The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is an association created to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship. This year, the College of Design’s student chapter of ASLA has more than tripled its membership.
Join us as we discuss the exciting opportunities that the student chapter of ASLA has to offer with Aubrey Tyler (Landscape Architecture), student group president.
What kind of work or activities do group members participate in?
Our student group aims to connect with the professional network of the Minnesota design community by making sure that students are aware of volunteer opportunities hosted by ASLA_MN and the larger community. We also organize events like firm tours, portfolio reviews, and the Social Sketch – which is a program that we created to introduce professionals and students in a relaxed atmosphere. This September, we had students involved with Parking Day in North Loop where we helped construct the parklet prior to the day and then installed the park on Washington for Parking Day.
One of your most popular projects last semester was to create a stress-relieving coloring book. What did you hope to achieve with this project?
We hoped that this would be a way to cultivate conversations about the culture of design school, how stressful it can be, and the importance of fostering a culture of wellness and health as well as academic rigor. The goal of the coloring book was to create something quick that students could use to refocus and recenter their thoughts. Design school can be incredibly stressful, taking a break from the project can be the best way to get over a block.
What other projects does the group have on the horizon?
This semester brings the return of Social Sketch events, as well as a bike tour, and hopefully a spring bash. All event information is posted on our Instagram and Facebook pages. You can also subscribe to the UMNLA department email.
How can students get involved with the group?
We are always looking for students with ideas to join us! We meet every other Wednesday in the Architecture Library meeting room, everyone is welcome. Students interested in joining the ASLA student group should contact me.
You can learn more about the group and what they are up to on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can also get a behind the scenes look at the group’s activities on April 10, when they will take over the ASLA National’s Instagram account.
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