Preparing for the Shenandoah Summer Field Research Course A guide for students and parents

Transcription

1 Preparing for the Shenandoah Summer Field Research Course 2015 A guide for students and parents

2 Welcome Students! Welcome to the Summer Field Research Course Shenandoah National Park! You are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Over the course of one week, you will visit beautiful places and overcome physical and intellectual challenges with a group of people who share your passion for new experiences. On this trip, you ask the questions, you find the answers, and you go home with fantastic stories to tell. This packet is designed to help you succeed during this course. It will tell you what to expect from the week and what we expect from you. You are about to become part of a team whose success depends on trust, communication and participation. Friendships forged on a trip like this can last a lifetime. Your team will be led by NatureBridge Environmental Science Educators who have many years of experience leading groups in national parks and introducing people to the natural beauty of wild places. We hope that you have a wonderful trip that will inspire you to continue exploring and adventuring. If you have any questions, please ask us. It is our job to make sure that you get the most out of this experience. We are looking forward to seeing you soon! The NatureBridge Education Team in Shenandoah National Park 2015 NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 2

3 Paperwork Let s get this out of the way first! Before we head off on our adventure, we need you some information from you. NatureBridge requires you to complete the following documents before attending our program: NatureBridge Medical Form and Participant Agreement Needs to be filled out and signed by a doctor, as well as signed by a parent or guardian. NatureBridge Student Contract Needs a student signature. Complete the online Parent/Guardian Logistical Questionnaire. Complete the Student Pre-Trip Survey. Please return all forms by May 15, Send forms and direct questions to: Stephen Abatiell, Summer Programs Coordinator summerprogramscoordinator@naturebridge.org fax mail NatureBridge, Attn: Summer Field Research Course, P.O. Box 487, Yosemite, CA Additional Preparation Look over the attached packing list and compile your gear for the trip. Please contact us with questions about specific gear needs. Students, please prepare physically for the course through regular exercise. Remember you will be hiking up to 9 miles in one day. Logistics Student Presentations on Last Day As the culmination of the course, students will present their scientific findings to NatureBridge and National Park Service staff. Parents and families are invited to share in the last afternoon of the course and see the presentations. Presentations will begin at 1p.m. and conclude by 3 p.m NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 3

4 Arrival and Departure Times Session 1: Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3, 2015 Please plan to arrive at Skyland Lodge at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 29 and depart from Big Meadows Lodge by 3 p.m. on Friday, July 3. Session 2: Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 24, 2015 Please plan to arrive at Skyland Lodge at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 20 and depart from Big Meadows Lodge by 3 p.m. on Friday, July 24. Session 3: Monday, August 3 - Friday, August 7, 2015 Please plan to arrive at Skyland Lodge at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 3 and depart from Big Meadows Lodge by 3 p.m. on Friday, August 7. *Waitlist Session (if scheduled): Monday, July 13 Friday, July 17, 2015 Please plan to arrive at Skyland Lodge at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 13 and depart from Big Meadows Lodge by 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17. Getting to Shenandoah Shenandoah National Park is in North Central Virginia, approximately 90 miles west of Washington, DC. It is your responsibility to get to and from Shenandoah at the beginning and end of the course. Travel options are listed below. The course will begin at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park at 1 p.m. on Monday. Students can either be dropped off at Skyland Lodge by 12:30 p.m., or you can take advantage of NatureBridge s shuttle service for an additional fee. Shuttle service is provided from the Vienna Metro Station (DC Orange Line) Kiss and Ride and Dulles Airport. On Friday, we invite family members to come to Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park to watch student presentations. Presentations will begin at 1 p.m. For family members who are unable to attend the presentations, you may pick up your child from Big Meadows Lodge by 3 p.m. Alternatively, a shuttle service is available for an additional fee. Shuttle service is provided to the Vienna Metro Station (DC Orange Line) Kiss and Ride and Dulles airport. Travel by Plane We offer a shuttle service to and from Dulles International Airport (IAD) on the first and last day of each session. Participants should purchase tickets for a flight that arrives before 11 a.m. on the first day (Monday) and departs after 6 p.m. on the final day (Friday) of the program NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 4

5 Travel by DC Metro Participants may be picked up at and dropped off at the Vienna Metro Station (DC Orange Line) Kiss & Ride. *Shuttle service costs $50 each way ($100 round-trip) from both locations and can be purchased when you register for the course. If you would like to use this service, please contact our Summer Programs Coordinator prior to purchasing tickets to discuss flight times. If you re planning to drive, please refer to the NatureBridge Shenandoah Map which includes multiple Park entrances. All programs will begin at Skyland Resort and end at Big Meadows Lodge. Lodging Options in the Shenandoah Area for Family and Friends If you wish to stay in the Shenandoah area before or after the trip, here are some options for lodging either in Shenandoah National Park itself or in nearby communities. For lodging and camping options within Shenandoah, visit the Shenandoah National Park Lodging page: There are lodging options available at both Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge. For lodging options outside of Shenandoah, we recommend looking into the following options: If you are coming from the South on I-81: the town of Harrisonburg has many hotels. Note that Harrisonburg is over 50 miles from Skyland Resort. If you are coming from the West on 340: Luray has several lodging options and is only 10 miles from the Thornton Gap Metro Station and 20 miles from Skyland Resort If you are coming from the North or East on I-81, I-66, or 340: The towns of Front Royal and Strasburg each have several lodging options. Note that each town is about 40 miles from Skyland Resort. If you are coming from the South or East: Culpepper, VA has several lodging options and is approximately 40 miles from Skyland Resort. We encourage you to plan family time in Shenandoah National Park. Make reservations to stay in the campground or at one of the lodges for the weekend following the NatureBridge course, and give your child the opportunity to share the park with you! 2015 NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 5

