On this week’s episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, Dr. Sumanth Reddy, Assistant Professor of Geography within the Department of History and Government at Bowie State University, an HBCU in Maryland, shares his experience leading students on a cross-country trip to explore our national parks.
In May of this year, Dr. Reddy and nine of his students embarked on a 10-day, 1800-mile exploration through five national parks after receiving a grant from the American Association of Geographers. Dr. Reddy is also joined in the studio by two of the students from the trip, Ayen Kuol, a computer science graduate student, and Rodah Ngorem, a sophomore majoring in nursing, who share their experiences and what they learned on the trip.
NBC News clip:
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/prince-georges-county/bowie-state-students-touring-national-parks-in-southwest/3061934/
Baltimore Times:
https://baltimoretimes-online.com/featured/2022/05/23/bsu-students-embark-on-10-day-exploration-of-national-parks/
Dr. Reddy is offering advice and support to anyone considering a similar trip:
https://bowiestate.edu/directories/faculty-and-staff-directory/sreddy.php
---------------
00:50 Why was this trip with your students to five National Parks important?
05:25 Did you have any learning goals for your students before the trip?
06:20 Was this trip associated with a formal class?
08:10 Walk us through the ten-day trip (answered by Rhodah)
1. Arches National Park
a. https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
2. Grand Canyon National Park
a. https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
3. Great Sand Dunes National Park
a. https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm
4. Mesa Verde National Park
a. https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
a. https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
• Four Corners Monument
o https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/four-corners-monument/
• Black American West Museum, Denver
o https://www.bawmhc.org/
• Five Points Neighborhood, Denver
o https://www.denver.org/neighborhoods/five-points/
• Buffalo Soldier Exhibit, Fort Garland, CO
o https://www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/buffalo-soldiers-west
09:50 How were the National Parks selected?
13:00 Do you have any advice for other educators that might wish to lead similar trips?
15:15 Beyond your experience on the trip did you learn anything about yourself?
15:20 Rhodah answers (significant apprehension)
16:05 Ayen answers (not everyone in her family was in favor of the trip)
18:35 Dr. Reddy on cultural distinctions and the black experience while traveling
21:00 To the students: Would you go again?
The HBCU Outdoor Ambassador Program
https://www.hbcusoutside.com/getinvolved
The National Park Trust
https://parktrust.org/
DC Arboretum Summer Camp for Kids
http://www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/green-ambassadors-program/
Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.