TravelStream™ news feed for member ksutton on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ksutton en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:26:23 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244347200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244347200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244347200/tpod.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:26:23 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Returning Home!

"The lasting pleasures of contact with the natural world are not reserved for scientists but are available to anyone who will place him under the influence of the earth, sea and sky and their amazing life."

-Rachel Carson

Reminder:
We will be calling the phone chain early Sunday morning to give you our estimated time of arrival back at SWM. We anticipate it to be between 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Departure

This week has been incredible. We all have learned so much! Students will never look at the world around them in quite the same way.

We know this trip will be unforgettable for all students. They created memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Thank you for sharing our adventure with us!
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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Synthesis / Review / Celebrate

The Teton Science School participates in a national program called "MAPS" (which stands for Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship). Everyone who bands under MAPS watches and studies the changing population of birds over time. They also monitor the health of the birds and their environment.

Students were invited to participate in bird banding during their final morning at TSS. The Science School has had a MAPS program in place for the last 18 years.

Students had the chance to visit several nets on campus and identify different species of birds. After gathering data and banding the birds with the scientists, students took turns releasing them. What a rush!

After bird banding, we headed off to Black Tail Butte, which has an altitude of 7,767 feet and rises nearly 1200 feet above the basin floor.

Two field groups started together on the southwest side of the butte, while the other two started on the southeast. We began our ascent with perfect weather, and stopped at the top of our climb to enjoy lunch and a stellar view of the Tetons.

Soon, storm clouds were visible over Jackson Hole. We tried to pick up the pace to avoid getting caught in the rain (and what eventually turned to hail), but it was inevitable. All groups found a safe place to take cover while we waited patiently for the storm to pass.

After we were sure it was safe to begin hiking again, we made our way down the butte and back to campus. Students then had the opportunity to thank their field guides and say goodbye.

During the evening activity, students participated in a mediation activity regarding the reintroduction of the woolly mammoth into Grand Teton National Park. Each student was assigned a different role and was required to plead their case accordingly at a town hall meeting.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244088000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244088000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244088000/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:01:31 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Field Research

Today, each group of students conducted research in the field. Every group that has visited the Teton Science School since 1967 has participated in this tradition.

Students discussed the scientific method, and then determined their research question and hypothesis. Next, they established their experimental methods, collected supplies, made measurements, gathered data, and analyzed the data to see if the hypothesis was correct.

Students focused on various research topics, included the following: the percentage of bison sign in sage compared to grassland, the amount of wildlife present above and below beaver dams, the water quality in Ditch Creek compared to Kelly Warm Springs, and what area in the Gros Ventre has the most signs of wildlife.

Students returned from the field earlier then normal to analyze the data that they gathered and to put together a presentation. At 3:15, all groups met together to listen to each other's research findings.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244001600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244001600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1244001600/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:24:28 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Biotic Factors/Snake River Bottom

Is it Wednesday already? Are we really over halfway through the Teton trip?

This morning, we woke up to warmer temperatures and clearer skies. After scrambled eggs, sausage, and fruit for breakfast, students prepared for another great day in the field.

Each field group loaded into TSS vans, and set out to hike the Snake River Bottom. The Snake River originates near the Continental Divide in Yellowstone and flows south into Grand Teton National Park. The name "snake" is said to come from its winding shape as well as the hand sign that Indians used for swimming salmon.

Today, two vans started at Schwabacher Landing, while the other two started at Black Tail Ponds. After parking the vans, we headed down the bank of the Snake River, which is now dry, and into the tree line to look for signs of wildlife. Today the kids led their groups by using compasses and maps as we traversed across the river bed.

Immediately after crossing a few streams of water and entering the tree line, two groups saw white-tailed deer roaming around. As students continued their journey, they saw many signs of animal life, such as animal remains, tracks, fur, and scat. In addition, some students saw elk, a bald eagle, and many unique types of birds.

