PELLA — Nine Central College students are spending spring break in Moab, Utah, March 12-19, partnering with an organization called Plateau Restoration. The organization protects and restores native habitats of the Colorado Plateau.
Through hands on research, education, re-vegetation and restoration, students are working on various projects that promoted native plant species growth. Previous projects have included clearing ground taken over by invasive trees and weeds and replanting with native seeds, digging trenches and laying tubing for an irrigation system.
Paulina Mena, assistant professor of biology, is accompanying the students on the trip.
The first Alternate Spring Break trip was in 2009 to Moab and began as an option for students who wanted to do service work in a civic engagement setting. The Austin, Texas, trip option was added after the freshman common reading book, Enrique’s Journey, which focused on helping recent immigrants. Alternate Spring Break became a recognized student organization during the 2009-2010 academic year.
