Volunteer Recruitment and Retention in Ecological Restoration: A Service-Learning Perspective

Authors

Vishanth Murugesan, University of Central FloridaFollow
Shivani Hari, University of Central FloridaFollow
Jaclyn Walgreen, University of Central FloridaFollow
Danielle Bodziak, University of Central FloridaFollow
Jayna Manohalal, University of Central FloridaFollow

Files

Course Code

LDR

Course Number

3215

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Haley Winston

Faculty/Instructor Email

haley@ucf.edu

About the Author

We are a group of diverse LEAD Scholars unified by our passion for coastal environmental restoration. We would like to thank CEELAB for providing us a wonderful site to conduct our service-learning project, Pre-Med AMSA for enabling us to recruit volunteers, and Dr. Haley Winston for helping us along every step.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

Environmental groups combat global warming and climate change using a variety of restoration efforts, often with the help of volunteers. In this project, we examine the impact of volunteerism on coastal ecological restoration work with the Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab (CEELAB) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). We recruited volunteers from UCF Pre-Med American Medical Student Association (AMSA) to help with mangrove restoration and oyster unit construction service dates. We studied the influence of the work through factors such as the number of service hours contributed and social media attention garnered, both indicating a significant impact. As a service-learning project, we also learned how this project benefited us by enabling real-world associations to coursework and providing a basis for professional connections.

Keywords

service-learning; volunteer; ecology; coastal; estuarine; premed; restoration; ecology; retention; climate change; global warming

Recommended Citation

Murugesan, Vishanth; Hari, Shivani; Walgreen, Jaclyn; Bodziak, Danielle; and Manohalal, Jayna, "Volunteer Recruitment and Retention in Ecological Restoration: A Service-Learning Perspective" (2023). High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023. 58.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2023fall/58