MOSS DAY 2

Hello Families!

     The kids are working with the Forest Service right now, and I finally have a few moments to get today's blog posting done.  Yesterday was very eventful, when we arrived at MOSS I found out that there was a scheduling glitch and they weren't expecting us until next week, YIKES!  After collecting myself (and running through my head how in the world that happened), I spoke with our amazing chaperones and we decided to tackle MOSS head on!  The beauty of the situation is, next week we would have shared MOSS with 4 other schools, but this week we get the entire camp to ourselves (except for the Forest Service modules going on right now).  To make things better, our class has done so much outdoor science this year that we just hit the ground running!  I am using the MOSS field module lesson plans that the kids would regularly be doing, but since I know exactly where the class is at in terms of science knowledge/skills, I can take the discussion and instruction to a much higher level.  I think the bottom line is that this glitch actually worked to our benefit!
    Now, onto the science.  We started today out by looking at sage-steppe ecosystems. These are really interesting places because they really walk a fine line between resource competition and fire disturbance.  We have discussed these ecosystems in class and it was really cool to get out and actually work in one!  After this we went up to an old growth ponderosa/doug-fir stand.  This was particularly impressive as these were some of the oldest ponderosa and douglas firs I have ever seen.  Another exciting part of this was that we found a gorgeous quaking aspen stand.  After lunch the kids split into groups and are currently working with the Forest Service.  After this we will have dinner and make a big camp fire!  Tomorrow, we are going to be looking at turbidity and succession in aquatic ecosystems.


*sagebrush ecosystem

*ponderosa, douglas-fir, quaking aspen ecosystem

Fieldwork at the Experimental Forest

Greetings Families!
As I am sure most of you have heard by now, our fieldwork today was really exciting!  Before I say anymore, I want to give a HUGE thanks to Kate Jaeckel, Lahde Forbes, Megan Landers, and Amy Ball for helping to drive and keep an eye on our CREW.  Each group was given three plots to sample, and each plot was approximately 5% of an acre.  The idea is that each group samples a plot within a burn site, an intermediate or sub-climax site, and a climax site.  We will be conducting similar fieldwork next week, but instead of the experimental forest we will be in St. Joe National Forest.  This CREW worked very hard today and each member should be proud of themselves!

Avery, Frances, and Kayley on the drive up.

To get to the site we had to hike about a 1/2 mile up to the ridge line.

This photo was taken from the top of the ridge looking West across the burn site.

Lee and Avery establishing a plot within the burn site.

Frances standing by an old growth ponderosa.  Notice the burn scars on the trunk.  Ponderosa is known as an individual persister.  Its thick bark and elevated crown allow fully matured ponderosas to resist fire damage.

Ivy, Beza, and Karina working in a sub-climax ponderosa-douglas-fir stand.

Katie and Kayley taking fuel measurements

Owen, Avery, and Lee (behind the tree), collecting DBH on an old growth pondersa.

Solomon and Chris establishing a plot within the burn site.

Emily and Avery working on fuels and duff measurements.

John Schwandt and John Kole working in a sub-climax grande fir stand.

I would say finishing three plots is worth a smile!

Just one of many trees indicating high woodpecker frequency.

Avery, Owen, and Lee triumphed over the dreaded 'Plot 13,' mightiest of plots!

Final Product Field Work

Hello Families!

Things have been moving right along with our spring expedition, MOSS is coming up, and our final product work has already begun!  Since the last update we have gone deep into the concept of secondary succession and analyzed how wildland fires impact animal species.  In addition, we have spent a lot of time looking at the relationship between fire and various species of bark beetles and wood borers.  This led us into the world of plant-insect interactions as well as predator prey dynamics between bark beetles and woodpeckers.  I don't know about you, but I absolutely love a good discussion around predator prey dynamics!  We have also been honing the skills necessary for our final product work.  We spent the first half of this week taking measurements in class and developing the basic skills.  Today we went to the arboretum to practice a full scale mock sample location.  Next week we go into the field to do the real thing!  As you can see from the pictures our CREW has really taken to forestry research methodology!

CREW learning how to set up .05 acre research plot, with 1x1 meter sub plot for fuel sampling.

Dan, John Kole, and John Schwandt establishing their plot.

Once the plot is established, students collect multiple measurements.  Avery J is collecting total basal area data by first gathering the circumference of each living tree within her plot.  This data will then be converted to area/tree and finally total living woody area/plot.

Beza, Karina, and Ivy are collecting duff measurements by randomly sampling 20 locations within their plot.

Dan and John K. are working on total basal area data (we have dubbed this the 'tree hugging measurement' as your arms must 'hug' the tree to collect the data).

Emma (not to be confused with the illusive Idaho Pink Panda) collecting data on the density of different fuel classes.

Chris collecting data on duff thickness within the white pine stand.

Accipiter striatus (Sharp-shinned Hawk), photo and species identification by Avery Caudill.