Ohio State pours time and resources into its many attributes, but one of the most notable is its learning communities, groups of students with similar interests that live, study and grow together. The Students Understanding Sustainability and Taking Action to Improve Nature and Society (SUSTAINS) Learning Community focuses on the environmental and sustainability field and offers its members, which come from all majors and programs of study, a plethora of opportunities for engagement. One such opportunity, an annual fall break trip to Washington, D.C. or Chicago, elevates the student experience and opens doors to new career avenues.
With the exclusion of 2020 and 2021 (due to COVID-19), SUSTAINS has offered this trip since the year after its inception, 2015. In the fall of 2022, the learning community re-launched the journey to D.C.
“We were thrilled to be able to bring back the fall break trip,” said Matt Griffin, the Sustainability Institute’s Program Manager of Co-Curricular and Community Initiatives. “The experience really pushes students out of their comfort zone and is one of the highlights of the SUSTAINS community.”
The 18 participants departed for the nation’s capital on the Wednesday evening of fall break and returned Saturday night. Thursday and Friday, the students spent their time in meetings with a range of private companies, non-profits and government organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund, Electrification Coalition and the Washington, D.C. municipal Department of Energy and Environment. Saturday morning, the city is theirs to explore.
“I think the coolest organization we visited was the vertical farming operation Area2Farms, said freshman Aidan Marrone. “They showed how local agriculture is not only possible, but profitable and sustainable even in an urban environment.”
The diversity of speakers and events ensures that there's something for every student and reflects the broad range of interests and goals within the learning community. It exposes students to an in-depth perspective of potential future careers that are not as salient or present in Columbus.
“The non-profit organizations tend to be a favorite with the students,” Griffin added. “Most of them don’t understand how many opportunities for employment exist in the sector, and it’s a great way for them to learn more about something they aren’t very knowledgeable about.”
D.C. in particular has a strong base of Ohio State connections. From the university’s government relations office to its Washington Academic Internship Program cohort, it’s a place with plentiful resources for Buckeyes. Additionally, the city has a unique position of consistently being surrounded by current events, including ones concerning sustainability, making it an ideal location for young professionals.
Afterwards, students receive contact sheets with the name and information of every speaker and organization they talked to, leaving room for future communication and connections. The networking is an invaluable experience that leads participants to jumpstart their futures.
“I know many students can feel hesitant to use their breaks for academic-sponsored trips, but the time is not only valuable from a professional standpoint, but the attendees have a great time every year and their bond becomes so much closer,” Griffin said.