For field ecology students, nature is the classroom

For students enrolled in EVS 315: Field Ecology at UB, learning often means trading lecture halls for opportunities to observe wildlife and explore diverse ecosystems across Western New York.

Offered through the Department of Environment and Sustainability in the College of Arts and Sciences, the course combines traditional classroom instruction with outdoor excursions that allow students to observe ecological processes firsthand. Through these experiences, students apply the concepts learned in lecture to real-world environments, gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world around them.

The course is led by Sandy Geffner, environmental studies program coordinator and director of internships and experiential learning for the Department of Environment and Sustainability. Geffner, who holds a master's in environmental and urban education from UB, has emphasized hands-on learning since joining the university in 1979.

While students complete traditional assignments and testing, field excursions offer a more spontaneous approach to learning. Each excursion begins with an introduction to the location and its unique ecological characteristics before students set out to explore. From there, the environment shapes the lesson. As students encounter something new, the conversation shifts, turning unexpected observations into opportunities for learning.

“There is a lesson plan that I share with students before every class,” Geffner says. “But when we're outside the classroom, it's not just a matter of focusing on those concepts. It’s also about what we encounter along the way. With every class, there's something new to learn. And that’s for both them and for me. That's the fun of it.”

Throughout the semester, students explore a variety of ecosystems across Western New York, with each environment offering new opportunities for discovery. From analyzing old-growth forest ecology at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve to collecting aquatic organisms at Walton Pond to assess water quality, the excursions allow students to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting.

"Western New York is bountiful,” Geffner says. "From our Great Lakes to our little ponds, to our many streams and forests, to our swamps and marshes and bogs, we have such a wide range of ecosystems available to us. That makes these kinds of class explorations very special.”

Beyond studying different ecosystems, students are encouraged to look more closely at the world around them. For Olivia Wass, a junior studying biological sciences, that means not only identifying organisms but also understanding their significance.

“Sandy puts a lot of emphasis on making new connections,” Wass says. “If you see a tree, you recognize what it is. But do you understand the story about that tree? Our class helps you understand more than just the things you think you see.

“And being outdoors is a different pace,” she adds. “It gives a sense of wonder that people don't usually get. All of a sudden, we find something new and kind of let loose a bit. We have more fun, we’re more creative.”

That emphasis on learning through exploration also resonates with Lily Brannon, a junior studying environmental sustainability, who sees the course as an opportunity to develop practical skills beyond the traditional classroom.

“You don't get any kind of opportunity like this inside a classroom,” Brannon says. “Regular lectures can be helpful for learning facts, but going outside and learning firsthand is a different kind of learning. I think that our class is indicative of UB's emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on practical skills for students. It's about being able to apply skills instead of just saying that you have them.”

But the impact of these experiential learning experiences can extend well beyond a single semester or graduation. These lessons can stay with students throughout their lives – and even span across generations.

After 47 years at UB, Geffner is now teaching the children of former students. Among them is Wass, whose father took Geffner's field ecology course while attending UB in the 1990s. Decades later, Wass is following in her father's footsteps, experiencing the same approach to outdoor learning that left such a lasting impression on him.

“My dad took Sandy’s class in the ‘90s, and I've heard about it my entire life,” she says. “He still remembers learning those lessons today. Growing up, he would always tell me that I needed to take this class, and now I’m probably having very similar experiences to what he had. It’s full circle.”

For Geffner, these experiences reflect the lasting value experiential learning can have for students.

“Everything I do in this class is about helping others feel more at home with the natural world," he says. “When they do, they learn to take care of their home. If there's no connection to what is out there in the natural world, there's no one caring about it.

“That’s why our Department of Environment and Sustainability is a strong example of what experiential learning can look like at UB,” Geffner adds.

“Because of these experiences, we have a strong relationship with them. They know how much we care about them, but they also get to see how much we care about the work we do. That's important.”