15. Final Impressions

Colloquium is a great class for students to explore the habitat that the school is founded on. I really enjoyed the field trips including the canoe trip and campus trails.

BUT...

I must say that this class stressed me out beyond a level that any class probably should. I didn't understand why this class was a Gordon rule class that required so much writing. Though I did enjoy some of the readings, I feel as if I walked away confused from the book and its message.

I really enjoyed working in groups and met cool people.

BUT...

The wiki project is definitely something that I would cut out. I didn't even know what a wiki was, and then I had to make one? Still today I am confused on what a wiki is.

I completely understand the value of service learning hours.

BUT...

Its hard to determine what is nature friendly service learning hours are. Esp. if your major has nothing to do with the environment.

OVERALL. . .I did enjoy the field trips the most. Learning something is always easier if you can see rather than read it.

Colloquium is a great class, but would be a better class if there was an equal curriculum for every colloquium teacher and class.

13. Canoe Trip

This by far was the best field trip ever.

I really enjoyed this field trip for many reasons. First, we got to experience the land and water first hand. Also we got to become closer with our classmates. I really enjoyed canoeing with Kaitlyn and glad we didn't tip the canoe.

This field trip was very important for many reasons. It taught us about the habitat and mangroves that were all over the place. I have been canoeing on many different occasions, and EVERY TIME i worry about falling into the water. Not that I wouldn't be OK, but you know.

This habitat is extremely important because this is our backyard. I live here in SW FL so it makes me more proud to be from Naples and SW FL.

12. Downtown Fort Myers

This was the one field trip that I was completely confused about. I've been to downtown Fort Myers on many occasions but I never realized or seen all of the things that I saw that day. I really enjoyed this field trip for many reasons. First, while walking around the city, you could see the history. Also to go along with the history of the city, it makes the city look bigger then it actually is.

I really enjoyed the bay and the city of palms, it is amazing to see how many different palm tree can survive in Florida.

Another thing that I really enjoyed was the museum. I really liked the history of the first settlers of Florida. Though I don't understand the Egypt exhibit but I still enjoyed it.

Downtown Fort Myers is a beautiful place to display the history of Thomas Edison, Palms, and many more things to come.

Picture from: Google Images.

10. Corkscrew

The Corkscrew Swap Sanctury is a great place to become one with the nature and the surroundings. I feel this filed trip allowed us to see things that we talked about in class and touched on the history of Florida.

This was the first field trip that we had a student naturalist. I feel its great to have someone close to the same age to explain the nautral world and nature. He was a great tour guide and pointed out things that I would have never seen on my own.

Corkscrew is a great place that shows great ways to be eco-friendly and the history of Florida and this land.

Whenever on a field trip I love too see animals. I saw many different animals including birds, racoons and a rare cuban lizard.

:-) ttyl.

9. Ecological Footprint

• If everybody lived like me, it would take 6.3 earths to hold everybody and their habits.
• I would love to live more efficently, if I could learn a cheaper way then doing so.
• But being a college student that is always on the run, seems to make it harder each day!
• I would love to learn more.
• BUT i do feel that something went wrong, because 6.3 earths is A LOT.
• HOPE I did this correctly!

7. Estero Bay and Matanzas Pass Perserve

• I really enjoyed Estero Bay and Matanzas Pas Preserve because of all the knowledge that was there. I older woman who greeted us was extremely nice and seemed to know a lot of history about the bay. I love to hear stories about history and people who have lived through it all.
• The board wall was very nice for two reasons, the weather was amazing and there were a lot of different things to learn.
• From my understand, www.conservation2020.com, is a site were you can sell your land to them for conservation purposes. They also use the land to protect wildlife, plants, and the land itself, so we can have the land in the future.
• This is the first time I've seen this site, but I have heard of programs like this that do the same thing. I've not visited any other preserves but definitely hope to do so in the future. I feel that should use the tax dollars to preserve land, if not the future can lead to devastating things and extinction of animals.

ttyl

6. Water Rights

• No, I feel that people don't have the right to sell water that flows beneath the ground. 1. Its not fair to charge for something that is natural and sell it at a rediculas price. 2. If there is a body of water that is local and there is a water shortage, then if they can't use the water then it could kill millions. Wildlife could be impacted both in a positive way and negative way. If there is a shortage of food; then you could hunt. BUT if you could hunt whenever you want, there would never be any food.
• Though this was extremely hard for me to conclude, I do not feel that I am conserve as much water as I can. I drink about a gallon of water a day, and do recycle the bottles and use tap water so I'm not buying water as much. Unfortunately, I don't have the supplies, like a bucket, to measure a shower and sink and the water that I use. If I could guess how much water I do use a day, between brushing my teeth, showers, washing my hands, and doing dishes; I feel that I use 6+ gallons of water a day.
• Though I might use a lot of watere I do feel that I conserve water also, I don't leave the water on in many different cases. I refill jugs and bottles that I use throughout the day.

