A quarter of a century has passed since Lucas Erno began teaching children about science on The William George Agency (WGA) campus in Freeville NY.
“There’s such a unique opportunity here. Like the fact that we have so much control over the direct environment and that students will run into adults all across the campus wanting to support them and in positions to help them,” says Erno.
Erno is the Science Department Chair at The George Junior Republic (GJR) Special Act school, which is located on campus and educates youth receiving out-of-home therapeutic services from WGA. He is also a lead staff of the Chance Takers Club, created for students interested in being an advocate for change in their environment, be it physical, social-emotional, or ecologically.
“Too often we hear from youth that they don’t think they matter. They’ve often been through a lot before coming to campus. They think ‘I’m just one person what could I do?’ We teach kids that even the little things matter. You can influence the people around you and realistically hope that your actions will draw attention to the right person who can take it to the next level,” Erno explains.
Erno integrates the natural environment of the campus into his lesson plans whenever possible.
“We are fortunate to have such immediate access to amazing geography. Students can walk right outside the classroom to experience a real-life application of what we’re reading about in a textbook. For many, hands-on experiential learning improves understanding and retention of concepts,” says Erno.
“We’ve long viewed our rural environs as one of the finest tools we have to nurture healing and growth,” says Helen Hulings, Executive Director of The William George Agency for Children’s Services. “In addition to augmenting traditional classroom experiences, spending time in nature can lower stress, increase cognitive attention, and improve mental health. For youth with limited access to nature in their home environments, our campus has been a transformative experience.”
One popular campus destination is a man-made pond that spans approximately six acres and is officially known as Loch Urquhart. It provides an attractive year-round view from the campus dining hall as well as a real-life resource for Erno’s students to test water quality factors.
“When I first arrived in the late 1990s, the campus pond was an obvious part of everyday life,” recalls Erno. “There were physical education classes and recreational activities that routinely took place there. Kids learned fly fishing, and there was an elective in fly tying and preparation. But time allows environments to change. Sediments will build up and stuff will grow. We’ve talked about this natural process in our biology classes. The pond has been slowly reverting back to a field.”
A conversation between Erno and an eleventh-grader, who expressed disappointment at the lack of fish in the pond, reignited a long-standing interest to restore a functional habitat for both fish and recreational activities.
Students began computing the specific details about pond size, amount of fish needed, and total cost of the project. They then presented a plan to WGA leadership, which fast-tracked the project. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fishery permits were obtained and plans were made to remove decaying trees and years of accumulated silt.
Students borrowed hip waders, water quality test kits, nets, buckets and various additional devices from the OCM BOCES Science Center. They also learned how to operate a drone.
WGA’s facilities and vocational trainers took youth on a field trip to a local fishery to purchase three dozen grass carp. Recreation staff served as lifeguards looking on while students in hip-waiters released the weed-eating fish into their new home.
Youth not only helped create a healthy ecosystem for fish but also met with workers from the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District and the DEC.
“They got to see that not all jobs require working behind a desk. They could become field biologists or ecologists that count and identify water bugs all day long. A great way to make money and feel good while doing it,” says Erno.
Perhaps most importantly, youth learned that change can and does happen through hard work, imagination, creativity and collaboration.
The William George Agency for Children’s Services is committed to providing a safe and caring residential environment supported by proven, therapeutic, clinical and medical care for at-risk youth. For more information, visit their website: www.wgaforchildren.org.