蜜桃传媒

Student鈥檚 Exhibit Blooms at England鈥檚 Historic Kiplin Hall.

A unique collaboration between 蜜桃传媒 and in North Yorkshire, England, has blossomed into an engaging new student-created exhibit, "Ecology at the Folly." Born from one of the recent Kiplin Hall Program trips and spearheaded by anthropology and environmental studies major Melchior Tuerk 鈥�26, the interactive display aims to educate and inspire visitors, particularly young learners, about the diverse ecosystems thriving within the historic British estate. 

The project originated from an exploratory trip to Kiplin Hall last June by staff, faculty, and six students, including Tuerk, all of whom tested out academic and logistical plans in preparation for the relaunch of the 蜜桃传媒 Kiplin Hall short-term study abroad program in the summer of 2025. Deputy Director of the Center for Environment and Society (CES) Beth Choate, who was one of the staff on the exploratory trip and oversees the CES internship program, connected with Kiplin Hall curator Alice Rose, who expressed interest in showcasing the ongoing ecological restoration efforts on the grounds. 

"The head gardener and his team of volunteers have made great strides to rebuild ecosystems and provide diverse habitats for a variety of wildlife throughout the grounds of Kiplin Hall," Choate explained. "Alice expressed interest in finding a way to showcase these efforts and tell visitors more about what is being done and why. We saw this as a fabulous point of collaboration, where CES and a student intern could provide their expertise to develop an exhibit for 'The Folly,' a stone structure located on the property." 

That student intern was Melchior Tuerk. The museum, field, and community education minor participated in the 2024 reboot of the Kiplin Hall program. For Tuerk, the opportunity to design and curate an exhibit was an invaluable hands-on experience.

"When I heard about the exhibit curation experience, I was really excited," Tuerk said. "It gave me really good hands-on, real-life experience with exhibit design in a way that really worked for me." 

Working remotely from Chestertown, Mel collaborated closely with Choate and Rose. Rose provided a list of conservation initiatives and an interpretation plan outlining the exhibit's target audience and objectives. The team agreed that the exhibit should be accessible and engaging for both children and adults, utilizing clear language and defining scientific terms when necessary. The primary goals were to educate visitors about the diverse habitats and ecological features of Kiplin Hall and to foster a sense of wonder about the natural world. 

Choate praised Tuerk's initiative and dedication. "Mel really ran with the project after these initial conversations,鈥� commented Choate. 鈥淭hey did extensive research to learn more about exhibits that did a good job of accomplishing these goals in other places. They learned about the curriculum for school children in an effort to increase accessibility for all. And they learned more about the organisms found throughout these ecosystems in the U.K." 

The process wasn't without its challenges. Tuerk noted the difficulties of designing an exhibit for a space they couldn't physically visit, relying on measurements and descriptions. They also encountered unexpected cultural and linguistic nuances.  

"I didn't expect the cultural language barrier between American English and  American measurements and prices and English, like British English," Tuerk said. "All the measurements that I got were given to me in metric. And with the language, especially because I was doing a lot of writing and learning about different British terms of praise, and even the different spellings were really funny." 

Despite the distance, Tuerk meticulously crafted the content and design, incorporating standard Kiplin Hall design elements with unique colors and fonts. They also focused on creating interactive elements to enhance visitor engagement.  

The final exhibit, "Ecology at the Folly," features sections dedicated to the woods, wildflowers, ponds, and shrubs of Kiplin Hall, illustrating the interconnectedness of these natural features. Interactive components include "smell jars" for olfactory exploration, wooden block flashcards, and a migration map where visitors can mark their home locations. 

"[The exhibit] is designed for children. It鈥檚 supposed to be really hopeful and informative and empowering for young learners to get involved with environmental action," Tuerk explained. "So, I hope that through the exhibit young visitors learn to appreciate the environment that surrounds them and start making action to protect it." 

Choate echoed this sentiment, stating, "It is my hope that visitors will walk away from this exhibit with the desire to learn more about nature, ecology, wildlife, and how they can better support diverse communities of organisms. We really want the exhibit to be a call to action to anyone who walks through, to inspire curiosity that leads to conservation efforts." 

The "Ecology at the Folly" exhibit is a tangible outcome of the strong and growing relationship between 蜜桃传媒 and Kiplin Hall. Choate highlighted the reciprocal nature of the partnership, noting that Rose visited the 蜜桃传媒 campus in the fall, giving talks and forging further connections. Additionally, another Washington College intern is currently working on interpretation for the lily pond at Kiplin Hall, and plans are underway for students visiting with the Kiplin Hall study away trip this summer to participate in on-site projects. 

"I believe we have established a very fruitful, collaborative relationship that I hope continues for years to come," Choate concluded. 

Tuerk, who hopes to pursue a career in museum work, found the experience incredibly valuable. "I think part of this takeaway was just realizing that I have the capability to鈥�lead myself. So, being able to try that out was really special to me." 

"Ecology at the Folly" is now open to visitors at , offering a vibrant and engaging introduction to the natural wonders of the estate and showcasing the talent and dedication of a 蜜桃传媒 student on an international stage. 

 - Evelyn Lucado '26