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ذكذكتسئµ English class designs new signage for wildlife refuge

Published May 11, 2023

Black Bayou

CAPTION:ذكذكتسئµ English students and faculty collaborated to create new signage for Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge. Participants included (back row, L-R): Cade Robinson, Melissa Jackson, Kaylee Sadler, Dr. Patrick Morgan (front row, L-R):ج‎Karla Robertson, Adarian Turner, Paige Hertzlerج‎


MONROE, LA – English students at the University of Louisiana Monroe designed signage for the nature trail and wildlife pier at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.ج‎

The students were in the spring 2023 Environmental and Nature Writing course taught by Patrick Morgan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English in the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences.ج‎ Participating students included Alexa Anders, Paige Hertzler, Melissa Jackson, Karla Robertson, Cade Robinson, Kaylee Sadler, and Adarian Turner.ج‎

“This was a highly collaborative project, with students working with each other, local experts, the network of National Wildlife Refuges, and the Friends of Black Bayou Lake NWR,â€‌ said Morgan.ج‎ “They applied the writing process they’ve honed as English students to create signs that will impact visitors for years to come.â€‌ج‎

Black Bayou Lake NWR wants to educate visitors about our local environment.ج‎ A major way to educate visitors is through interactive signage along the trails.ج‎

“What these writers did so well was provide the big picture, asking a crucial question,â€‌ said Erin Bellavia, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Refuge Coordinator at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.ج‎ “What story do we want visitors to walk away with?ج‎ They put in the work and brought the perspective of new visitors, blending the multiple goals intended for these signs.â€‌ج‎

The students presented their signs to Black Bayou representatives in late April, and their ideas were enthusiastically received.ج‎ “The signs these students designed invite every visitor to slow down and observe nature,â€‌ said Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Ph.D., President of Friends of Black Bayou Lake NWR and the Charles Allen Endowed Professor of Biology at the University of Louisiana Monroe.ج‎ “They did a brilliant job in this collaborative and interdisciplinary project.â€‌ج‎

Students studied the works of nature writers throughout the semester.ج‎ And then became nature writers themselves by helping Black Bayou.ج‎ ج‎

“I spent the semester researching the local wildlife and ecosystems of Northeast Louisiana,â€‌ said Sadler.ج‎ “This project allowed me to contribute something larger than myself by serving the Monroe community.â€‌ج‎

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