Shaping the Future Forest Stewardship & Oak Regeneration
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Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2-26-2026
Abstract
My Environmental Fellows practicum began with the everyday work of caring for the DePauw Nature Park. From removing invasive species and maintaining trails to collecting wildlife data and updating signage, I saw firsthand that healthy landscapes don’t sustain themselves; they require consistent attention and stewardship.
As the summer progressed, my work expanded from maintaining the forest to questioning its future. Why are so few oak seedlings making it to adulthood? Exploring this question shifted my perspective. I began to see the forest not just as it exists today, but as something constantly shaped by light, wildlife, and long-term ecological pressures. This practicum ultimately became about more than oaks, it was about understanding how subtle forces determine what a forest will look like decades from now, and what role we play in that outcome.
Department
DePauw Department of Environmental Biology
Project Mentor
Jim Benedix
Streaming Media
Recommended Citation
O'Neill, Griffin '26, "Shaping the Future Forest Stewardship & Oak Regeneration" (2026). Annual Student Research Poster Session. 241.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/241
Funding and Acknowledgements
I am grateful to DePauw University and the Environmental Fellows Program for making this practicum possible and for supporting experiential learning. I especially want to thank Professor Benedix for his guidance, ecological insight, and leadership throughout the project.