Even with the difficulties of the pandemic the CSU SER student club has thrived over the last year! During the Spring 2021 semester the club was able to host bi-weekly meetings and engage with undergraduate and graduate students interested in ecological restoration. In the earlier, snowy months of the semester, the club met virtually and hosted guest speakers such as Chris Lenhart to learn about the SER CERPIT, watched SER webinars, spent time discussing future projects/plans, and learning about member’s unique ecological interests. Our students are always looking to build their hands on experience so please keep the club in mind with any opportunities. To connect our members during this isolating time we also hosted many social meetings to create comradery, network and, of course, play some virtual Pictionary.

As the weather began to warm and the ground began to thaw, we created opportunities for club members to engage in socially distanced restoration projects while following county guidelines to limit the number of participants per project. Our in-person restoration efforts this semester included planting native pollinator species at the SER pollinator garden at CSU (check it out on the west side of the new Warner building) as well as several field workdays at the CSU owned Waverly property to remove barbed wire fencing to prep the land for future restoration projects.

The club also had a busy Fall 2020 semester. We planted a pollinator garden at the Waverly property with plans to expand the garden each semester and built bee boxes to discuss the importance of pollinators and maintaining their populations. The club was also excited to hear from speakers such as Brett Wolk, who talked to us about the recent fires in the Front Range, Rod Chimner who discussed wetland hydrology, ecology and restoration in wetlands, Marin Chambers, and Jim Bromberg. We are excited for the Fall 2021 semester and the opportunity to host more in-person meetings and projects!

Want to know what the CSU chapter is up to?