Service Learning Club helps environment in Louisiana

For the past six years, the Service Learning Club (SLC) has left Nebraska during spring break to support diverse communities and the environment. This year, the club went down to New Orleans, LA to bring biodiversity to the area.

Jordan Klepfer, English teacher and SLC leader, brought eight sponsored students with him to aid environmental struggles in Louisiana.

“We worked with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana by bagging 13 tons of oysters shells,” Klepfer said. “They then crated the bags offshore to build artificial reefs to attract more oysters.”

This process increases in landmass and biodiversity in the area, as well as reducing erosion. New life forms are attracted to the area, making the ecosystem healthier.

“We were in New Orleans, but then we drove an hour or so south to Buras to work on a boat harbor to bag up oyster shells,” Klepfer said. “We worked on Monday through Friday and came back to Nebraska on Saturday.”

The club also helped deliver potted trees to a marsh where they would be planted by another team the next day. It was predicted SLC would have its students receive 25 service hours, but they also squeezed in five additional hours.

This is SLC’s fifth out of state field trip in the past six years. Two years ago, the club went to Florida and prior to that, they helped out in St. Louis, MO. Students looking to join the club can fill out an application from Klepfer or can sign up during Club Fair Day at the beginning of the next school year.