Student Environmental Alliance»About SEA

About SEA

The Student Environmental Alliance (SEA) promotes the ecological health of the campus, Chestertown community, and Chesapeake Bay region.

Established Initiatives

Campus garden [Learn more!]
Earthen Oven - work in progress!
Compost
Environmental immersion and outreach

Join the Cause!

So you understand the benefits (and drawbacks) of recycling. You see value in growing food locally and composting. You enjoy hiking and camping. You dig community service. You like learning about wildlife. Sound like you?

College Advocacy

SEA inspires ecological thinking at the College and our members get to weigh in on administrative issues. We have been commissioned by President Reiss to form a new Sustainability Committee composed of faculty, students, and staff.

Starting with Sustainability

Sustainability means that we aren’t degenerating the world we inhabit. SEA works toward making the College a regenerative campus.

Recent topics SEA has advocated

1) Environmental Studies Department
2) Environmental Studies Honor Society
3) Waterfront campus LEED certification
4) Green dorm
5) Environmental headquarters

2012 - 2013 OFFICERS:

Co-Presidents: Amanda Anastasia and Kathy Thornton
Treasurer: Tori Alpaugh
Historian: Rae Ramos
Secretary: Sarah Giordano
Staff Advisor: Shane Brill

Photo Galleries

Owls and Wood Ducks
Eco-Service and Adventure

Hot off its outreach program for children at the Kent County Public Library, the Student Environmental Alliance teamed up with the Wilderness Adventure Club for a weekend of wilderness exploration and service. The groups spent two nights at YMCA’s Camp Tockwogh, helping to rebuild stables and mulch a program area, followed by watershed restoration with Project Cleanstream at Mount Harmon Plantation.
Paint, Plants, and Penguins

As part of its commitment to community service, the Student Environmental Alliance hosted a hands-on educational workshop and reading for local children at the Kent County Public Library.
Misty Trails at CBEC

Despite the lingering mist and rain, SEA went to the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville, Maryland to hike and explore the marshy and forested habitat.
Seed Starting

The Student Environmental Alliance started seeds for the campus garden in recycled containers.
Hiking at Turner’s Creek

Members of the Student Environmental Alliance ventured to nearby Turner’s Creek off the Sassafras River for an afternoon of wilderness exploration.
Casey Time at Campus Garden

Each semester, students participate in Casey Time, an opportunity for Washington College to give back to the campus in honor of patrons Eugene B. and Betty Brown Casey ’47. The Student Government Association, Buildings and Grounds, and the Student Environmental Alliance teamed up to establish a pathway from the Western Shore residence halls to the campus garden.
Earth Oven Clay Delivery

At the dedication of the campus garden, the Student Environmental Alliance expressed a vision to expand the garden’s food production to build community and demonstrate low-impact sustainable living. Dr. Bill Schindler suggested a joint venture between SEA, the Anthropology Club, the Anthropology Department, and the Center for Environment & Society to establish an earth oven for baking traditional sourdough bread.
Eastern Neck Hiking

The Student Environmental Alliance ventured to nearby Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge for a day of hiking and wildlife observation.
Campus Garden Dedication

In one of the first events of Fall Family Weekend 2012, faculty, staff, and students gathered for the dedication of George’s Grove, the campus garden established by the Student Environmental Alliance.
Rock Wall and Zipline

In pursuit of wilderness immersion and ecological fitness, the Student Environmental Alliance traveled to nearby Tuckahoe State Park for a forested rock wall climb and zipline.
Camp Tockwogh

The Student Environmental Alliance spent a weekend in the woods volunteering at Camp Tockwogh, a nonprofit summer program geared to help children understand their ecological relationship with the world.
Garden Plantings

The Student Environmental Alliance and Habitat for Humanity continued to construct a garden shed, planted the first fruit trees and berry bushes, and started sheet mulching to control weeds. The garden promotes campus sustainability and presents an opportunity for collaboration between Washington College and the Chestertown community.
Garden Boxes

The Student Environmental Alliance teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to build boxes for raised garden beds using salvaged wood pallets. The garden promotes campus sustainability and presents an opportunity for collaboration between Washington College and the Chestertown community.
Rubble Dump Protest

The Student Environmental Alliance at Washington College teamed up with the Sassafras River Association to protest the proposed Rubble Dump for the headwaters of the Sassafras River. The Rubble Dump was not on the agenda for this meeting, but the protest was to ensure that this issue is not forgotten or pushed aside. The Sassafras River Association and concerned residents have been working tirelessly to fight this proposition and plan to continue to do so until it is resolved.
Composting Gets Started

In the effort to use local resources and energy more effectively, students have begun to participate in a composting initiative—one of the sustainable programs that Washington College is developing.

Our Top 3 Questions

Do you need a background in the environment to join SEA?

Everyone has a background in the environment by virtue of living in it! SEA attracts students from a variety of disciplines who have an inquisitive outlook on our culture.
Does SEA participate in environmental protests?

Yes! We’re often asked to support environmental causes, but we always consider the complex issues before doing so.
Is civilization sustainable? What is progress?

SEA is involved in many hands-on projects that challenge our perception of how the world works, and raise thoughtful discussions about the role of humans in the environment.