SEAS Student Claire Watts
Earlier this year, SEAS student Claire Watts (MS ’22) was awarded the Toyota “Let’s Go Places” scholarship by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA) for her outdoor educational presentations. These demonstrations pair together her love for nature and her passion for connecting others with the outdoor world; she created a 3D interactive model for the Harbor Springs Public Library and a video for the Ann Arbor District Library that focused on 15 different species and landmarks in Michigan.
Watts decided to look into the MOWA scholarship as a fun expression of herself and a way to pass her love of nature on to others. She felt that utilizing libraries was an opportunity to reach a broader audience, an aspect of outdoor education that is very important to her. One of Watts’ major goals is to communicate and educate the public about her scientific work and the importance of nature in people’s lives.
The pandemic was central to her work; Watts noticed the devastating mental health impact the pandemic has had on communities and wanted to find a way to help. As an outdoor enthusiast and avid walker, she knows firsthand the positive impact nature can have on mental health. “Being in nature redirects my thoughts and re-energizes my mind and body,” she said. “During the pandemic I used that time to explore more parts of the world and encouraged others to as well.”
Winning the MOWA scholarship was a huge honor for Watts. She said she was thrilled to attend its conference last fall and have the opportunity to connect with a variety of people in the organization. MOWA includes outdoor communicators in different disciplines: photographers, videographers, writers, artists, and more. Since her background is more science-based, Watts was excited to share her work with a wider audience through MOWA’s network. “Our end goal is the same,” Watts said.
Watts’ work with MOWA is demonstrative of her post-graduation goals. Her passion lies in outdoor education; she hopes to work in the government at the federal or state level to incorporate her scientific expertise with educational outreach to convey environmental work to the public. “There is often a lack of communication between scientific papers, for instance, and what the public understands,” Watts said, and she wants to help bridge that gap.
The degree Watts is pursuing, a master of science with specializations in Conservation Ecology and Environmental Policy, plays an important role in her work. It brings both sides of environmental progress together; the scientific expertise and the policy background are both necessary for moving the world forward, Watts noted, and it is vital to keep the public informed about both the policies being voted on and the science behind them.
Being a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) at U-M has given Watts the opportunity to be an outdoor educator in a different capacity. She worked with undergraduates in Dr. Inés Ibáñez’s Woody Plants course, getting them outside whenever possible. One of Watts’ top achievements in her mind is getting other students engaged in a topic that she cares so deeply about. “Seeing the joy that others get from [the outdoors] is priceless,” Watts said, and this has reinforced her passion for outdoor education and outreach.
Watts’ enthusiasm for her work is undeniable when talking to her. Her eyes lit up when she described her presentations for the libraries, and she had a huge grin on her face while talking about her experience as a GSI. Watts has found her calling in outdoor education and outreach, and her final point was a request to encourage more people to join her. “We need more outdoor educators,” she said, noting their importance in making the world a greener place.
To learn more about MOWA or get involved, visit the organization’s website.
