Range Club takes a hike

CSC’s Range Club plant identification walk teaches students about common plant species on campus

CSC’s Range Club hosted  a “Fun in the Field Plant ID” event Saturday, teaching students common plants to identify around campus.  

Students and faculty met in the Nelson Physical Activity Center parking lot and hiked the Harold and LaVerne Thompson Natural History Preserve trails.  

Rebekah Pobanz, senior of Grand Island, Range Club president organized the hike which was led by Steve Rolfsmeier.  

Pobanz and Roldfsmeier pointed out various plant species along the trail and described those species to the group.  

Roldfsmeier discussed the history of Chadron State College’s plant systems and how they have changed overtime. 

He shared tricks to identify plants and pointed out plants that can be foraged and used for food. 

Also in attendance were CSC Rangeland Proffessor’s Jonathan Spiess and Tony Perlinski, who helped identify various species.

Plant speices identified include, Hoary tansy-aster, plains sunflower, smooth ground-cherry, prairie rose, sand bluestem, threadleaf sedge, prarie junegrass, big bluestem and blue grama.

Attendees were provided with a packet with various plant species and how to identfy them, for future reference.  

Each reference has images of the plant, scientific name and descriptions of leaves, stems and roots.

Pobanz organized the event to help provide the general public with inforamtion on the rangelands around them.

”I think its important for people to what they are looking at, in nature” Pobanz said. “It helps people to have a better appreciation and knowledge for rangeland health.” 

Abigail Swanson, graduate of Grand Island said she attended the hike to help her identifiy the species around her. 

“I wanted to learn some of the plants that are in the area,” Sawnson said. “ That way  I don’t always have to ask my friends when I am walking with them.”