Join us for an exciting summer opportunity to explore the many facets of biology and environmental science! This free program for high schoolers interested in environmental science and biology offers six sessions throughout the month of June, where students can attend one or all sessions. Session topics are discussed in more detail below.
Step into the world of birds and discover how behavior and physical adaptations help species survive and thrive. Using the nature center as a living outdoor classroom, you’ll learn how to observe birds like an ornithologist—using binoculars, field guides, and popular birding apps such as Merlin to identify common regional species by sight and sound. During a morning bird walk, you’ll practice real field identification skills while contributing meaningful observations to eBird, a global citizen science database used by researchers and conservationists. A highlight of the day is learning directly from a master bird bander, who will walk you through the process of banding purple martin nestlings and explain how banding helps scientists study bird populations and migration. This experience is perfect for students who love being outdoors, enjoy using technology in the field, and want hands-on exposure to wildlife biology and conservation science.
The environment may be altered in substantial ways through the activities of organisms, including humans, natural disaster, or global changes, such as climate changes. Although these disturbance events may sometimes be abrupt (e.g., natural disasters or clear-cutting), in most cases certain species replace others, resulting in long-term gradual changes in ecosystems. These gradual changes constitute a process called ecological succession, which is defined by the manner that biological communities replace one another in a given area. This sequence of communities often follows an orderly and predictable pattern determined by changes in plant number, type, and species over time. During ecological succession, over time, each community modifies its environment, often making it more difficult for it to succeed and more favorable for the community that follows. The Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center encompasses nearly 300 acres of land with a wide variety of habitats that differ in the levels of disturbance and stage of ecological succession. In this lab, we will explore a variety of habitats to assess plant diversity, relative tree age, canopy cover, and woody biomass to assess varying stages of ecological succession from both observational and scientific standpoints. Additionally, we will be able to analyze qualitative and quantitative data to interpret the trends derived from the lab, explain the findings from an ecological context, and predict the future ecological succession patterns in the landscape at the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center.
Explore freshwater ecosystems through hands-on field research as you investigate ponds and the life they support. You’ll collect and identify macroinvertebrates using dip nets, microscopes, and dichotomous keys, then analyze what these organisms reveal about water quality and ecosystem health. Students will practice core research skills such as water chemistry testing, using biotic indices, and building pond food webs to understand trophic relationships. By comparing multiple ponds, you’ll learn how scientists assess biodiversity, interpret environmental data, and draw conclusions about ecosystem conditions—just like real aquatic ecologists.
Travel back in time to discover the impact the last Ice Age on the creation of the natural landforms and soils present at the Nature Center. Students will learn to ‘read’ the rocks and soils to understand how they formed and their influence of local ecosystems. Students will gain skills in the collection sediment and soil samples using a sediment coring tools, from a variety of landforms, including stream valleys, vernal pools, and permanent wetlands. By identifying the components of sediment and soils – rock types and soil horizons - students will be able to reconstruct the natural history of the Nature Center, just like real geologists and environmental scientists. If you like hiking, being outdoors, and getting your hands dirty, this field experience is perfect for you.
Plants get sick too! This session will explore the various ways the plants around us become stricken with disease and illness due to abiotic and biotic disorders and why this matters. Participants will learn to recognize signs and symptoms of plant disease in the landscape, recognize visible evidence of common causal agents of disease such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and viruses. There will be an opportunity to explore the relationship between plant health and human health as well.
This session introduces students to the remarkable diversity and ecological importance of insects, with a focus on pollinators and their role in sustaining ecosystems and food systems. Students will learn to recognize major insect orders, understand the anatomy and behavior of pollinating insects, and explore how habitat loss and fragmentation contribute to pollinator decline. Field and laboratory activities allow students to practice real research methods used by entomologists. Hands-on activities include collecting insects through sweep netting and malaise traps, preparing and examining specimens through insect pinning, and conducting pollinator observation studies to measure visitation rates and compare pollinator activity on native versus nonnative plants.
Participating high school students, their families, friends, and teachers are welcome to attend the Summer Research Showcase. During this event, university and high school students have the opportunity to present or share research and topics learned throughout the summer. A fun celebration for everyone.
Rising high school students grades 10-12 with a strong interest in environmental science and biology and who wants to get hands-on field and lab experience.
Participation in all six sessions is not required. Students may apply to attend one or multiple sessions based on their interests and availability. Enrollment for each session is limited to 20 students. Once capacity is reached, a waiting list will be maintained, and applicants may be admitted as openings occur.
All sessions will take place at the University of Mount Union John T. Huston and Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center. Students will meet in the lobby of the Visitor’s Center between 8:45-9:00 AM. 16146 Daniel St NE, Minerva, OH 44657
Sessions will be led by University of Mount Union faculty/staff and other professionals. Participants will also work with university student research interns, and student Brumbaugh Scholars who will serve as mentors during the week.
There is NO COST to attend! Sessions will be limited to 16-20 students per day.
The ESO STEM sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the month of June. Specific dates are listed above with the session titles and descriptions.
Daily, the sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch will occur between 12:00-12:30 p.m.