DukeEngage in Beaufort, NC: Lauren Schwisberg pours water on new landscaping in a wetland construction project.

 "Lyla"

Participants in the 2011 Portland program assist with the removal of invasive species from a nature trail in Portland.

In the DukeEngage in Ecuador program, students are exposed to the complex realities of environmental justice and the impact of natural resource extraction on local community health and culture.

Four DukeEngage students are planting hundreds of native plant species, including this fern, to a project site in the headwaters of the Neuse Basin in Hillsborough, N.C., as part of a storm water management and stream restoration initiative. The project concludes with similar work in Beaufort, N.C.

Rachel Hammer, DukeEngage in Durham 2010, spent her summer volunteering on an Eno River project that addressed invasive vegetation crowding out plant life that benefit native wildlife.

DukeEngage student Courtney Liu teaches an arts education class to middle schoolers in Zhuhai, China.  The arts-focused group program will continue in 2011.

Students from South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School offer a helping hand to one another as they maneuver through an obstacle course at a local summer camp. According to DukeEngage ’08 student Melissa Wiesner, who captured this shot, this annual gathering aims to build unity, self-esteem, and educate girls about self-defense.

Janet Wu, DukeEngage ’08, captures the shadow of an indigenous plant falling against the hand of a nursery gardener in South Africa. Janet was pursuing a wildlife photography and conservation education independent project in the St. Lucia area.  Manukelana Arts and Indigenous Nursery is a locally owned business devoted to sustainable practice and conservation of natural resources. 

Nicolas Lessios (right) takes a shovel from local farmer Victor Almengor in Boqueron, Panama. Nicolas and two other Duke students embarked on a reforestation project in the area as part of their independent project.