Each group successfully made it to their final destination. On the way back to campus, two vans full of students were held up in traffic by a herd of bison and calves. Welcome to the Wild West!

After a full day in the field, we headed to the Oxbow for wildlife viewing. Students were able to use binoculars and scopes to search for animals. The group spotted elk, moose, a beaver, a muskrat, a sandhill crane, a river otter, pelicans, a blue heron, and various ducks and geese.

We arrived back at campus later than usual, and students headed towards their cabins for a great night's sleep.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243915200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243915200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243915200/tpod.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:30:31 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Geology, Geography, & Fire Ecology

This morning, we woke up to rain and much colder weather. The sky was overcast, without much of a chance for sunshine. Student packed their rain gear and extra layers in their bags.

For breakfast, we enjoyed scrambled eggs, potatoes, yogurt, fruit, and cereal. Then, we packed up lunches for the day, and split up into field groups.

The groups focused on rocks, fire, and ice today. We discussed the three different types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Students used this information in the field, as well as in their discussions of how the Teton Mountain Range was formed. Students also learned about the role of glaciers. While in the field, students saw evidence of a fire. They learned about succession and the adaptations that different plants have to fire.

While staying on the Teton Science School Campus, we are actually located inside of the Grand Teton National Park. However, today we took our first field trip into the official gates of the park for a hike to two different lakes located at the base of the Tetons. Students were hiking very close to the mountains all day. All groups walked a minimum of five miles to both Bradley and Taggert Lakes. Some groups took a slightly longer loop around the park. Although it was raining, and the trails were muddy and covered in snow in some sections, students were great! The scenery was beautiful, even without the sunshine. The different field groups also spotted moose and elk.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243828800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243828800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243828800/tpod.html Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:58:33 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Focus: Sense of Place & Communities

Students were excited to start their first official day at the Teton Science School. We woke up around 6:30 and got our gear ready for the day. Then, the group headed to the main lodge around 7:00 where they began E-Stations.

At 7:30, students enjoyed a carb-loaded breakfast of pancakes (regular, chocolate chip, and banana) as well as oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, and fruit.

At 9:15, we broke into our field groups for the week. Each group hiked around the TSS campus and learned about the different communities: conifer, aspen, riparian, sage, and humans. Students learned how to identify different vegetation as they hiked to different locations.

One group trekked to Coyote Rock, while another made it all the way to the top of Copper Ridge. Both hikes provided a magnificent view of the Teton Range, as well as our campus.

We had great weather: sunny in the 60s, until about 30 minutes left in the journey when the sky turned dark and it started to drizzle.

Late this afternoon, students enjoyed a few hours of free time before the night activity.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243800000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243800000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243800000/tpod.html Sun, 31 May 2009 19:16:52 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

We had breakfast in Thermopolis, Wyoming at a McDonalds and then headed to the hot springs. We arrived early, and students were able to play on the playground and throw around the footballs.

The group enjoyed swimming, sliding, and playing games in the hot springs for about two hours. After showering, we loaded the bus for another two and a half hours to get to DuBois for lunch at the famous Cowboy Cafe.

We all at too much at the Cafe and then headed over the Continental Divide, and caught our first glimpse of the Tetons. Students cheered and marveled at the enormity of the mountain range.

We arrived in Jackson Hole around 4 p.m. The group had about two hours to shop and explore before heading to Dornans, a nearby restaurant.

We arrived at the Teton Science School at 7:15.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243690200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243690200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ksutton/1/1243690200/tpod.html Sun, 31 May 2009 18:56:20 -0400 Teton Science Initiative

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St. Louis, United States

The Bus Ride

This morning, at 9:30 a.m., we began our journey west. Students
and teachers boarded a 55 passenger bus and got comfortable for the long
ride ahead.

Students chatted, listened to their portable music devices, played games, and discussed their predictions for the week.

We stopped in Kansas City for lunch and had a lovely dinner in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Students are anxiously awaiting the early morning thermal bath in Thermopolis.
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