Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club Celebrates 10 Years of Discovery

BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO – From planting trees and creating wildlife habitats to exploring local ecosystems, Benjamin Logan students are discovering that environmental science isn’t just something they study in a classroom. It’s something they can experience, investigate, and influence right in their own community.

The Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club kicked off its 10th year with a visit to Jolly Acres earlier this month, where 28 student members pressed fresh apple cider, painted pumpkins, and explored a corn maze, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Brewer family.

Beyond the fall fun, the experience helped students connect with Logan County’s agricultural heritage and gain a greater appreciation for the rural landscape surrounding their schools and homes.

For a decade, the club has turned student curiosity into hands-on learning and meaningful environmental service.

Members have helped remove invasive species, plant trees, establish pollinator plots and raised-bed gardens, and create a bluebird trail on the Benjamin Logan campus. These projects allow students to see how their efforts can support wildlife, improve habitats, and contribute to the school environment.

The learning extends well beyond school grounds. Students have explored forestry, native birds, and Ohio bats through guest speakers, participated in an overnight experience and owl prowl at Kirkmont Center, and enjoyed additional opportunities through Enviro-Camp, a summer extension of the club offered for the past three years.

This year’s activities will challenge students to investigate the natural world in some fascinating ways. They’ll dissect owl pellets to study food webs, measure the heart rates of tiny aquatic organisms called daphnia, and search for microscopic tardigrades, better known as water bears. A planned hike through a Logan County gorge will take students on a journey through the area’s geological history.

Each experience encourages students to ask questions, make observations, explore environmental careers, and better understand the natural resources around them.

The club is jointly sponsored by Benjamin Logan Local Schools and the Logan County Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting natural resources and preserving the rural character of Logan County.

Guiding students through these experiences are Benjamin Logan educators Ryan Kerns, third-grade teacher; Spencer Reames, high school science teacher; and Bruce Smith, fourth-grade teacher, along with Bob Stoll of the Logan County Land Trust.

Smith, a Benjamin Logan educator since 1985 and Land Trust board member, has helped develop numerous environmental education initiatives. Stoll, a Benjamin Logan graduate and longtime Land Trust board member, brings extensive experience in forestry, soil conservation, and agriculture.

The club serves students in grades 4 through 12, with this year’s 28 members selected through an application process and committed to participating in activities throughout the school year.

As the Environmental Science Club celebrates its 10th year, Benjamin Logan Local Schools recognizes the Logan County Land Trust for its continued partnership and extends special appreciation to the Brewer family for welcoming students to Jolly Acres.

The greatest impact of the Environmental Science Club isn’t measured only in the trees planted or habitats created. It’s also found in the opportunities students have to develop curiosity, practice environmental stewardship, and recognize that they can make a difference in the community they call home.