Week 1 at the Fort Worth Nature Center

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     What a full and HARD first day we had volunteering with out class at the Fort Worth Nature Center! I was not sure what to expect, but man did we work hard. Upon arrival, we received instructions from our team (most importantly how to stay safe around the wood chipper), then made our way out to the road in the back of the truck. At this point, I couldn't imagine that our work would be too difficult. I figured we would have a few small sticks to tend to and would likely finish up pretty quickly. Boy was I wrong! I found myself lugging trees, logs, and branches for over an hour. While difficult, sweaty, and exhausting, it was rewarding to see progress be made piece by piece, and recognize that we had contributed to beautifying the area in some way. About halfway through, Bennett began to employ a strategy of pulling large pieces and placing them alongside the road for people to put into the chipper in order to avoid the bottle neck at the line. I thought this was a really smart strategy and ended up joining him in his efforts for the last 20 minutes or so of working on the road. As we reached the end, the sun started to get to me and I regretted by measly lunch of a granola bar as my stomach growled and dehydration set in. For next week, I will definitely plan to stay extra hydrated and fueled throughout the day, knowing what we are putting ourselves through! Although tiring, the work was rewarding and I look forward to coming back this week to see what we are able to accomplish as a team. I grew in my appreciation for what the full time staff of the Fort Worth Nature Center do on a day-to-day basis in order to maintain a beautiful and healthy habitat for the wildlife that exists in our city.



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