Caitlin Dempsey Volunteers in New Orleans Wetlands

2016 Mar 14

Caitlin Dempsey of Hopewell Jct, NY, spent two days gator-crawling through a gooey marsh, planting native grasses to help slow the erosion that's costing Louisiana a football field of coastal land every hour.

Dempsey, who is majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Education (B-6) with a concentration in social studies at SUNY Oneonta, took part in a wetlands restoration service-learning project in the Lower 9th Ward from Feb. 27-March 7. Working with a nonprofit organization called Common Ground Relief, 12 SUNY Oneonta students planted hardy, fast-growing native plants and removed invasive species in coastal areas imperiled by hurricanes, development and engineering projects that have eroded land and endangered wildlife.

They were accompanied by Wendy Lascell, assistant professor of geography and environmental science, and Linda Drake, director of the college's Center for Social Responsibility and Community. This is the second consecutive year for the trip, which is part of Lascell's Geography 294: Disaster Geographies of Post-Katrina New Orleans course.

Being immersed in real-world problems, and having the chance to make a difference, was a powerful experience.

"There were so many aspects of the trip that were rewarding and broadened my awareness of both the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the land and the impact on the people of New Orleans," said Dempsey. "I enjoyed being able to step outside of my comfort zone in a city foreign to me and feel as if I was making a difference. Every volunteer opportunity that we participated in through Common Ground Relief was extremely challenging, but had a positive impact on both the environment and people of NOLA. Outside of the volunteer work that we did, I found exploring the rich culture and history of New Orleans to be life-changing in itself, and I fell in love with the city immediately. I was the only education major on the trip, and I had the opportunity to work with a local kindergarten class to plant cypress seeds that will be planted in the wetlands in the future. Working with young children to educate them on how important it is to save the wetlands in their home really touched my heart and is a lesson that is extremely valuable for their generation and the future of New Orleans."

The trip was supported by a Domestic Intercultural Immersion Grant offered through SUNY Oneonta's StAR (Strategic Allocation of Resources) program.

See photos and learn more on the group's Facebook page.