Madison Blodgett Volunteers in New Orleans Wetlands

2016 Mar 14

Madison Blodgett of Gansevoort, 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.

Blodgett, who is majoring in Art (drawing and printmaking concentration) 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.

"Volunteering changed my life," said Blodgett. "We put a substantial monetary value on our lives, and in a place that is victim of such a powerful natural disaster, we make it victim with our monetary mindset as well. The government finds quick solutions for repair, or doesn't repair at all. Working with Common Ground Relief gave me the opportunity to help the community and the environment rebuild from the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought about. The experience I gained and the help I could offer felt more rewarding than money ever could." 

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.