Hastings Natural History Reservation

22 Apr, 05 AM - 24 Apr, 05 AM

The purpose of this field trip is to introduce our students from Pittsburg High School to the diversity of organisms that live in the wildlands of California, and to the ways that researchers study this diversity. The class will be led by 2 UC Berkeley graduate students familiar with the site, and assisted by the classroom teacher plus an undergraduate assistant. Activities will be designed to engage the students in inquiry-based learning and to demonstrate field techniques including plant identification and pressing, transect or plot style vegetation surveys, the use of sweep nets and beating sheets to sample of insect diversity, live trapping of small mammals, the use of fluorescent powder to track movements of rodents, track plates, using a black light to attract night flying insects, the use of a bat detector, etc. An additional part of our overall program is to develop a collection of natural history objects (insect and plant specimens, vertebrate sign, and photos of vertebrates and habitats) and data that the students will analyze, curate, and display at their school. Through these field trips, lessons conducted by graduate students in the high school classroom, and the students? own work and ownership of the collections, we hope to enhance their experience with and understanding of the study of biology and natural history, increase their appreciation of California?s biodiversity, and, perhaps open some pathways into further study of science. Below is a preliminary schedule of activities, which will be confirmed or updated in February: Friday 4/22 1-3 sample arthropods at the Carmel River 3-4 arrive Hastings 4-5 orientation 5-6 set out mammal traps (along Big Creek) 7-8 set out insect sheets and track plates (near lab) 8-9 night hike Saturday 4/23 7-9 check traps 10-2 native vs. non-native grasslands (near the Hastings Cabin) 3-5 processing samples, checklist activity 7-8 observe bats 8-9 fluorescent tracking, insect sheets, track plates Sunday 4/24 9-11 variability in fence lizards 11-12 clean up

Visit #6546 @Hastings Natural History Reservation

Approved

Under Project # 1090 | Public Use

Exploring California Biodiversity

other - University of California, Berkeley

Reservation Members(s)

Betsy Mitchell Apr 22 - 24, 2005 (3 days)
Group of 15 K-12 Student Apr 22 - 24, 2005 (3 days)
Group of 3 Other Apr 22 - 24, 2005 (3 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Bunk House Cottage 19 Apr 22 - 24, 2005
Fanny Arnold Conference Room 19 Apr 22 - 24, 2005
Hastings Cabin 19 Apr 22 - 24, 2005
Ranch House 19 Apr 22 - 24, 2005