University of Akron Field Station serves over 2,000 students

by Laura Bednar

Dec. 16 township trustees meeting

Dr. Lara Roketenetz, director of the University of Akron Field Station in Bath Nature Preserve, gave an end-of-the-year report for the UAFS. The field station is a living laboratory for the advancement of knowledge through ecological research, education and stewardship of nature, according to its website.

In 2024, the field station provided over 2,508 student interactions through virtual and in-classroom visits and more than 1,600 student interactions on field trips, all at no cost. UAFS serves students in Bath Elementary, Richfield Elementary and Old Trail schools. Bath students accounted for over half of the students seen this year. 

Roketenetz said this was the first year the UAFS hosted kindergarteners, 200 this past spring and 200 this fall. Also new this year is a Nature Club at Bath Elementary. Through an application process, 20 students were chosen to be part of the club, which meets once or twice a month. Roketenetz said the club is funded through an Ohio Environmental Education Fund grant and each student received $1,000 worth of services and equipment such as boots, binoculars and trips to the zoo.

Community member Fred Martin donated a new mobile environmental education outreach van to the field station to use for field trips, traveling to schools and potentially for nature-based day trips for the general public. Roketenetz expressed her excitement, adding that Fred’s father, Paul Martin, is the UAFS namesake.

The field station garners support from local organizations and community members. People can donate funds at uakron.edu/giving/uafs or donate items from the UAFS Amazon wish list at a.co/2LDUq7M.

In other news

Jackson Pemberton was sworn in as Bath’s newest full-time police officer. He was slated to start on Dec. 23 at the hourly rate of $36.96 in accordance with the Fraternal Order of Police labor agreement.

Township Administrator/Police Chief Vito Sinopoli reminded residents that Rumpke will pick up live Christmas trees along with the regular trash. Trees 6 feet and taller must be cut up into smaller pieces. The township also has an organics recycling trailer for real trees at 1188 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., south of the Bath Township Center building.Trustees approved the transfer of $250,000 from the township’s general fund to the parks fund to cover first quarter park expenses in 2025. Sinopoli said the township will start collecting money from the 2023 voter-approved park levy in 2025. 

photo caption: Jackson Pemberton (l) stands with his wife and Police Chief Vito Sinopoli after being sworn in as a full-time police officer. Photo by Laura Bednar