Connection #AFEE 5697

November 11. 2018

We all hear that 'it's who you know' which is true, you can get into some cool situations (or not cool ones too so watch out) depending on the connections you have.  In my placement site I wanted to learn how important those connections are with the community and community members are and I got some good insight on that topic.  My cooperating teacher does have connections, but not in the form I thought it would be.  Since he doesn't live in the school district he doesn't have that in town connection to community members, but since he has worked for many years he does have professional connections like working with the Washington Watershed when we went out to Browns Creek and collected macro-invertebrates.  This allowed students to gain experience taking samples out in the field while also helping the watershed gather data on the condition of Browns Creek.  We also just had the county K-9 unit come in for our animal care class to demonstrate, talk about their dogs, and answer questions.  This was set up through the school's officer who had connections to the county's K-9 unit, so this again shows how it's who you know that can lead to some opportunities.  There are many great connections within the school and outside with local community partners. Within the school there is one teacher who is working with the DNR with falcon reproduction and release.  All these connections create a pool of knowledge to pull from.  

Identifying macros under microscope

K-9 Demo