On Wednesday, October 16, Stephanie Arthur, an assistant professor at the USF College
of Education, joined Ly Do, a Ph.D. candidate in Science Education, alongside several dedicated students to help clean up the USF Botanical Gardens.
Craig Huegel, the director of the USF Botanical Gardens, put out a call for volunteers
to help clean up the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Milton. The storm had uprooted
trees and left debris scattered across the entire area.
"While I did not anticipate anyone being available due to so many students still recovering
from the hurricane damage, let alone lack of power and Internet, I was thrilled to
see some USF students show up early in the morning ready to help," said Arthur. "Our
students are all such giving and kind humans. I observe it on a weekly basis when
they are in my classroom, or I am in their internship classrooms at their district
schools."
Arthur's SCE 4310 Teaching Elementary School Science course frequently visits the USF Botanical Gardens, helping them bridge theory to practical learning pedagogical practice as students themselves, enabling them to develop a similar approach of developing field trips and outside of classroom learning opportunities for their own K-6 students. The course is an essential component of the Elementary Education program offered at the USF College of Education.
"Most students are not aware that our incredible USF Botanical Gardens exist until they visit with my SCE 4310 course," said Arthur. "There, they discover a bountiful nature preserve and vast oasis of peace and calm, right here in a congested urban region of the city... It has been wonderful to observe so many students realize how much this space of science offers each individual based on their needs and interests."
The USF Botanical Gardens, established in 1969, spans over 16 acres on the USF Tampa campus. It is home to
8 acres of natural woodland and 8 acres of planted gardens, focusing on collections
native to Florida. While closed through the end of October following Hurricane Milton,
the space offers numerous programs and events for students and the public, providing opportunities to connect with nature.
"I love the Botanical Gardens. It is such a beautiful thing and such a beautiful way
to show nature off to all the USF students. I love how informational it is, so I thought
it would be a nice way to help out my university," said Jordon Wilson, a member of
the USF College of Education Class of 2025, when asked why she wanted to help.
Before Wilson arrived at the Botanical Gardens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, eager to clean up, she spent time in Orlando helping families in her grandparents' neighborhood who didn't have power or water. She expressed the importance of community during natural disasters and how bonding it can be coming together to help.
"There is something very special about College of Education students, future teachers, who are already so dedicated to bringing the love of learning to others," said Arthur.