UMaine Wildlife Society helps students build seed bombs -- and their resumes
By Kathryn Busko
4/9/24
The UMaine Wildlife Society Instagram post from the meeting in which they made seed bombs.
Last week, members of the Univerisity of Maine Chapter of the Wildlife Society hurled what looked like dirt-coated snowballs into the UMaine cornfield. They were actually seed bombs, filled with native Maine flowers – the club’s way of welcoming spring.
The UMaine Wildlife Society meets weekly to help students learn about wildlife and develop skills in wildlife science, beyond the classroom. This semester's meetings included building insect houses and completing a scavenger hunt in and about Nutting Hall. The club also provides trips and volunteering opportunities to its members. Wildlife Society students recently volunteered at Fields Pond Audobon Center to clean out bluebird boxes and record if there were eggshells.
“A big focus of ours is to try to help people get out and to be more active, especially in winter,” said Reyna O'Brien, the UMaine Wildlife Society Public Relations Officer.
Drew Hull completing the Nutting Hall scavenger hunt.
Photo By: Kathryn Busko
The Wildlife Society club does this through both outdoor and indoor activities. One of O'Brien’s favorite club activities involved identifying animal furs and skulls. For Drew Hull, the treasurer of the UMaine Wildlife Society, staying in touch with nature does not require being outside. Meeting and discussing wildlife every week is enough when the weather is cold.
“It encourages a curiosity with nature, it encourages us to keep thinking about nature and keep connected to it on several levels,” said Hull.
An insect house. One of many ways the UMaine Wildlife Society engages with nature from the indoors.
Photo By: Adrian Elliott, the Vice-President of the UMaine Wildlife Society
Nutting Hall, the home of the Wildlife Society on campus.
Photo by: Kathryn Busko
An example of how the UMaine Wildlife Society promotes its members. This is Jessa Haigis, the club president.
Beyond providing fun opportunities, the club also provides professional development for students. Every Monday, they feature a club member on their Instagram account, @umowildlifesociety. This is an important opportunity for their club members as the National Wildlife Society and many other chapters of the organization follow this account.
The club also invites wildlife professionals to give talks and maintains connections with local organizations including Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. As a chapter of a national organization, this club can help students build connections early in their careers.
“When students are looking for jobs, the club itself looks really good on a resume,” said Jessa Haigis, the President of the Wildlife Society.
The reward for completing the scavenger hunt was a UMaine Wildlife Society sticker.
Photo By: Kathryn Busko
While the club is centered around wildlife skill development, the club is open to anyone. Historically, it has attracted a wide range of majors.
“People just like animals. And a lot of people who go to this school really like the outdoors. And that’s really what our club is focused on,” said Haigis.
For many students, it is simply the club community that keeps them coming back.
“I love wildlife. I love people who love wildlife,” said Hull.