Reynolds, Despite its brevity, the trip was definitely impactful for the students who went on it.
Dr. Reynolds has been taking students to Skidaway for the twenty years she’s taught at Lovett. The goal, she said, is to get students out of the classroom and to enjoy what they’re learning. It takes place on UGA’s marine biology campus on Skidaway Island, promising lots of opportunities for students to see what they’ve learned in class up close and personal.
For Dr. Reynolds, taking a trip like this for her class just feels like the natural thing to do. “Our unit on estuaries is right there,” she told me of the site, “so why would I lecture about it in the classroom when I talk about it while we’re standing right in the mud?”
For Dr. Reynolds, who has a PHD in ecology, not only is it the best way to teach what she knows, but it’s also the best way to give her students a reset so that they can enjoy the class. Even though what they’re learning may be interesting, it’s always nice to get out in the field and do the work themselves.
The trip also has a bit of a reputation for being a bit mucky, given how much of the time is spent in the actual ground and water, but it’s just another part of the experience. “One year, Mr. Greenberg was literally up to his neck in the mud,” she told me, recounting what the landscape was like. However, when you’re doing it, you get to appreciate the hard work that goes into a marine biologist’s job – and also how fun it can be.
While junior Chloe Major felt she was working hard throughout the trip, she also said that the experience was just a good time. “Being in the field, it’s very interactive and hands-on, which is the best part,” she said.
The Marine Biology classroom does have its iconic aquarium, giving a bit of real-world experience, but the trip presents an exciting opportunity for students. Since most of the class is lectures and observation, getting to actually do the work of marine biologists was a nice way to apply what they’ve learned. “We got to do the actual experiments that we read about, which was fun,” she told me.
While much of the trip was admittedly spent working, being able to do so in such a beautiful place made that work 10 times easier and more enjoyable. “It’s a beautiful view and setting,” Chloe described to me, saying that it was definitely a nice place to learn.
Junior Ashton Hightower agreed, mentioning how beautiful the land was. “It’s like super well preserved, it’s crazy… and it’s so serene,” he explained. For him, doing the work also gave a sense of calm, making it even more enjoyable.
When the students weren’t doing fieldwork, they had time to get a taste of the college experience and campus with other college students. “There’s stuff to do other than just working,” Ashton told me. “They have a field, they have games, an aquarium, a trail.” Overall, there were many activities for the students to enjoy together.
For Chloe and other students, the best thing they got to do together was just hang out at night. “We were just up super late, walking together and being together,” Chloe told me. “It was really like class bonding.”
For Dr. Reynolds, being able to see the bonding, as well as the genuine curiosity and joy from her students is what makes it worth it. The moments when kids find strange objects washed up on the beach and ask about them, set up their own experiments, or even just freak out after sitting in mud are the ones that make her proudest. “Those moments of just pure inquisitiveness, those are my favorite,” she explained.
While the trip may have gotten them a little muddy, it seems to have been a rewarding experience. “I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to do it,” Chloe told me, as she headed off to clean her tank back here at Lovett, 362 miles from the ocean.
