Doane College first-year student Liz Doane was selected as one of four U.S. Roots & Shoots representatives to participate in a Leadership Exchange in China.
The four American students selected will work with students involved in Roots & Shoots in China to design programs that will be carried out simultaneously in both countries.
The exchange program is hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute-Shanghai.
The Roots & Shoots education program includes 8,000 groups in 96 countries and involves students from preschool through university-level in service-learning projects. Chapters plan and implement projects that promote "care and concern for animals, the environment and the human community" through activities that range from cleaning up riverbeds to events celebrating different cultures.
Dr. Brad Elder, advisor for Roots & Shoots at Doane, said that several Doane students applied for the exchange, particularly after Jane Goodall's visit to campus. Liz was selected after applying to Grace Felten, University Programs Coordinator for Roots & Shoots in the United States. The chance to form international relationships to further the field of conservation motivated her to apply, she said.
"By going to China, I get to build strong ties with Roots & Shoots Shanghai and Beijing members," Liz said, "and I will return with a wealth of knowledge about conservation to share with everyone at home."
The exchange will take place May 27-June 6 in Shanghai and the surrounding areas. While in China, she will visit various schools, hospitals and Roots & Shoots projects and see many tourist locations in Shanghai. Liz said the most important part of the trip will be strengthening intercontinental bonds to help make the world a greener place to live.
Doane's Roots & Shoots organization formed in the fall of 2006 in conjunction with the Conservation Biology class. The group has begun several projects intended to help humans and the environment. Two of the biggest group projects done by Roots & Shoots were campus clean-up efforts, focused on Doane Lake and the forested areas of campus. They also created a campus-wide recycling program that will be in full effect next school year. Along with the group projects, each individual member of Roots & Shoots is working on individual projects including selling plants from the Doane greenhouse and tracking the migration of Monarch butterflies.
Liz joined Roots & Shoots to help with the recycling program. At Doane, she also participates in Collegiate Choral and String ensemble, is on the track and field team and was elected class president for the class of 2010.