5. Future of Food.

• Favorite Food - Peanut Butter
• This peanut butter comes from Pubix supermarkets inc., Lakeland FL 33802.
• Ingredients: Roasted peanuts, corn syrup, soy protein, sugar. . .
• I didn't travel far for the plate, maybe only 6 feet.
• Though water was used to produce this peanut butter, I do feel that the majority of the ingredients we oils and fats.

I wasn't too sure about this post, but as for the video. I do feel the video would have been

more beneficial if it was not shown on a bus. Its hard to watch and hear everything that the video is saying. Consumers should ALWAYS know what is in their food and what they are eating. Food and nutrition is something that is extremely important, and even though peanut butter is not the best or healthiest food, it sure is good.

http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com/history/index.html

http://media.nbcaugusta.com/images/wagt_publix_peanuts.jpg

ttyl

4. Echo

I always enjoy the field trips that we take, not because we get out of the classroom, but because we are actually learning while experiencing nature. I've learned over the years that seeing something makes more of an impact than actually reading it out of a text book.

While visiting Echo I learned a lot of different things. Like different ways to use energy with everyday products that are around us all the time. I really enjoyed our guide, he was very knowledgeable and funny too. He made the trip memorable. I really enjoyed this field trip because of everything that it had to offer. I loved that they show struggling countries and communities how to grow crops and to feed themselves with what they have. I also enjoyed all the animals that were on site, with exception of the snake I saw. ( snakes = no bueno)

I personally don't have any experience with growing my own crops or food, but my father loves to do it. Both my parents have taken time out of their busy lives to build a garden and plants vegetables that we do use on a regular basis. My father loves to work in the garden, and it saves some money too.

Echo is a great place to visit and learn about different ways to survive. Also a great place to buy many different plants and vegetables.

Until Next time

--David. :-)

3. Campus Field Trip

Its always so exciting to learn about the history of your school. It makes me proud of the campus and all that it is trying to do to stay enviromentally safe.

When we were walking on the trails and speaking about what kind of animals were calling FGCU home, I thought about the time when I actually saw a family of wildhogs. They were crossing the street, and looked harmless, BUT i wouldn't dare mess with them.

Another thing that I really enjoyed was the hammock and resting area. I have already told my friends that we should go out there and hangout. It seems relaxing, but they didn't want to hear it.

I really enjoyed our walk (minus the mud) of our campus, it made me apprciate all that FCGU is founded on.

:-) ttyl

My Neighborhood

Everyday I try to take a walk or do my daily run around my neighbor, simply because it is beautiful. Fountains, lakes, fish, trees, and even ducks walking around make my neighborhood that much more exciting.

I really enjoy being outside (esp. when it is nice outside) because of all the people that you see on a daily basis. I live in a community that is filled with families, retired couples and (good) college students (like me).

The community officials take pride in the neighborhood. They plant tree, landscape and keep our neighborhood very clean.

"You can't know who you are until you know where you are." by Wendell Berry is a very great quote, not just for this class and what it represents, but also for life in general.

Incoming Reflection

My first impression was definitely not a great one, but I can honestly say that I an enjoying the class so far. When first transfering to FGCU and the guide explaining "Colloquium", I was confused. Why was I required to take a course that had NOTHING to do with my major. I knew I had to take it so I signed up as quick as possible.

I have little nature experience. I love being outside, but in the woods? I don't know. I am terrified of snakes and I wouldn't know what to do if I saw an alligator.

I don't know If I have any anxieties, but I hope that this class is not as stressful as everyone says it is. My biggest goal of this class is to become more aware of my surroundings and the nature.

My major is communications and PR, and I know that this day in age many people and companies are going green. So the knowledge of this class may in fact be a huge positive of my career. :-)

ttyl

-D