MOSS Day 3

Hello Families,

We had such an awesome day!  I don't have time to explain the specifics of each photo (and some of them aren't in order), so I will just give a brief summary of the day.  We started the day by experimenting with fire boards (these are boards that we load up with matches to create scale experiments of actual wildland fires).  After finishing, I tallied it up and we burned 1,500 matches during these experiments!  One aspect of this that was really interesting was that these scale experiments did a great job of demonstrating some principles of fire behavior we analyzed in class.  After this we hiked up to the marsh.  One interesting part of this marsh is that it is in the process of succession.  About 1,000 years ago it was a lake, and over the years it gradually fills in with sediment.  In the future, this marsh will turn into a meadow, and eventually a forest.  Our main purpose in this ecosystem was to discover insect diversity and look at turbidity.  Following the aquatic sciences we split into two groups and the students chose which group to join.  One group went on a discovery hike with me to the northern tip of the peninsula (which turned out to be a 5 mile scamper around the edge of the lake, followed by bushwhacking to find the trail), and the other group chose to do nature art.  After both groups returned to MOSS we had a wonderful time down at the beach.  Several of our CREW jumped in the lake (I should tell you there was still snow on the beach and the lake just thawed last week).  We were whooping and yelling and had such a fun time!  After the beach we had a really fun campfire, roasted some marshmallows, and played board games in a yert!  Today was definitely the best day yet!

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!