Natural Bridge Visit a Highlight for Introductory Biology Classes
A short drive from VMI is Natural Bridge State Park, featuring the 215-foot-tall wonder, Natural Bridge. While so close, many cadets have never visited the site. Maj. Peter Neofotis, lecturer in the聽Department of Biology聽and native of Rockbridge County, saw an opportunity to weave in some of his biology lessons with the local attraction during the spring semester. He took three sections of his聽Introductory Biology class to聽Natural Bridge in late April, as trees and flowers were blooming and animals were coming out of winter hiding. From a park ranger, the cadets learned about the formation of the bridge and the environment鈥檚 animal inhabitants, including several types of snakes. Neofotis then talked to the cadets about how the limestone that makes up the bridge and much of Rockbridge County traces its origin to the natural impacts and activity of ancient algae. Neofotis also discussed how the ancient arborvitaes in the vicinity of the park are holdovers from a community of conifer trees from the last ice age, 12,500 years ago.
Neofotis acknowledges the value of the park, landmark, and history of Natural Bridge, but emphasizes the trip exceeded his expectations. 鈥淚 think part of me felt the cadets would benefit from seeing the iconic landmark and further welcome them into the landscape of Rockbridge County. The trip was so relevant to the course content and the perfect topical cap to the year. By the end of the semester, having made it through so much animal physiology, when we got to plants and the planetary carbon cycle鈥攚hich is my area of expertise鈥攊t was a real gift to take the students to Natural Bridge and share with them, not only the tales and legends of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson鈥檚 connection to it, but also discuss how all the limestone of the structure鈥攁s well as the county that is named after it鈥攚as created by the activity of humble algae half-a-billion years ago, well before even the dinosaurs came to be, when the whole area was covered by a shallow ocean. And it was a joy to see the cadets interested in evolutions of yesteryear, as well as enjoy just interacting with the natural environs we were currently in.鈥
The cadets agreed with the value of the trip as they wrapped up their semester in the course. 鈥淎t first, I thought this was just going to be some regular field trip I went on in middle school, but I was completely wrong,鈥 shared Stone Gardner 鈥28. 鈥淪eeing Natural Bridge itself was one of the coolest pieces of nature I have ever seen. I highly recommend going to it. The whole tour was awesome, the park staff were great, and it had a nice walk so we could sightsee and just enjoy nature.”
Isabelle Haer 鈥28 enjoyed seeing the material studied in class right in front of her. 鈥淚t was a hands-on experience where we took the content we were learning in class and saw how it has been practically applied to our environment around us.鈥
On his final trip to the park with a class, one comment in particular by Malik McNeely 鈥28 caught Neofotis鈥 attention. 鈥淎s we approached the structure, Malik called out 鈥楾har she blows!鈥 while he pointed to it with a stick, like he was holding a harpoon. I found shivers of amazement going up my spine,鈥 explained Neofotis. 鈥淢alik had never read 鈥楳oby Dick,鈥 but he was reciting words most often ascribed to Herman Melville, who, 175 years ago, penned the great epic where a man cries the very same phrase when he sees a leviathan emerging out of the sea with a high arch, like Virginia鈥檚 Natural Bridge.鈥
Neofotis expressed sincere gratitude for all who supported the trip, including the Department of Biology; Julie Lozier, who supports much of the biology faculty鈥檚 research; and the knowledgeable rangers at .