6 Course Overview Shenandoah National Park The NatureBridge Shenandoah Summer Field Research Course will involve meeting with park scientists, developing research questions, carrying out field science investigations, and presenting results. The first two days will be based out of Skyland Resort. On Wednesday, we will set out on the Appalachian Trail to Big Meadows Lodge and Campground, where we will be based for the remainder of the week. Over the course of the week, students will engage in leadership development activities and participate in scientific research. Students will explore wild places, develop camping skills, and contribute to scientific understanding of Shenandoah National Park while forging new friendships. The final day, the group will give presentations to community members from NatureBridge and Shenandoah National Park, as well as parents. Some students may choose to go home with families after the presentations while others will take advantage of transportation to DC provided by NatureBridge (see above under Getting to Shenandoah ). General Schedule Day Topics / activities 1 Arrival / Orientation Intro to Shenandoah National Park Ecology with NPS Ranger Intro to field science investigations and scientific inquiry 2 Conduct independent research projects Practice leadership skills 3 Day hike on the Appalachian Trail (9 miles) Conduct independent research projects Practice leadership skills 4 Stewardship for Shenandoah National Park Conduct independent research projects, analyze data Practice leadership skills Set up at campground 5 Clean up gear/break down camp Prepare and present research projects Departure 2015 NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 6

7 Additional Information We highly encourage you to take some time to become more familiar with the incredible Shenandoah National Park ecosystem that we are about to experience. There are lots of resources on the internet including the Shenandoah National Park Website. Here are maps of the areas we will be exploring: Skyland Area Map Big Meadows Area Map Packing List Please bring the following items for the camping portion of the course: Purchasing high-tech camping items can be pricey. Consider looking at used gear and clothes stores for many of these items. NatureBridge will provide tents and sleeping pads for the night we are camping at Big Meadows. Clothing 1 Warm hat 1 Hat for sun protection 1 Pair of non cotton gloves or mittens Rain jacket and pants (waterproof not water resistant; if you are unsure whether your gear is water resistant or waterproof put it on and hop in a cool shower) 1-3 Warm top layers (non-cotton fabric like wool/polypropylene/fleece that can be layered on top of each other for warmth. For example, a long underwear shirt, a fleece, and a jacket; if possible go with items that are warm for their weight) 2-3 T-shirts (preferably non cotton) 1-3 Warm bottom layers (non-cotton like wool/polypropylene/fleece that can be layered on top of each other for warmth. For example, long underwear bottoms and fleece pants, that could be layered under rain pants during cold weather; if possible go with items that are warm for their weight such as down and fleece) 1 Pair warm weather hiking pants 1 Pair light weight shorts (nylon, non cotton) 3-4 Pair hiking socks (at least half non cotton) and 2-3 extra pairs of socks 1 Pair hiking boots well broken in 1 Pair camp shoes (lightweight shoes or sandals that secure to foot and protect the toes) Appropriate amount of underwear and sports bras Handkerchief/bandanna 2015 NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 7

8 Gear 1 Warm (<30 F) non cotton sleeping bag 1 Sturdy day pack (no drawstring bags). A heavy duty school bookbag with two shoulder straps works well. Two 1-liter water bottles Head lamp or small flashlight 2-4 Pens/pencils Toiletries (sunscreen, mosquito repellent, lip protection, toothbrush, toothpaste, stuff sacks, menstruation supplies, watch) Sunglasses Personal items (small deck of cards, book, camera, binoculars, field guides, journal etc.) Shower toiletries Towel Sandals for shower house (optional) What NOT to Bring Drugs and alcohol. This is a federal offense in Shenandoah National Park. Students will be investigated by a federal law enforcement ranger and sent home at the expense of their parent or guardian. Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are also not permitted in this program, even if the student is 18 years old. Personal Electronic Devices: ipods, computers, PSPs, portable gaming devices, portable televisions. This experience is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural world, and the community that we will build together. With this idea in mind, we ask that you do not bring certain items that can be distractions from the present moment. A camera is an exception to this. However, keep in mind that NatureBridge is not responsible for lost or damaged items. Knives or other weapons NatureBridge will provide the following items. You do not need to bring any of these items. Food or snacks (unless you have highly specialized dietary need that you have discussed with our staff ahead of time). We take great pride in providing students with tasty, nutritious meals, and will make sure everyone is well fed. Due to precautions against bears and mice, we have limited storage for extra food, so we ask that you do not bring any. You are welcome to bring a few snacks for your transit to and from Shenandoah. Emergency equipment such as First aid supplies, National Park Service radios for emergency communication NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 8

9 Group Gear: Maps and compasses, water purification, stoves, fuel, pots, group cooking equipment, tents and ground sheets, biodegradable soap, and hand sanitizer. What About Cell Phones? One of the beautiful opportunities about the Field Research Course is to unplug from electronics and social media. Depending on your service provider, your cell phone may not work at all in Shenandoah. Cell phones are not dependable emergency devices in Shenandoah National Park. Our educators carry emergency radios with National Park Service frequencies. Furthermore, the rugged nature of the trip and the potential for varying weather conditions is not a suitable environment for expensive electronic devices. As such, it is our policy that students do not have cell phones during the academic portions of the course. They may use them responsibly during non-class time. As noted above, they may or may not have a signal. We recognize that many students also use their phone as their primary camera. We recommend that students bring a separate digital camera or disposable camera. Alternatively, we will send one ipad (encased in a rugged, protective case) with each learning group for educational purposes (field guides, educational apps). Students can share the ipad to take photos. At the end of the course, photos will be compiled and posted on a photo sharing site NatureBridge. All Rights Reserved. Updated 3/02/2015. naturebridge.org Page 9