Gregory Holmberg collects a bucket of water from the shore of Lake Erie for students to test at Point Gratiot Park.

Two student teachers from the State University of New York at Fredonia expanded their experience by leading a group of students, including 21 international students, during the recent NASA/GLOBE Annual Meeting.

Alyssa Wright, a 2024 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in youth education: biology from Attica, and Gregory Holmberg, a senior in youth education: geoscience major with a minor in geology from Falconer, led the group, which included 18 students from across the United States, during the annual meeting on campus.

NASA/GLOBE is an international science education initiative sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of State.

The College Lodge at SUNY Fredonia was the home base for all of the students, representing Colombia, Croatia, Kenya, Malta, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan, as well as six U.S. states – Alaska, California, Louisiana, New York, New Mexico and Mississippi.

Holmberg and Wright, who is continuing her education at SUNY Fredonia in the Curriculum and Instruction in Inclusive Education graduate program, taught the students a lesson on the natural and geological history of the Great Lakes and also led them on hikes in the lodge’s adjacent forest areas. They worked with the students and used various forms of technology to expand their knowledge of science and the world around them.

“We conducted cloud observations and atmospheric measurements, measured tree height and girth in the forest, and studied soil properties. This was a great place for students to explore Earth system science in one place,” reported Alison Mote, who organized the student experience at the NASA/GLOBE Annual Meeting.

The hiking trails at College Lodge were perfect for using the GLOBE data collection protocols, Ms. Mote added. “We were also able to make a stop for water quality testing at nearby Lake Erie (Point Gratiot Park) to really round out our studies in the area.”

Wright did not miss the opportunity to work with international students because she is very interested in getting to know other cultures and educational systems in other countries.

“These are some of the best and brightest students in the world and I’m just looking forward to connecting with people and continuing to learn,” noted Wright.

Opportunities to work with people from around the world are sometimes limited, Wright noted, so she enjoys telling stories and providing others with information about different cultures. “It will be great to introduce other cultures to my future students! And how cool is it to be able to say that I worked for NASA?!”

According to Ms. Mote, everything about the lodge exceeded NASA/GLOBE expectations. “The grounds are beautifully maintained and the facilities were clean and inviting. DJ was a great host – he had games prepared for the students, set up a volleyball net and lit a fire every night.”

Enjoying s’mores around the campfire and connecting with new friends from around the world was a favorite part of the week for the students, she added.