Students harvest and plant oysters during Wesleyan's alternative Spring Break Program, IMAGINE.
By Megan Z. Shearin '06
Sean Westrom '09 harvesting oysters during Wesleyan's
alternative Spring Break Program, IMAGINE.
The weather may have been cold and damp,
but unpleasant conditions didn't stop six Virginia Wesleyan College students from planting and harvesting oysters over spring break.
With temperatures in the 30s and 40s and a steady rain falling, students harvested oysters
in the Sarah's Creek in Gloucester, Va. They then planted the mollusks into artificial reefs
in the Lynnhaven River.
"It was a wet and cold week. The hours were long, but it was all worth it knowing we were helping to restore a national treasure," said Site Leader Sean Westrom '09 from Portsmouth, Va. Westrom, an Environmental Studies major and animal lover, recently completed an internship with the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
This is the second consecutive year Wesleyan students have volunteered their time for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF) oyster restoration project. Through the College's alternative Spring Break Program, called IMAGINE, students have the unique opportunity to participate in a student-led service project. Past teams have traveled as near as Northern Virginia to work with the homeless and as far as Mississippi to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
Oysters naturally filter sea water and have been at the center of debate for scientists, waterman and environmentalists. With oyster populations declining in the Chesapeake Bay, great efforts have been made to protect the native species in hopes of restoring populations and improving water quality.
Michelle Neunzig '09 from Levittown, N.Y., said oysters may be small in size, but their existence plays a crucial part in the Bay's ecosystem.
"The oysters affect the Bay in a positive way and help with the existence of crabs and other small fish," said Neunzig. "The experience was valuable to me because I can understand how important and significant something so small is for something so much greater."
Diane Hotaling, director of community service, said this year's trip was an opportunity for students to learn about oysters as natural water filters and to make new friendships.
"Although the weather was miserable, not one student complained," said Hotaling. "The students gave 100 percent and volunteered their time to help our local environment."
Korinda Rusinyak '10 and Lauren Perry '09 from Virginia Beach, Va., Lan Tran '10 from Chesapeake, Va., and Ashley Wright '10 from Romulus, Mich., also participated in the 2009 alternative Spring Break Experience, IMAGINE.
Tia Butts '09 contributed to this story.
04.01.09