Home Stretch

 

This semester, I traveled to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge a total of eight times. During four of those trips, we focused on habitat restoration. In the second half of the semester, we shifted our efforts toward updating their social media platform.

For habitat restoration, we worked on cutting down privet that was invading trees and plants along visible trails and roadside areas where visitors could easily notice. This project helped maintain the natural beauty of the park and supported the health of native plant species.

For the social media transformation, we helped remake trail guides, brainstorm content ideas for the next class, and create engaging videos to promote the Nature Center. 

While working on these projects, I had the chance to observe a lot about the wildlife and changing scenery around us:

• Alligators really are not scared of people unless we bombard their space. Most of the time, they stayed still and watched from a distance, not seeming to mind us being nearby.
  
  

• Turtles were the complete opposite. They are extremely skittish and would leave their sunbathing logs and dive into the water as soon as they spotted us approaching.
  
  

• We began our work in winter. The scenery was mostly dead/dormant, and everything looked like it was slowly regrowing. After the prescribed burns, it was incredible to see how quickly the landscape came back to life. The grass and plants grew back greener, thicker, and much more vibrant. These prescribed burns mimic natural fires and remove old plants and making room for new plant growth.

Every visit felt slightly different depending on the time of year and weather conditions. I appreciate the power of nature’s cycle even more after seeing the land transition from winter to spring and the regrowth after a fire. 

Another big thing we learned was how important media outreach is for a place like the Nature Center. It’s not just about getting people to visit — it’s about helping them see why it matters, so the center has the support it needs to keep doing what it does. Overall, my time spent at the Nature Center taught me that small things matter and small, consistent efforts matter. Anyone can make small changes that make big impacts. I’m grateful for this community and the opportunity to contribute.