If your Instagram was anything like mine towards the end of the break, then it was filled with photos of excited Skidmore students smiling in front of large fires. At first glance, these photos were confusing — had all of Skidmore randomly decided to set fires over break? But that thankfully wasn’t the case. Instead, these students were part of a group who traveled to Oklahoma with Professor Kristofer Covey, from the Environmental Studies and Sciences department, to learn about land management and prescribed burns.
(All photos taken by Brandon Wilson Radcliffe ‘20)
For the past three years, two as a professor at Skidmore, Professor Covey has brought students to Ardmore, Oklahoma to work with the Noble Research Institute. Noble is an agriculture research group focused mainly on research, producer relations, and education. In Oklahoma, Skidmore students are given unique field experience outside of the east coast free of charge.
On top of that, the institute has a large endowment, which provides students with lodging, meals, ground transportation, and extensive time with knowledgeable staff. In addition, a grant from Skidmore’s Office of Special Projects covered airfare, making the trip completely free for students.
Brandon Wilson Radcliffe ‘20 and Sylvana Szuhay ‘22 attended this year's trip and found the experience to be incredibly rewarding. Both Wilson Radcliffe and Szuhay believe the program was a great way to learn more about environments outside of New York, and the different practices in land management.
Not only did the trip expose students to different practices, but it also fostered conversations with people who have different backgrounds and experiences. Szuhay called the conversations “good and eye-opening,” and despite taking different sides, students and Noble staff were able to find common ground. Professor Covey included these exchanges of ideas as one of his favorite parts of the trip. Likewise, Wilson Radcliffe also found these conversations an important aspect of the program.
The overall theme of the trip was one of great conversations, immersive learning experiences, and the thrill of setting healthy environmental fires. Although fires are often seen as damaging, the practice of setting prescribed burns can be a very beneficial land management process. For example, prescribed burns lower the damage of potential future wildfires.
Wilson Radcliffe, who had attended the trip the previous year as well, said his favorite part was watching his fellow peers set fires for the first time. The blaze, which could reach as high as 11 to 12 feet in some areas, was an experience that most had never had and therefore, was incredibly exciting.
Will Moseley, a Wildlife and Fisheries Consultant for Noble, and Jeff Goodwin, a Senior Rangeland and Pasture Consultant at Noble, both spoke fondly of their time with Skidmore students.
Moseley’s favorite part of working with Skidmore students is that they are often a “blank slate” when it comes to agriculture and therefore he can see the “discovery in their eyes” as they learn about land management.
He also explained that he was often asked difficult and different questions which made the experience a two-way interaction.
When asked about his favorite part of working with Skidmore students, Goodwin quite expectantly names the prescribed burns. He says that while you can learn about them in lectures, only by setting one yourself can students truly understand the practice’s importance.
Unsurprisingly, setting the fires was also a highlight for students. When asked about her favorite aspect, Szuhay exclaimed, “Well, burning of course!” She elaborated by saying fire is a powerful element and being able to work with it on a large scale in a controlled fashion was a fantastic experience.
Both Wilson Radcliffe and Szuhay reflected on this experience in a very positive manner, recommending this trip twofold for students. However, Wilson Radcliffe believes students majoring in “environmental science and studies, biology, geology and political science have the most to gain from this program.”