Mitch Bender, Ph.D.
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Service

Student Service Learning Projects
 
 

Between 2004 and 2009, over 170 students in my 'Introduction to Environmental Studies' (ETS 260), 'Environmental Regulation' (ETS 367) and 'Senior Project' (ETS 456) classes have logged over 3500 hours on environmental service learning projects. For a comprehensive list of projects, including community partners and service work hours, please click the 'more info' link below.

 

more info
 

Examples of Service Learning Projects

Introduction to Environmental Studies (ETS 260)
In 2007, 23 students of 'Introduction to Environmental Studies' (ETS 260) worked with Shane Lund (City of St. Cloud) and Carrie Raber  (Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District) to develop a stormwater education and neighborhood clean-up project. Together they outlined tasks to be accomplished. Students then developed project teams and assigned responsibilities to each team. Accomplishments included:

  • Marking 55 storm drains in a 20 block area west of campus with an educational “Only Rain Down the Storm Drain” marker.

  • Collecting over 1000 pounds of trash in the neighborhood adjacent to campus.
  • Designing a educational door hangers to be distributed to residents in the neighborhood.
  • Having project featured in the St. Cloud Times (November 14, 2007).

  • Being recognized by the Mayor of St. Cloud, Dave Kleis (letter dated December 20, 2007).

Environmental Regulation (ETS 367)
Between 2006 and 2007, nearly 100 students of 'Environmental Regulation' (ETS 367) have worked on several projects aimed to make environmental regulations more understandable to the community. Students have had fantastic support from several governmental agencies, including the New Flyer, Inc., City of St. Cloud, the City of Sartell, Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Sauk River Watershed District. The projects included:
  • The development of environmental regulation manuals for the Friends of the Sauk River, Big Sauk Lake Association, Big Birch Lake Association and Little Birch Lake Association. Each comprehensive manual included regulatory overviews with regard to 1) building new homes and modifying existing homes, 2) alterations made to shoreland and 3) establishment, restoration and alteration of wildlife areas and wetlands. The manuals also contained an extensive contact list of resources.
  • The creation of a bald eagle conservation project for the City of Sartell. This project included recommendations for homeowners and developers regarding the utilization of eagle nesting habitat. The recommendations also focused on ensuring coexistence between Sartell residents and existing eagle breeding pairs.
  • The establishment of a water plant treatment regulation and education project for the City of St. Cloud. This project summarizes federal, state and city regulations regarding water treatment in an educational manual for new employees. Furthermore, posters regarding regulations and water treatment processes were created for visitors at the plant.
  • The development of a construction regulation manual for the City of St. Cloud. Students summarized complex stormwater regulations related to construction and developed a user friendly manual for those in the field of construction.
After a tremendous amount of hard work, students of the 2007 and 2008 'Environmental Regulation' (ETS 367) course have completed the "2009 Homeowner's Guide to Shoreland Regulations for the Sauk River Watershed". As part of a service learning project, students created the guide to provide easy access to general regulatory information related to homeowner property near lakes and rivers within the Sauk River watershed. The guide contains summaries of local and state regulations, as well as information about compliance processes, and a list of resource contacts for further information. After the guide is reviewed by a variety of regulatory agencies, the guide was published by the Sauk River Watershed District.

Senior Project (ETS 456)
Since 2004, over 50 students have worked on a wide range of service learning projects in 'Senior Project'. Students have had fantastic support from several governmental agencies and civic organizations, including the City of St. Cloud, the City of Sartell, Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Sauk River Watershed District, the Friends of the Sauk River and Big Sauk Lake Association. The projects included:
  • The development of a membership recruitment campaign for the Friends of the Sauk River. This included constructing mailing lists and creating display items for events such as county fairs.
  • The organization of water quality data collected over several years by the Big Sauk Lake Association. The data was organize for the lake association and recommendations were made on how the group might focus their efforts in the future.
  • The development of a comprehensive stormwater survey to gauge the knowledge of St. Cloud residents regarding stormwater issues. The survey was distributed to St. Cloud residents via their September/October 2006 utility bill. The information gained by the survey will be used in educational outreach.
  • The creation of educational three TV infomercial campaigns to target specific audiences through St. Cloud's government access station (channel 19). The city's demographics were investigated and three audiences most likely to degrade stormwater were targeted with specific infomercials.
  • The establishment of a storm drain marking plan. The plan included marking drains throughout St. Cloud with educational decals. These decals will bring attention to the fact that stormwater is drained directly to area rivers without treatment, therefore, no chemicals or trash should ever be dumped in a storm drain.
  • The construction of a non-stormwater discharges manual which outlined 19 specific non-stormwater discharges listed in the city's stormwater pollution prevention plan. This manual will be used to determine the threat of these discharges to St. Cloud stormwater and to outline methods of dealing with the discharges.
  • The organization of a river clean-up day on the Sauk River. Students worked with the Friends of the Sauk River to organize volunteers and supplies for the clean-up event.
  • The development of a comprehensive  survey to gauge the knowledge of Sartell residents regarding rain gardens and their use. The information gained by the survey will be used in educational outreach.
  • The development of a stormwater education program for departments within the City of St. Cloud. This program is to help eliminate stormwater problems generated by the city itself.
  • The Sauk River Cleanup Day in May 2008 was a great success despite the cool weather. Over 50 volunteers helped to clean nearly 3 miles of the beautiful Sauk River. Special gratitude and acknowledgement goes out to Andrew Dotseth, Bill Erickson, Jon Frikken, Madison Jones, Eric Johnson, Tyler Kruse, Amit Pradhananga, Joe Stafne, Joe Storlien and Tyler Zelazny, the Friends of the Sauk River, SCSU Volunteer Connection, Salem Lutheran Church, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Trobec's Bus Service and of course, all the great volunteers.