Campus Connection

Students, wildlife experts team up to create interpretative signs on Hintgen Island

Not many students get the chance to travel to class by airboat, but a group of UWL students are among the few who can say they have. 

Students in Professor Laurie Harmon’s Environmental Interpretation course got that once-in-a-lifetime experience through a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) partnership with the Upper Mississippi River Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. 

The class is creating a series of digital interpretive signs for Hintgen Island, allowing visitors to scan QR codes and learn about the island’s environment, wildlife and history through student-designed content. 

For Harmon, the project came together through a casual conversation with Fritz Funk, president of the Upper Mississippi River Chapter, and quickly proved to be an ideal fit.

“We already do so much experiential learning in the major,” says Harmon, referring to the Outdoor Recreation, Tourism & Event Management (ORTEM) major. “Having the class formally designated as ‘CEL’ elevates the visibility on campus and in the eyes of the students.” 

With funding from a grant obtained by the Izaak Walton League, students traveled to the island by airboat — a first for everyone in the class.

“Not surprisingly, we had perfect attendance that day,” Harmon jokes. “It was their first time on an airboat and their first time boating on the river with ice. It was a high-energy experience, but it was also the only safe way to get there.” 

Once on the island, students worked alongside local experts in areas such as birding, plant life, freshwater mussels, water quality and river history. 

“They brought in volunteers with an incredible amount of expertise,” Harmon says. “Students were able to choose who they wanted to learn from and explore the island with them.”

Sophomore Liam Guyette says learning directly from experts was a standout part of the experience. 

“My favorite part was getting out to Hintgen Island and learning directly from people who care so much about the river and the environment,” Guyette says. 

Senior Hannah Budig agrees, saying the same interactions made the course especially meaningful. 

“Being able to pick the brains of individuals who practice our course materials as a profession was invaluable,” Budig says. 

“Most classes in the ORTEM major prioritize community-engaged learning, and that’s one of my favorite parts,” she adds. “It’s so rewarding to see concepts from class come to life and make a positive impact on our community.” 

The final product — a series of digital signs built around a central theme — will give visitors a new way to experience the island. 

“It’s cool knowing that something we made could actually be used by visitors,” Guyette says. “This class helped me see how important it is to connect people to their local environment in a way that’s interactive and meaningful.” 

For Harmon, that connection is the goal. 

“I couldn’t ask for a better Community Engaged Learning project,” she says. “Students are working with something local, something meaningful and creating something that gives back to the community.” 

Watch the journey by airboat to Hintgen Island.

About the program 

UWL’s Community Engaged Learning program matches local businesses and organizations with faculty experts seeking real-world experiences and skill applications for their students.  

Organizations can submit project ideas through the UWL Community Idea Exchange. 

Faculty can apply to have their course designated for Community Engaged Learning. 

A three-year, $100,000 gift from Advisors Management Group (AMG) to the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation is providing resources that make it easier for faculty to develop and sustain community-based projects.