In this guest blog by College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Dean David Flaspohler and Michigan Technological University Vice President for Community Engagement Wayne Gersie, learn more about a program designed to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education to students in an environmental framework that they might not otherwise experience.
Michigan Technological University recently wrapped up an immersive summer learning experience that began with a gathering in the Upper Peninsula and extended to outreach in Detroit.
In Detroit, the Student Experience in Education and Discovery (SEED) program engaged about 30 middle and high school students during each day of the four-day event, providing hands-on, STEM-based learning rooted in environmental science and real-world applications.
SEED is a place-based program designed to provide students in grades seven through 10, particularly those from historically underserved communities, with free access to high-impact, experiential learning in STEM fields. A central aim of SEED is to nurture career awareness, environmental responsibility, and leadership among the next generation of natural resources and related field professionals.
Tuskegee University Contingent Visits Campus
The program’s opening day included a co-teaching effort between faculty and undergraduate students from Tuskegee University in collaboration with Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) and Office of Community Engagement. The group experienced bird banding at the Nara Nature Park Chalet and Interpretive Center, cruised the Keweenaw Waterway on the Michigan Tech Research Vessel Agassiz, and toured Tech’s Ford Center and Forest in Alberta, Michigan.The group met with Michigan Tech faculty, graduate students, and alumni from the College of Engineering as well as CFRES.
Onward to Detroit
Tuskegee University visitors participating in the program were also able to meet with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Detroit Zoological Society as the event shifted into high gear downstate. Programming took place from July 21-24 at several Detroit locations, including, Adams-Butzel Recreation Center, Maheras-Gentry Park, A.B. Ford Community Center and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. The venues were selected for their accessibility, ecological significance, and community relevance.
Participating middle- and high-school students learned about geographic information systems and remote sensing activities using drones and spatial tools to interpret landscapes for conservation efforts. They examined biological and chemical properties of soil in the context of agriculture and urban land restoration in soil health and testing sessions. They sampled and analyzed water quality and explored the impacts of urban infrastructure and climate on watershed health. Students also investigated bird biodiversity, acoustic monitoring, and habitat surveys to assess ecosystem health in urban green spaces.
The collaborative effort represents a commitment to community engagement and sharing expertise, as well as broader cooperation with a national strategic partner dedicated to expanding comprehensive and impactful educational experiences for tomorrow’s workforce. The partnership reflects a mutual goal of strengthening environmental learning pathways and leadership development for youth across the country grounded in reciprocity and co-creation.
Michigan Tech worked with several local organizations including Healthy Kidz, Detroit Outdoors, Creation Management & Farms, and The Greening of Detroit to ensure the programming was both culturally relevant and deeply connected to community priorities.
The initiative was made possible through generous support from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Audubon Society, the Michigander Scholarship Program, and Davey Tree. These generous contributors helped eliminate barriers to participation, including transportation and other costs, so that all students had the opportunity to engage, learn, and lead.
The SEED Program reflects Michigan Tech’s commitment to equity, education, and environmental justice. It builds a pipeline for youth interested in careers in natural resources, conservation, and environmental science. By combining place-based learning with strong mentorship, institutional collaboration, and academic expertise, SEED is investing in the long-term health of both the environment and the communities that call it home.For more information on the SEED Program or to explore partnership opportunities, contact David Flaspohler, dean of Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science or Wayne Gersie, vice president for Community Engagement.
About the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science brings students, faculty, and researchers together to measure, map, model, analyze, and deploy solutions. The College offers six bachelor’s degrees in forestry, wildlife ecology and conservation, applied ecology and environmental science, natural resources management, sustainable bioproducts, and environmental science and sustainability. We offer graduate degrees in applied ecology, forest ecology and management, forest molecular genetics and biotechnology, and forest science. Questions? Contact us at forest@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest happening
Questions? Contact us at forest@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest happenings.