Catherine Blog Post 1

Hi everyone, Catherine here. The first week of the Summer Service Fellowship has been filled with incredible experiences - getting to know y’all, visiting the Civil Rights Museum, bowling like a champ, and of course, jumping right in to work! I’ll be volunteering at the Memphis Botanic Garden this summer, an amazing non-profit whose mission is to “enhance lives by connecting people with nature to increase awareness and appreciation of our environment.” Specifically, I’ll be working in the education department crafting and implementing environmental education programs for elementary school-aged children. I’ve already led a Butterfly class (anyone know what the Tennessee state butterfly is?), prepped next week’s “Garden Goodies” camp, led families through My Big Backyard (the phenomenal hands-on children’s garden), and hosted a “Fun Fridays” event (kids planted clover in tiny planter pots to create their own fairy and gnome homes). I’ve enjoyed working alongside the folks in the education department – everyone is gracious and willing to answer my silly questions. I’ve never experienced a work environment quite like this before – it’s a very busy place, people are moving in and out of the halls grabbing supplies from the craft closet, answering calls about birthday parties, directing visitors to My Big Backyard, and chatting between cubicles about upcoming events. At first I thought it would be chaotic – how can everyone get work done with so much hustle and bustle?!  But there’s actually a kind of harmonious rhythm to the work, and the movement keeps everyone energized and enthusiastic. I’m excited to see what’s in store.

I chose to work at the Memphis Botanic Garden because I believe it is vital to teach kids about the environment in order to inspire life-long appreciation for the natural world. With a foundational eco-knowledge and love of nature, kids can then learn about and tackle larger issues such as conservation, climate change, food security, and environmental justice. I chose to serve at this non-profit because I want to help shape positive, constructive attitudes towards the environment in a fun, interactive way. Kids’ “Aha!” moments, their beautiful, raw realizations about the world, are what inspire me to work in environmental education.

Volunteering provides the unique opportunity to learn about issues affecting our society, engage with dynamic leaders striving to make positive change, and create a more sustainable community. I am confident that the Summer Service Fellowship will empower me to act as a steward of the earth and meaningfully serve the Memphis community. I also hope to learn more about your experiences – I think we can each contribute important insights and learn a lot from each other. This summer, I expect to freckle under the Memphis sun, to collaborate with my coworkers, to be challenged, to be held responsible, to share and listen to SSF stories, and to impact our community in a valuable way. I think the SSF will facilitate personal growth, allow me to develop priceless relationships with other dedicated individuals at the Botanic Garden and within the Fellowship, and meaningfully contribute to the Memphis community.