UW-Oshkosh students turn conservation into hands-on learning at Lourdes Academy

As part of Conservation Carnival, UW-Oshkosh sophomore Alyssa Slepawic, a social work major from Waukesha, introduces a three-toed box turtle named Rose to Lourdes Academy third-graders.

Under a bright spring sun, Lourdes Academy third-graders gathered around as a leopard gecko named Lola crawled along University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student Claire Pringnitz's arm. Nearby, classmate Justin Engen shared quick facts about the reptile, prompting a chorus of "Oooooo" when he explained that if threatened, the gecko can detach its tail to escape predators.

The April 23 Conservation Carnival, held outdoors in the school courtyard, turned a warm afternoon into a hands-on lesson in conservation. Thirty-six third-graders rotated through stations featuring animals ranging from a red-tailed boa to a Madagascar hissing cockroach, stopping to ask questions, observe up close and, in some cases, gather the courage to interact with an animal for the first time.

At each stop, UW-Oshkosh students led the experience, teaching, answering questions and translating scientific concepts into something tangible for younger learners.

The event is part of the long-running Nature Connection program led by Shannon Davis-Foust, an associate professor of biology and environmental studies at UW-Oshkosh. Her Biology 104Q3 Ecosphere in Crisis course has connected UW-Oshkosh students with local classrooms for more than a decade, blending environmental science with community engagement.

"My students are being the teachers about conservation," Davis-Foust said. "They have to know where the animal is from, what it eats, how it lives, but also what's threatening its existence."

Learning by doing

Through that process, students move beyond memorizing facts to understanding ecosystems, biodiversity and the human impact on species survival.

For UW-Oshkosh sophomore Claire Pringnitz, the experience meant more than holding Lola. It meant helping younger students see the bigger picture.

"We're teaching them about animals to show how the environment is important," said Pringnitz, an anthropology and medical imaging major. "It's cool to be able to go out and actually do something instead of just sitting in a lecture."

The course emphasizes learning through experience. Students research their assigned species in depth, studying habitat, diet, reproduction and environmental threats, then apply that knowledge in real-world settings like the Conservation Carnival.

For many, the experience pushes them beyond their comfort zones while strengthening communication skills.

"I've never really touched or held one before," Pringnitz said. "So it's a new experience for me."

From hesitation to confidence

Across the courtyard, UW-Oshkosh sophomore Drake Moberg sat remarkably still as Abby, a red-tailed boa measuring about six feet long and weighing roughly 30 pounds, slowly wrapped herself around him. Her head rested gently beneath his chin as nearby students watched closely.

"I never touched a snake in my life before this, and now it's hanging around my neck," said Moberg, a finance and accounting major from Sheboygan Falls. "It's definitely new, and it's pretty cool."

Standing nearby, classmate Zocial Anderson, a sophomore communications major from Portage, helped lead the boa station, guiding students through what they had learned.

"This is my first time willingly working with a snake," she added. "I didn't really want to at first, but it's OK now that I have."

Also working at the station, UW-Oshkosh student Pascal Ramazani, a psychology major from Neenah, said the class helps students better understand the broader impact humans have on the natural world.

"We learn about different species and how humans affect them," Ramazani said, adding, "and how we can do better to help animals survive more."

A full-circle connection

The Conservation Carnival is made possible through collaboration with J & R Aquatic Animal Rescue im Neenah, whose animals and educational resources form the foundation of the experience. Founder John Moyles, who took classes with Davis-Foust, has built the organization around rescuing and rehoming exotic animals while also creating opportunities for education and outreach.

"It sparks interest and captures their imagination at an early age," Moyles said. "It's important to see animals up close. It builds empathy and a passion for the animal itself and the natural world."

Moyles said the experience reflects both his mission and the connections he built at UW-Oshkosh.

"What I really took away from UW-Oshkosh was the relationships I built," Moyles said. "Now I get to give back by helping students have these kinds of hands-on experiences."

For Lourdes Academy teachers Karen Coats and Becky Piechowski, the partnership creates opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom learning.

"It allows the kids to do hands-on STEM activities with older students and get excited about college," Coats said. "They really connect with them."

Piechowski said the experience gives students meaningful exposure to both science and higher education.

"Just being able to interact, ask questions and see things up close, it's something they wouldn't get in a regular classroom," she said.

Building connections to nature

For Davis-Foust, the impact goes beyond a single day. It is about helping students and children build a lasting relationship with the natural world.

"People often look at nature as simply a hobby, but having a connection with nature is much more than that," she said. "If someone doesn't know that an acorn comes from an oak tree, how could they know, or much less care about, what to plant in their yard to support wildlife?"

Davis-Foust said that disconnect has real consequences, shaping how people interact with and manage the environment.

"As nature has become a stranger to us, our land management is all too often blind to the needs of critters who need spaces to live," she said. "The Nature Connection Program helps build those connections, which should start at a young age. Children love to be outside, make new friends and learn about college as a bonus. UW-Oshkosh students become teachers of nature, which is a highly meaningful community experience for them."

Learn more:

Photo gallery of the 2026 Conservation Carnival

School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM