UT Tyler Students Reside at Camp Tyler to Assist With Programs
February 6, 2004
Four students at The University of Texas at Tyler have chosen an unconventional dwelling place while pursuing graduate studies in biology.
Camp Tyler is home to David Bolanowski, Casey Wieczorek, Paul Hampton and Melissa Nicholson as part of UT Tyler’s involvement in the Camp Tyler Foundation’s Outdoor Learning Center for fifth grade. UT Tyler graduate students receive free room and board in exchange for interacting with fifth-grade classes that visit Camp Tyler to learn about the environment and experience “real world’’ science.
Residing at Camp Tyler also allows graduate students the opportunity to conduct field studies related to their university research.
“Most of these graduate students are wildlife biologists,’’ said Dr. James Koukl, UT Tyler associate professor of biology. “They want to do field research, they enjoy working with the public school classes and they don’t mind living in that atmosphere for the length of time it takes to complete their graduate degrees.’’
Four cabins are reserved to house UT Tyler students, and the program is ongoing. When the students complete the graduate program, the vacancies at Camp Tyler will be filled with other students from the university.
“The living conditions are not your normal living conditions but it’s a great experience,’’ Hampton said of residing in the cabins, which are furnished with heating and air-conditioning but lack restroom facilities. Cabin dwellers have access to a community restroom facility.
Hampton, whose hometown is Salem, Ill., has resided at Camp Tyler for two years and is doing research in conservation and animal behavior. He enjoys setting up projects for the students who visit from Tyler and 11 other school districts. We talk to them, answer their questions and try to impress upon them the importance of conservation,’’ Hampton said. We also involve them in projects that allow them to actually get out there and experience field science instead of being confined to a classroom.’’
“Sometimes, the kids just want to know about our research,’’ said Bolanowski, who came to UT Tyler from Cranford, N.J., and is studying juvenile box turtles. “We took a class out for about 2 ½ hours and had them actually radio track a group of box turtles and see what it was actually like to do research. It is really a cool program because the kids learn that they can do research -- they can go to school for this, learn about wildlife and get a job working outside.’’
The schoolchildren interact well with young adults, said Wieczorek, a student from Trufant, Mich., who is doing research in snake reproduction. “The kids look to us as scientists and I think there is a lot that we can teach them,’’ she said. “I love the educational aspect of biology. I like having that opportunity.’’
Nicholson, who has resided at Camp Tyler since August, said she enjoys teaching children about science as well as helping them to understand the importance of learning. She said Camp Tyler also is the perfect environment for her daily research.
“I track hatchling box turtles, and those turtles are actually on the Camp Tyler property,’’ said Nicholson, whose hometown is Grand Rapids, Mich. “For me to do my research, it’s only a 10-minute walk or a two-minute drive, and that is really nice.’’
