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ID Galena Creek Park Field StudiesRainshadow Community Charter High School Fall 2010 ID Project Group Syllabus

Joe Ferguson *** joe@rainshadowcchs.org *** www.joerainshadow.weebly.com

Course Description: In this class, we will be collaborating with the Great Basin Institute to visit,learn about, explore, and become experts on The Galena Creek Park Recreation Area, and Nevada

and California wilderness areas beyond. Set on the foothill ofMt. Rose, Galena Creek Regional Parkand its visitor center aim to encourage understanding, appreciation, and wise use of the natural,cultural, and historical resources of the Galena Canyon area and the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway. Ourclass will take part in many activities and projects including, but not limited to, leading interpretiveand seasonal programs through the visitor center, discover local animals, plants, birds, fish, rocks,and cultural history through hands-on games, hikes, guided activities, and special guests, exploreother area parks, do Learn & Serve projects, help with the Campfire Series, lead naturalist hikes,and more. The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotesenvironmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West. The Institute advancesecological literacy and habitat restoration through educational outreach and direct service programs.

Course Aims and Objectives for this Semester:Upon completion of this semester course of study, students will be able to- Develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world while studying nature.- Use observation skills to become aware of the natural world. - Investigate the historical aspects of Galena Creek Park.- Work with community and nonprofit groups on a variety of projects. - Understand and utilize Leave No Trace Ethics while exploring natural areas.- Utilize proper safety and precaution while travelling in and exploring nature.- Carry out activities in the wild such as camping, hiking, and finding food and shelter. - Differentiate and interpret the different ecosystems that exist in Northern Nevada.- Identify and appreciate the vast array of wildlife that relies on local nature to survive. - Know and understand the history and ecology of the plant species that call Galena Park home. - Understand the basics of the map & compass, GPS, orienteering, and navigation. - Know the basics of winter ecology and survival in extreme climates/conditions.- Create websites to communicate your experiences with classmates and the outside world.

Requirements:- Participation in classroom and field activities every day.- Record of journal entries, notes, other writings and classroom assignments.- Completed portfolio of projects and assignments (see requirements below).- Completion of major student-driven projects and presentations.

Week / Dates Monday - Friday

1)Aug 30 - Sept 3

Course intro. School rules and TERMS. Team building, getting to know one another,games. Intro to Weebly and website creation. Learning styles. Special guest presentations.

2)Sept 6-10

Friday field trip to Grizzly Creek Ranch for Ropes Challenge Course. No class Tuesday Thursday.No School Monday (Labor Day)

3)Sept 13-17

Intro to Galena Creek Park. Becoming a Naturalist. Developing a sense of wonder andcuriosity about the world while studying nature. Using observation skills to become awareof the world around you. Galena Fest 2010 preparations. Special guest presentations.

4)Sept 20-24

Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Becoming a Naturalist at the park. Interpretingwhat we see. Fields, Forests, Rivers, and Riparian. Animals and Plants. Investigating thehistorical aspects of the park. Help prepare for Galena Fest 2010. Galena Fest 2010 isSunday Sept. 26th. No class Mon-Wed. No School Thursday (Professional Development)

mailto:joe@rainshadowcchs.orghttp://www.joerainshadow.weebly.com/http://www.joerainshadow.weebly.com/mailto:joe@rainshadowcchs.org

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5)Sept 27 - Oct 1

Intro to camping and stargazing. The Happy Camper Guide. Leave No Trace Ethics.Camping gear. Guest Presentation. Intro to astronomy, the origin of stars, planets, etc.How to view the night sky.

6)Oct 4-8

Thursday to Friday camping trip to Davis Creek Park. Thursday Night: Galena Creek Parkor Davis Creek Park for astronomy / star gazing lesson. Camping at Davis Creek Parkcampground. Friday: Galena Creek Park morning hike. No class Monday-Wednesday.

7)Oct 11-15

Intro to hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gear and expectations. Fitness andreadiness. History of the Sierra Nevada Range. Lake Tahoe and the surrounding peaks.

Maps and trailguides. Intro to the map and compass. Intro to GPS.8)Oct 18-22

Friday field trip to Mt. Rose Summit and hike to Mt. Rose Peak. Seeing Galena CreekPark from the top. Interpreting what we see on the hike; plants, animals, rocks. Changeswith elevation. Moving from the high desert to the subalpine. No class Mon-Thursday.

9)Oct 25-29

Intro to ornithology / birding. Lahontan Audubon Society guest presentations. Birdspecies of northern Nevada. Migration and migratory vs. resident birds. Survival strategies.Bird species loss and conservation. Rachel Carson and Silent Spring. North Americanthreatened and endangered birds project. No School Monday (Professional Development)

10)Nov 1-5

Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Morning hiking and birding with LahontanAudubon Society volunteers. No class Monday-Thursday.

11)Nov 8-12

Intro to Forest Ecology. How do trees and other plant species fight to survive harshclimates. Make native plants book to be completed in field. History of the plants of

Galena Creek Park. Identifying plants based on their characteristics. Monocots, dicots,angiosperms, gymnosperms, evergreens, deciduous. No School Thursday (Veterans Day)

12)Nov 15-19

Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Morning hike and plant book creation with GreatBasin forest and range plant ecologist volunteers. Plant species distribution. Whichanimals rely on which plants for food and shelter? Food webs and symbiotic relationships.

No class Monday-Thursday.13)Nov 22-26

Intro to orienteering and map reading. GPS coordinates and cartography. Google Earth.Geocaching in our neighborhood. Scavenger hunt. How to find your way when you arelost. No School Thursday - Friday (Thanksgiving)

14)Nov 29 - Dec 3

Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Orienteering lab with the map and compass.Setting our geocaches in the park. Creating an educational experience for geocachers atGalena Creek Park. No class Monday-Thursday.

15)Dec 6-10

Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Finishing our geocaching project in the park.Snowshoeing with Sierra Nevada Journeys at Sky Tavern. Intro to winter survival. Shelter

building, cooking food and staying warm. Avalanche safety and measuring snowpack. Noclass Monday-Thursday.

16)Dec 13-17

Intro to winter ecology. How does our field site change as the seasons change? How doanimals and plants survive harsh climates? Arctic and Antarctic biomes. Exploration andthe adventures of Ernest Shackleton.

17)Jan 3-7

The animal life of Galena Creek Park. Interactions in nature. Intro to animal tracking.What signs and clues do animals give us. What fish live in the park? How did the fishhatchery operate? How to take action in the community to help protect the native animalspecies of Nevada.

18)Jan 10-14 Friday field trip to Galena Creek Park. Winter Ecology Lab. Tracking animals. Measuringsnowpack. Adding to our caches. No class Monday-Thursday.19)

Jan 18-21Last week of the semester. Finish portfolios and websites. Course reflection andevaluation. What didnt we quite get to? What do we want to do next semester in here?

No School Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

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Grading Policy and Assessment: This interdisciplinary course of study is worth approximately 2500 points. It isworth 1 high school elective credit per semester.Point Breakdown:Attendance and Participation 500 pointsCompleted Work Folder 500 points- includes notes, journal entries, website updates, mini-projects, quizzes, tests, and other classwork.Major Group and Solo Projects and Presentations 500 pointsCompleted Rainshadow Online Portfolio 500 points

Club Attendance and Participation

500 pointsPortfolio Contents: You will submit components from this course into your Rainshadow portfolio that willshowcase your work for the full semester course of study. Your portfolio will contain your best work from thisclass and will be a demonstration of your skills and growth as a Rainshadow CCHS student. It will be expectedthat your major projects and several other pieces of work from this class will be components of your portfolio.