EES Graduate Students Enjoy Baxter Camping Trip

The 3rd Annual EES camping trip at Baxter State Park was a huge success, drawing about 30 graduate students for a weekend team-building experience in one of Maine’s most pristine and majestic locations.   Rookie and Veteran EESers gathered to share in project/program discussions, hiking adventures, meals, smores, and games around the campfire at a secluded group site (funded by the EES program).

Johnny Sanchez is an EES Graduate Student who attended the Baxter Camping Trip. He is studying the early growth characteristics of problematic agricultural weeds in the northeast as well as the design of implements for physical weed control. He says he had a great time on the camping trip getting to know a new group of grad students, all working in diverse but often overlapping fields. Because of Baxter’s extreme lack of light pollution, the trip was also a great opportunity to try out new skills, like astrophotography.

Bailey McLaughlin is a first-year EES graduate student with an interest in studying plant species’ responses to climate change. She reports that she had an amazing time on the camping trip this year and really enjoyed getting to know her classmates while also having the chance to experience and explore Maine’s beautiful landscape in Baxter State Park. The trip was the perfect introduction into EES, and she is very excited for the years ahead!

Check out our FaceBook Page to see pictures from the weekend.