Planting Seeds

Sprinkle the seeds of knowledge and soon, they will bloom through action. Sarah Brekke ’24 saw this firsthand directing Roots and Shoots, a program that empowers youth to create change in their communities. Brekke and fellow Bulldogs worked 
with high school students, educating them on environmental matters, and after a few weeks the teens made a breakthrough.

“The kids were disengaged with activities and being outside in the dirt, but as we gardened more with them and chatted about their lives, they became more invested,” Brekke, an environmental science major, said. “They wanted to learn how to garden at their own homes, in their backyards or even in a little pot, and grow their own food and experiment with different forms of gardening. It was awesome.”

For her service internships with Roots and Shoots and Sustainable University of Redlands Farm (SURF), Brekke combined community outreach with environmental education. 

This summer, she will get to do something similar on the other side of the world when she travels to Palau to work in island forestry conservation. She secured this three-month job last May Term while studying marine ecology in Palau, and will be involved with local schools and doing activities like tree planting.

“This is an amazing opportunity,” Brekke said. “I’m excited to use the knowledge I got through Roots and Shoots and SURF.”

One of Brekke’s favorite moments is when she sees “the light bulb go on,” and she knows an idea or concept clicked. Community service is a way of getting people excited about learning new things and boosts confidence on both sides. 

“Students realize this is beneficial for them personally and for the community,” Brekke said. “They get to see how easy it is to engage with others, which is an awesome experience."