Athens, Ga. – Warnell School natural resources recreation and tourism faculty and graduate students recently held the inaugural meeting of the University of Georgia student chapter of the Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism (NRRT) Society. All meetings are open to any UGA student who wishes to learn more about outdoor recreation management and participate in service-learning projects maintaining local area recreation resources.
The mission of this student organization includes “fostering appreciation of natural resources through promotion of sustainable recreational opportunities, and to contribute to the conservation, stewardship, enhancement and enjoyment of natural and cultural resources and the management of those resources in a way that produces both land health and human benefits,” according to Allison Ginn, acting president of the group until formal elections can be held later this fall.
“We also seek to provide a platform for research, education and participation related to NRRT, thus providing opportunities for leadership and experience,” she said.
Ginn proposed a number of service-learning opportunities to the more than twenty-five students that attended the first meeting. The first project proposed was participation and involvement coordinating Georgia Envirothon competitions, environmental-based contests of knowledge among students of Georgia’s middle and high schools, which are held across the state throughout the academic year.
Another service-learning proposal was to identify a local area hiking trail to maintain as part of the Athens-Clarke County Natural Resources Division Trailkeepers Program. This involves coordination with representatives from ACC and the Sandy Creek Nature Preserve, and continued maintenance and improvement of the trail. The first trail suggested for adoption, Cook’s Trail, which connects the Sandy Creek Nature Preserve with Sandy Creek Park, was a popular suggestion as it was established by retired UGA forestry faculty member Walter Cook.
The UGA NRRT Society plans to meet the second Monday of each month of the fall and spring semesters, with the next meeting planned for Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. in room 1-304 of the Warnell School. Those interested in learning more or joining the UGA student chapter of the NRRT Society, should contact Allison Ginn at ginna@warnell.uga.edu.
