Post by Cole Dannull

Yesterday, Julian Hawke and I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Sierra Club for a local road clean-up, and it was an experience I’m really grateful for. Getting out in the field and seeing the direct impact of small-scale conservation work reminded me why I’m pursuing a degree in Sustainability and Ecology. It’s one thing to study environmental issues in the classroom, but it’s another to be hands-on—removing debris, noticing how waste accumulates, and seeing how much cleaner and healthier a space can become with just a few hours of collective effort. I learned how meaningful community-based environmental action can be. Even simple restoration work helps protect local habitats, keeps pollution out of waterways, and strengthens people’s relationship with their environment. It also showed me how important partnerships between volunteers, organizations, and students are in making real, lasting change. Grateful to the Sierra Club for the opportunity and looking forward to getting involved in more sustainability projects throughout my studies and career. 🌿♻️