For students looking for an organization passionate about plants, Ohio University Plant Club provides a space to learn and participate in botanical outreach. The club welcomes all who care about plant care, outdoor activities and more, regardless of one’s major.
The organization offers hikes, craft nights and various educational opportunities to learn more about plants in the area. The club also provides care tips, meetings and more for those looking to grow their knowledge of how to care for their plants at home.
Sage Hyde, a junior studying outdoor recreation and plant biology, is vice president of Plant Club.
Hyde discovered Plant Club at the Involvement Fair freshman year and ended up staying. Hyde said the club’s gatherings vary to give differing options to those involved.
“We have hikes lots of times,” Hyde said. “Our hikes are usually scheduled outside of our normal meeting times because we try to get a variety of opportunities throughout the month. We do a lot of plant-centric crafts, and we do pot painting activities. We do different games and giveaways.”
Hyde said that the club’s activities are educational, fun and plant-centered. One of the club’s most recent meetings included a hike to look for and pick the official Ohio state fruit, the pawpaw.
Morgan Elliott, a senior studying field ecology, is president of Plant Club. Elliott said the pawpaw hike is one of his favorite meetings held.
“I think one of my favorite meetings we’ve done every year is a pawpaw hike,” Elliott said. “This year it was really good. We had a really good year for pawpaws.”
Elliott said combining hiking with a love for plants is a highlight of being involved.
“I love the hiking aspect of Plant Club,“ Elliott said. "It’s part of what initially drew me to it. The pawpaw hike just gets people out there.”
Elliott also said the club strives to include students of all majors.
"I wasn’t able to attend the Involvement Fair this year, but last year when I was there a lot of people came up asking, ‘Can I still join if I’m not a plant bio major?’ and absolutely,” Elliott said. “It’s a plant biology club, but it’s Plant Club first. And we get people mostly who are just interested in plants.”
Hyde said the club attracts a lot of plant biology and science students, but also a good mix of other majors who are simply plant enthusiasts.
Saadiyah McElya, a sophomore studying marketing and international business, is the secretary for Plant Club. McElya discovered the club at the Involvement Fair freshman year, and has been a part of it ever since. She said that one of her favorite meetings last year was a plant beauty pageant.
"We did a plant beauty pageant,” McElya said. “It was just a good way to show off the progress we’ve made with our plants. It’s in the middle of the year, when it’s cold outside. It was just really good community bonding. It was just a way to have fun.”
During winter months, the club features more crafts and indoor meetings related to plants and promoting bonding. OU Plant Club continues to welcome all those interested in plants to a low-commitment, fun and educational club.
The club meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Porter Hall, Room 101. The next meeting is Oct. 14. Updates can be found through the club’s Bobcat Connect and Instagram, @ohiouplantclub.
