Grad Challenge Projects Lead to Environmental Awareness
by Nancy Wood,
April 21, 2011, page 9.....

CVU Seniors have tackled a wide variety of projects to meet the requirements of the Grad Challenge program. A number of them have an environmental focus, including these four projects of students from Charlotte: Kaitlin O’Connell, Marissa Minkler, Zachary McCaffrey and Tylor Mayfield.

Outward Bound
Kaitlin O’Connell spent eight days in August 2010 on a white water rafting adventure in Utah sponsored by Outward Bound. She was one of 20 students aged 16-18. Prior outdoors experience with her family had inspired her to make this her Grad Challenge project.
The students slept without tents, in the open under the stars. Kaitlin described a “secluded wilderness with no sound of planes or cars.” She came away with an appreciation of the “untouched wild,” uncluttered with material things. She emphasized the importance of preserving areas that are still secluded, which can be visited with “structured guides.” She said that the experience stays with her as a “keepsake in my mind’s eye.”

Turtle Conservation
Marissa Minkler looked for an interesting project that would help enhance her Spanish language skills and found online a turtle conservation volunteer opportunity in Tecoman, Mexico, just outside of Guadalajara.
The program, sponsored by Projects Abroad, provided the perfect combination of Spanish immersion with the chance to help protect the Olive Ridley sea turtle that she described as one of the most endangered species.
Marissa spent two weeks in Tecoman, patrolling the beaches at all hours of the night with biologists and other volunteers. They were looking for turtle nests and collecting the eggs that they found. The eggs were identified and counted, then buried in an area where they could be protected from predators. During her stay a couple of the nests hatched and she helped box up the hundreds of tiny turtles and release them in the ocean that was close by.
Marrisa commented that the turtles are “beautiful exotic creatures who have survived for centuries and have a big impact on the ecosystem.” She said, “It is sad that humans contribute to the extinction of species that deserve to live.”

Forestry Management
Zachary McCaffrey likes being outside and in the woods, so he chose to learn about forestry management for his Grad Challenge project. He focused on the woods that are part of the property owned by CVU, and that are used by the school for the Core Project Adventure program. Project Adventure is a course that encourages 9th grade students to try new group activities, such as initiative games, group problem solving, trust activities and the low ropes course that is located in the woods.
Zachary said that he assessed what is in the woods and identified the various plant and tree species. He also learned about what’s best for the forest and goal setting for landowners.
He found that there are a lot of invasive species in the woods, including buckthorn, Japanese barberry and exotic shrubby honeysuckles. He said it is easier for the invasives to grow, and that they choke out the natural forest inhabitants.
Zachary said he learned more about different species and what a career in forestry could involve. He also gained an appreciation of the importance of being good to the environment, and how one can help the forest. He pointed out simple things one can do. For example, hikers are advised to go right through the wet areas of a trail rather than walking along the side, which can damage the surrounding area.

Invasive Species Removal
Tylor Mayfield participated in an Audubon Project last fall, spending five days removing invasive species at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. He said it was something that his father had done seven years ago when they moved to Charlotte and he wanted to have a similar experience.
Tylor was pleased with the opportunity to do his part in helping the environment. He commented that the park is gorgeous, and that it is a major birding location. He said that a lot of people bring their dogs, despite the fact they are not allowed in the park. He said it would not be as much of a problem if they were kept leashed and if their owners cleaned up after them.
For his Grad Challenge tangible product, Tylor is working on recreating the map of the park, adding information that is currently lacking. According to Tylor, the map project has funding from TogetherGreen, an Audubon program sponsored by Toyota.
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Charlotte CVU Seniors and their Grad Challenge Projects

Amanda Aube – Learning to Play Piano
Kaitlyn Aube – YMCA Pre-School
Heather Aube – Athletic Training
Matthew Bauer – Using CAD to Design a Shed
Michael Blood – Learning to Play the Piano
Brianna Champney – Creating a Flash Bag
John Curtis – Charlotte Rescue
Lawrence Dee – Building a Traditional Native American
Lacrosse Stick
Kristen Donaldson – The History and Art of Henna
Jesse Duke – Yoga
Caroline Edholm – Charcoal Art1
Konnor Fleming – Learning the Guitar
Marcia Ford – Counselor in Training at Camp Hochelaga
Matthew Gregory – Computer Tech
Maya Grevatt – Volunteering at Sara Holbrook Center
William Hall – Making a Human-Powered Hydrofoil
Daniel Hebert – EMT and Charlotte Rescue
Jared Helfman – Fly Fishing
Samuel Hella – Photography
Catherine Hill – Interior Design
Laura Hinsdale – A Day in the Life of a Large Animal Vet
Nicholas Kelley – Learning the Ropes
Kevin Lambert – Law Enforcement
Ryan Machavern – Sports Management
Thomas Mack – Maple Sugaring
Jake Marston – Kelly Brush Foundation
Tylor Mayfield – Charlotte Wildlife Refuge Invasive Species
Zachary McCaffrey – Forestry Management
Nora McFadden – Handbuilding and Throwing Clay
Maxwell McGee – Exploring Career Opportunities in the
Medical Field
Luke Metz – Rapid Prototyping Technology
Marissa Minkler – Turtle Conservation
Jana Nakhleh – The Arabic Language
Kaitlin O’Connell – Outward Bound
Kacy Preston – Building a Cross-Country Course
Morgan Preston – Building a Horse Run-in
Danielle Rocheleau – Working with Ronald McDonald
House Charities
Samantha Scribner – Casualty Insurance
Lauren Shapiro – MedQuest
Nicholas Spencer – Hiking and Wilderness Survival
Adam Struble – Beekeeping to Produce Natural Honey
Charles Sudbay – Stonework and Masonry
Christopher Sulva – Paranormal Activity in Vermont
Jamieson Thayer – Fly Fishing
Matthew Therrien – Computer Animation
Jordan Vogler – Adventures in Animation
Ross Wade – BMW Body Work
Margaret Wallace – Photography: A Refugee Photostory
Donna Waterman – Choreography and Teach at Leddy
Park’s Cool Camp
Tucker Weaver – Training for and Running a Marathon
Nathaniel Wells – Make a Wish Foundation
Chelsea Wiggins – The Humane Society
Matthew Zahn – Working on a Gubernatorial Campaign