Zainab Muhammad, 17, joined the Southeastern Conservation Corps for a summer of labor intensive trail maintenance projects with a crew of eight others. Zainab had already decided that she would one day study engineering in college. As a senior in high school, Zainab began work on her senior project at Lula Lake Land Trust - a solar powered, pumped irrigation system to water a pollinator garden.
Prior to her experience with the SECC, Zainab had never explored the woods around her home, had never been camping, and had never seen a natural waterfall. It is now her intention to become an environmental engineer when she graduates college.
Zinab will be installing and launching her solar powered, pumped irrigation system for Lula Lake Land Trust's pollinator garden on June 14.
Review on Lula Lake Land Trust's Conservation Education program:
A student may be assigned readings by the likes of Thoreau, Bryson, Abbey, or Muir and still not have an appreciation for the need to protect and preserve natural and historic landscapes in their own backyards. It is through an immersive, educational experience that one comes to know and love the land. Experience, among other things, creates perspective and to educate future generations who are environmentally aware is, simply, our collective duty. These instances are what LLLT strives to achieve with the Conservation Education Program. Currently, the Conservation Education Program is involved with many education opportunities in the greater Chattanooga area.
The major component of the LLLT’s Conservation Education Program is free environmental education for K-12 students. LLLT is launching a pilot project with SECC for youth stewardship. LLLT is also working with the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy for the Bridges to Brighter Futures program to engage 9th grade students to provide project-based learning experiences. Additionally, LLLT is launching a free adult education program called Conservation Ambassadors to teach the importance of conservation in our everyday lives and how to be a steward of tomorrow.