Burrell’s New Environmental Field Studies Course Introduces Students to the Elements

In high school, Chad Clear was told that “he could do so much” by pursuing a career in biology.

Now the second-year Burrell High School teacher is showing, rather than just telling, her students what those paths might look like.

“All the knowledge I’ve gained over the years in this field, I wanted to apply it to the classroom,” said Claire, 34.

Claire teaches biology and this year started a new course, Environmental Field Studies, which has 14 high school students enrolled.

The course aims to give students more hands-on learning experience outside of school and expose them to a variety of career opportunities related to environmental science, Clair said.

Students have already visited Burrell Lake Park to discuss algal blooms occurring there, and K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park to learn about stream measurements and macroinvertebrate identification to determine water quality.

“I always want part of this class to revolve around the local community,” he said. “There is so much impact that can be made from an environmental perspective at the local level.”

The class went on a field trip to Greensburg to learn about the Westmoreland Preserve and stopped at Westmoreland Cleanways, a recycling center. Claire is planning future assignments with air quality professionals, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the state Fish and Boat Commission.

A Hempfield native, Clair originally planned to major in biology but decided against the education portion because he said he really enjoyed working in the field.

He enjoyed working as an environmental scientist in the public, private and non-profit sectors, but it required a lot of travel, which was not conducive to starting a family. So, after much thought and discussion with his wife Lauren, it was all over and Claire decided to pursue teaching again.

He was a student teacher at Greater Latrobe High School and saw its “cornerstone” environmental field research program in action, led by teacher Patrick Roberts. The Latrobe program began in 1995, and Roberts said students benefit from learning more about their environment.

“It’s important to me to get out there and do real science,” Roberts said.

This year, Burrell and Latrobe students went on a field trip together to Latrobe Park to wear bee suits and gain experience working with bees and in apiaries. Roberts said he hopes to continue working with Burrell.

The opportunity to learn something new and learn about possible career paths makes this course beneficial for Burrell High School’s Jillian Barbio.

“I’m learning things I didn’t know much about before,” she said.