Sabrina Sterling

For my online volunteer experience, I participated in Kelp Quest through Zooniverse, a project connected to the Seattle Aquarium. My role was to review images and check whether organisms or objects previously identified using the field guide had been classified correctly. This required me to pay attention to details and compare what I observed with the information provided in the guide.

This experience connected to biology because identifying organisms accurately helps scientists study marine ecosystems and understand the biodiversity of ocean environments. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for many marine organisms, making them important habitats. Checking previous identifications also showed me how observation and classification are used in scientific research. I learned that even small contributions from volunteers can help researchers collect and verify information.

During my second volunteer experience at Capital Area Food Bank in DC, I worked in the warehouse preparing food for distribution. My responsibilities included making boxes, packing boxes and bags with food, opening food containers, and organizing items. We used an assembly line to work efficiently and prepare food for the community.

This experience helped me understand how organization and teamwork contribute to food distribution. Although we were not directly growing or harvesting food, our work was another important part of getting food to the people who needed it. It also connected to biology because food provides the nutrients and energy our bodies need to function properly. Making sure food is organized and distributed helps people access these essential resources.

Overall, this experience gave me a better understanding of how different processes work together to support community health. My previous visit taught me about growing plants and their benefits, while this visit showed me what happens after food is harvested. I realized that supporting people's health involves not only producing nutritious food but also making it accessible to the community.

During my volunteer experience at Capital Area Food Bank in DC, I spent three hours gardening and helping prepare food. My tasks included trimming and bundling thyme, weeding, picking sweet potatoes, cleaning them, and weighing them. This experience helped me better understand the work that goes into growing food and how plants contribute to our everyday lives.

One of the most interesting parts was learning from the person leading us about different plants and herbs and how they can support our physical and mental health. This made me curious about the different compounds plants produce and how they can affect the human body. I also learned how gardening connects to biology through concepts like competition for resources. For example, weeds compete with crops for sunlight, water, and nutrients, which can affect plant growth. Harvesting sweet potatoes also reminded me how important plants are to our food supply.

Overall, this experience helped me see biology beyond the classroom. I gained a greater appreciation for the role plants play in human health, agriculture, and the environment. I also realized how much effort goes into growing and preparing food for the community. This experience encouraged me to pay more attention to the natural world and the ways it supports our well-being.