Proposal

Mike Haug
Micer 11:00
March 27, 2009

The Public sphere project I choose to do was to create a conservation and wildlife management group around campus. My main goal is to get USI involved in Conservation and Wildlife management programs around campus. I am not too concerned in actually adding it to the curriculum but just have groups and programs around campus that are involved in conservation programs and groups. This topic came to my mind for many reasons. To start off I am an avid hunter and outdoorsmen and I believe it is very important to focus and inform our future generations on the importance of wildlife management and conservation. I understand the importance of conserving our environment and preserving certain animals.
If I could get students to get together and create a club and inform then of problems around campus and we could go out fix them I believe it would benefit to our campus in many ways. These groups that I would get together would perform many different tasks that include conserving are wetlands around campus, preserving our wooded acres, and many others. It would obviously help maintain a safe and healthy environment around campus but it would also be a very easy way to get the students away from the everyday lecture classes. Students would be able to get outside and participate in experimental learning by doing hands on activities. It is proven that students remember more and longer but and enjoy working this way. I think it would also draw more students’ attention to USI if we had these program or projects on campus. Due to the area in which USI is located, I believe kids from around all the rural counties when looking at USI clubs, this would be an incentive of coming to this campus.
Another reason this topic stood out to me is because all of the surrounding area around USI, which most of it is wooded acres and lakes. This would make it very easy for groups to participate in projects on campus. I believe that most students that are attending USI do not think about the environment around them as much as they should. I think this project would be a good way to get students involved in many different activities they are not use to. These projects would allow students to be involved in activities. Some include vegetation, which we clould plant needed plants that have a lot of nutritious elements that will help animals take in the needed nutrients. This would also include taking samples of the ground to figure out what the best place to plant these plants at. Taking sample of the ground helps you figure out what minerals are lacking or have to much of for the best results for the plants. I would also plan to work with animals as much as we could. We would be able to go around the lakes and check on baby geese or ducks and make sure they are healthy. I believe if any group or organization were to be created around campus that it would draw in much interest from some of our fellow students.
I planned on setting up booth on the lawn with a big tri-fold poster board. The board would be full of information and pictures. I would also like to have a video playing that relates to conservation or wildlife management. I also plan on making a frequently asked questioned sheet because I know a lot of people around campus would have a lot of questioned. If possible I would like to set up a sample or small project that I could get students involved in. If this were possible I would make flyers that would talk about when, what, where we are doing this project.
Overall I am counting on this project to be very successful and very fun. It would allow the students to get outside and experience many different types of learning skills. Even if I do not get to start up my own project maybe I will influence somebody else and they will have the urge to try and start up one on their own.