EDUCATION

Meet 2 of our Learning by Leading students

Cora Keber, director of education

There is no better way to understand the impacts of our Learning by Leading ™ program, L*L@UGA, than from our students.

Jenna Zellerer, HORT 3940S intern, Children’s Garden L*L@UGA team

I joined the Learning by Leading™ program during the fall 2021 semester at UGA and was fortunate enough to take part in the Children’s Garden Learning by Leading™ team. During the spring 2022 semester, I participated in Jim Affolter’s horticulture internship class, HORT 3940S.

During the fall 2021 semester, I worked alongside the children’s garden team in developing educational activities for children to participate in while visiting the garden. This past spring, I worked alongside my mentor, Katie McCollum, in creating the framework for the Sweet Pea Club program, which is geared towards children ages 3-4. These activities allowed me to form greater communication skills, effective leadership and utilize my ability to think critically. Half of my time was spent creating activities and planning programs, and the other half working in the garden. While working in the garden, I was able to learn new techniques and skills that come from growing different species of plants. As an ecology major, I valued this information and found myself leaving the garden with new knowledge every day.

My experiences at the garden have helped me form a sense of community within a professional environment. The members of this community have assisted me not only academically, but personally as well. Participating in the Learning by Leading™ program at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia has been a positive experience that I will look back on for years to come.

Madison White, PSO Student Scholar Environmental Education and Outreach L*L@UGA team

Transferring to UGA at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t ideal. Despite the niches within the individual colleges, it was difficult to find my place on campus, explore the community and get to know my classmates. After a semester in my apartment behind my computer screen, I saw an Instagram post promoting the Learning by Leading™ program. I’d only been to the botanical garden once, but I was seeking campus involvement. As an ecology major, pursuing certificates in environmental education and sustainability, I joined the Environmental Education and Outreach Learning by Leading™ team.

Madison White

I’ve stayed due to the communityminded staff and LxL peers that I’ve gotten to know.

Madison White

I initially chose this team to gain experience leading educational programs, but I’ve stayed due to the community-minded staff and LxL peers that I’ve gotten to know (and maybe, the ambassador animals, too). During spring 2022, I was an intern through the Public Service and Outreach Student Scholars program, an opportunity for a selected cohort to learn about the university’s public service mission and the different outreach units that serve their local communities, before partaking in an internship with a unit.

Along with Abby Ventimiglia, another PSO intern, we worked to update and revitalize the Connect to Protect educator materials. Since taking a fisheries field course in May 2021, I’ve realized in myself an immense passion for conservation in the field, so I was excited this project served both education and native species conservation.

Though I’ve shifted away from wanting to pursue an environmental education career, I’ve acquired transferable skills throughout these programs, like solving problems on the fly, working with others and being able to adapt at any moment. The education staff value assisting students with professional development, and thanks to their expertise, I have more knowledge in writing cover letters, crafting resumes and networking. Audrey, Cora and Sean have been commendable mentors throughout my experience, and working with them made my time at UGA far better than it would’ve been without.