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For the 35th year, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge hosted the Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School from June 10 to July 5. Thirteen students from five middle and high schools in the DSLCC service area learned about ecology by studying nature outdoors rather than in the classroom. The students examined forests and wildlife throughout the highlands of Virginia and West Virginia.

The highlight of the first half of the program was a three-day primitive camping trip to the Laurel Fork region of Highland County, where the Governor’s School continued its long-term monitoring of the salamander population of the area. Students captured, identified, and released 201 salamanders during a day-long study at eight elevations.

In the second half of the program the Governor’s School investigated forest ecology, with a three-day camping trip to the Greenbrier State Forest near Caldwell, WV, and additional trips to Roaring Run in Botetourt County and the Cranberry Glades in West Virginia. The participants learned how to identify and measure trees to assess forest diversity and quality.

The program also included trips to Douthat State Park in Bath County, VA, Gaudineer Knob and Scenic Area in Randolph County, WV, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV.

During the four weeks of the Governor’s School, participants photographed, identified, and researched local wildflowers and trees to produce an “electronic field guide” for each of the two sessions.

Jane DeGroot, biology teacher at Covington High School, and Susan Rollinson, former chemistry and environmental science instructor at DSLCC, were co-directors and instructors. Josh Craft, principal at Callaghan Elementary School, assisted with the salamander study in Laurel Fork and the evening program at Greenbrier State Forest. Three college students helped as mentor-aides: Benjamin Elmore, who will be a student at New River Community College this fall; Seth Fertig, a student at the University of Virginia, and Gage Cucci, who attended DSLCC this past year and is transferring to Virginia Wesleyan University.

Students are invited to participate based on their interest, maturity, and potential for excelling in biology. To be considered, a first-time participant must be a rising 9th or 10th grade student in the DSLCC area. In early March, science teachers, guidance counselors, and local gifted education teachers and administrators encourage qualified students to complete an application. Home-schooled and private-schooled students are welcome to apply, provided that they are residents of Virginia. The Governor’s School is one of 21 Summer Regional Governor’s Schools sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, local school divisions, and host schools, such as DSLCC.

Visit the Governor’s School web site at www.fieldecology.org for more information and many photos of this year’s activities.

To learn more about the Governor’s School or to provide input on future activities, please contact Jane DeGroot at Covington High School, or Susan Rollinson at amrollinson@gmail.com.

FIELD ECOLOGY GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL – Nine area students recently participated in the first session of the 35th annual Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School hosted at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, June 10 – June 20. Pictured at Douthat State Park: Standing (from left) Brian Kendall and Cole Boller-Pinkham, Lylburn Downing Middle School; Seated (from left) Jack Metheny and Shannon Forson, Central Academy Middle School; Maya Dorra, Read Mountain Middle School; Nadia Bergholz, Covington High School; Macy Williams (CAMS), Sidney Donnan and Lydia Yopp, Clifton Middle School.

FIELD ECOLOGY GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL – Eight area students recently participated in the second session of the 35th annual Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School hosted at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College June 24 - July 5. Pictured at Cranberry Glades Botanical Area: (from left) Skyler Barnette (Covington High School), Kellen Lowman (Clifton Middle School), Megan Rickett (CHS), Ryleigh Rothert (Read Mountain Middle School), Macy Williams (Central Academy Middle School), Shannon Forson (CAMS), Nadia Bergholz (CHS), Lydia Yopp (CAMS), and mentor-aides Seth Fertig, Benjamin Elmore, and Gage Cucci, volunteer mentor-aide.

Broken out by localities:

FIELD ECOLOGY GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL – Nine area students recently participated in the first session of the 35th annual Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School hosted at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, June 10 – June 20. Participants from the Alleghany-Covington area were: (from left) Sidney Donnan (Clifton Middle School) and Nadia Bergholz (Covington High School).

FIELD ECOLOGY GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL – Nine area students recently participated in the first session of the 35th annual Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School hosted at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, June 10 – June 20. Participants from Botetourt County were: (from left) Jack Metheny (Central Academy Middle School), Macy Williams (CAMS), Lydia Yopp, (CAMS), Maya Dorra (Read Mountain Middle School), Shannon Forson (CAMS).