III.
Methods of Instruction
This class will be taught by doing.
A. Class Participation: You will get out of this what you put into it.
B. Attendance: Attendance is very important. You need to come to both
lecture sessions, and go on the field trip.
IV.
Methods of Evaluation
Field trip participation 40%
Field notes 60%
Your
grade will be based on
your participation on the trip, your field notes, and your brief
presentation at the post-trip meeting. Your presentation should be on
either one aspect of the course that really interested you - geology,
geomorphology, history, botany, or several aspects together. You can
present a report, make up a poem, do a slide show - what ever you want
to do to share with us what you learned on the trip.
Students not submitting complete field notes will not
earn a grade higher than a D.
There isn’t a class text, but I really recommend The Pacific Coast Tree
Finder by Tom Watts, and The Manual of Oregon Trees and Shrubs by
Warren Randall, et al.
V.
Course Content:
Trip Information
This is a camping trip with bus transportation. You will need to bring
your own sleeping bag, food, cooking gear, and personal camping gear.
We will be camping in primitive campgrounds without the comforts of
home, but please keep in mind that space is limited on the bus and this
is only a three night/four day trip. The campground may not have piped
water, if not there will be plenty of opportunities to fill up
canteens, but each cooking group must provide a large container for
each evening’s water supply.
If you leave your vehicle in the parking lot it could be vandalized, so
plan to get dropped off.
This is a trip to the mountains. It might rain off and on. You need to
bring equipment to deal with the heat; broad brimmed hat, sunscreen,
loose long sleeved shirt, day pack with at least 2 quarts of water, and
snacks.
The trip will not be canceled due to weather (snow, rain, hail, heat,
frogs), so plan accordingly. Be prepared to protect yourself and your
equipment against chilly and/or wet weather, as well as hot weather. Be
prepared to dress comfortably for all conditions. Mountain weather is
extreme and unpredictable. Temperatures will range from over 80ºF
during the day, down to the 30s at night. Students must have sturdy
hiking boots or suitable shoes to withstand walking on rocks.
No mp3 players/headphones/dvds off the bus. Listening to the
environment is as important as seeing it.
Remember, we are all going as a group. Therefore, by attending, you are
agreeing to be considerate toward the needs and wishes of others in the
group. For the benefits of working together and achieving our
educational goals, we must temporarily forfeit some of the personal
freedoms we enjoy while traveling on our own.
Please use the restroom before we leave Thursday morning. We will be
traveling for about three hours before we stop.
We will not stop on the way to shop. Please remember to bring your own
food items and ice.
The campground that we stay at will not have showers available. If
there are showers they will probably be pay showers – four quarters for
5 minutes.
Bring lots of snacks. You will get hungry and thirsty walking around.
Bring containers to carry at least two quarts of water. This is very
important. If you don’t drink enough water you will get headaches, feel
lousy, and perhaps pass out, or worse.
Plan meals that will be quick and easy to cook. You will need a sack
lunch and dinner for Thursday, breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner for
Friday and Saturday, breakfast and a sack lunch for Sunday.
If you are asked to bring something and you withdraw from the trip at
the last minute, others in your cooking group may be missing vital food
and equipment (in addition to your special company). Please let us know
of your change in plans.
Safety
Rules
Never hike alone. Do not climb
cliffs, talus slopes, or steep road cuts that may cause your debris to
fall on others.
Do not leave the group unless you inform the instructor where you are
going, for how long, who with, and what route you intend to take.
Use common sense, dress appropriately, and stay alert.
Camping/Personal
Gear Checklist
Do not bring anything that you will
not need - space will be limited. Plan ahead and check your items
carefully. All of your clothes and equipment should be packed for easy
storage in the bus. Most of the gear will be stowed away during the
day, so plan accordingly. You will want to provide protection for your
gear in the event of rain.
Day Pack with personal gear you will
need during the day such as:
water – 1 or 2 quarts worth
rain coat and pants, jacket, hat, extra socks
toiletries (prescription/personal medication - allergy meds, motion
sickness meds, band-aids, chapstick, sunscreen, toilet paper, sanitary
supplies, moleskin for feet)
lunch, snacks, canteens
notebook, pencil/pen
dark glasses
gloves for inside caves
gloves to keep your hands from freezing
other good stuff (maps, camera, film, reference books, binoculars,
pocket knife)
Camping gear:
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
ground cloth/tent/rain fly
warm clothes (rain coat and pants, windbreaker, jacket, thermal
underwear, extra warm socks, knit cap, sweat suit)
cool clothes (long sleeved shirt, hat, swimsuit, towel)
extra shoes (boots and comfy shoes)
toiletries (soap, personal items, toothbrush, toothpaste)
first aid (aspirin, band-aids, tweezers)
repair stuff (sewing kit, duct tape, extra shoelaces)
anything else you can’t live without for two days.
Group gear:
ground cloth/tent/rain fly
bulk water and water containers: important – the campground will not
have water!
lantern + fuel
stove + fuel
pots, pans, special utensils
plates, bowls, cups, knives, forks, spoons
matches, garbage bags, paper towels
food and beverages for three dinners, four sack lunches, and three
breakfasts
Field Notes
In addition to a running commentary in your notebook of where we went,what we did, what you saw, what you learned, and when we did it, these questions need to be answered in order for you to get a passing grade in this class.
1. How many days till the moon is full?
2. What is the average rainfall for this area?
3. How long does the rainy season last in this area?
4. What were the primary subsistence techniques of the culture that
lived in this area?
5. What is the land use history of this area?
6. What primary geological event/process influenced the land form in
this area? What’s the evidence?
7. What is the fire history of this area? What is the current fire
policy?
8. What are the major plant communities in this area?
9. What is your favorite plant in this area?
Modoc weather
Current conditions at Tule Lake
(North of our campground)
NPS Lava Beds
Site
Geology
Fieldnotes