Howell Woods: March 2016

Welcome to my photoblog on:

Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

My name is James and I am a Biology Major at Campbell University
in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

I love the outdoors and I plan to pursue a career in environmental science. I am enjoying this next chapter in my life as a college student. Thank you to Howell Woods and to everybody who helped me get this far!!

Link to my facebook fanpage about Howell Woods:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photoblog-By-James-Howell-Woods/233829593470397

"Have a great day, spend it outdoors!"

James

To learn more about Howell Woods, please see my previous posts for info, photos, and videos. If you've never been to Howell Woods I hope this blog will peak your interest enough that you will visit. It is a treasure located in Johnston County and one of my favorite places.

To visit the Howell Woods website, click on the link below of contact Director, Jordan Astoske.

http://www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/

Jordan Astoske
Director of Howell Woods
jtastoske@johnstoncc.edu
(919) 938-0115 ext. 221

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March 2016

It's hard to believe that I have been volunteering at Howell Woods for more than 4 years. I've learned so much and really enjoyed myself in the process. I've spent over 3 years writing this blog, which also has helped me tremendously grow. It has helped confirm that I am indeed in the right field for my future career. Thank you to all who have visited my blog, hope you have found some of the info and photos interesting. I appreciate all the comments. To those of you who have reached out to me over these 3 years, please keep your comments and suggestions coming.

This year, in addition to volunteering and writing my blog for Howell Woods, I've spent a lot of time and energy traveling to many environmental/educational sites. I utilized this time to research their facilities for ideas, possible additions, and improvements that could be used here at Howell Woods. I traveled a lot over the last 2 or three years. I think it is important to educate ourselves as to our surroundings and no better way to do that than to see things for yourself, first hand.

Part of growing, for me is looking toward the future, trying to imagine myself as GM or in an operations director position one day. What changes for improvements would I make? What could I do to actually make a difference for a place like Howell Woods? In my opinion, you would have to do a lot of research to make changes. Talk with all employees, those in the trenches to get their insight and opinions as they know day to day needs of keeping such places operating. Finding all options for each proposed add on such as considering the cost verses the potential revenue it would create. How would it serve the general public, the community and above all, preserve the environment? How to acquire funding, support, sponsors and donations? I've decided I should make a mock proposal as if I were actually able to make changes. I plan to actually submit my proposal to the county as a suggestion once it is completed. This process alone I feel will be a good experience for me, even if none of my ideas are implemented.

In order to do this, I traveled to a lot of different places to see how they not only maintained their properties but what they did to draw people in... What were their amenities, events and facilities like.... I carefully observed and took photos of each place. Especially how they informed the public through museums, exhibits, educational programs, learning centers, guided tours, videos etc... I also observed how well the staff was representing each place... Were they merely caretakers or were they more "hands on" and inspiring visitors? How did they include the history of their facility or the area's history around their location... What marketing was in place. All of these things will help me in the future should I decide to pursue a career as a GM or Operations, Facility/Event Manager for some type of environmental/nature site, State or National Park.

From my travels I now feel I am better able to communicate my ideas which in turn allows me to apply what I've learned into practical applications... It will also help me better educate the general public and visitors to Howell Woods. Hopefully it will help me find a more specific career path and a job in the future. Hoping one day to make a difference. That's probably the most exciting part to me.

The bottom line to me is to find something outside of yourself. Find a cause to support, find something you are passionate about and then make a difference. For me, my something is the environment and our natural resources. My how, is how can we preserve what we have for future generations and how can we educate the youth of today to become stuarts of the land and natural resources for years to come.

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I am posting some of the photos taken on my travels. I hope you find it interesting. Remember to visit Howell Woods, beautiful place in the spring... and in every season.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Oh the possibilities for the Raptor Center at Howell Woods.