Guide 2B Field Work
Resources
Additional activities, a behind-the-scenes gallery, recommended books, and more.
About this Guide
Have a safe holiday!
Many people are eager to travel for the July 4 U.S. Independence Day holiday. Play it safe and keep an eye on family, friends, and neighbors that may experience heat distress. Also, many animals do not present symptoms of heat exhaustion; keep all pets hydrated, shaded, and cool. Stay close to home if power outages may threaten fish tanks. Stay safe and best wishes on your adventures, even if they are at a local park or backyard.
Lesley
Behind-the-Scenes
We believe field work should be accessible to everyone, the learning experiences are rich and distinct from laboratory experiences. Lesley has a mobility impairment; we work out creative ways to incorporate field work into our teaching.
Field Gear
Equipment is available to augment experiences in the field. On days that are more sitting than walking, extra time spent and a different perspective can lead to unique discoveries.
Accessible Trail
A recent addition to our yard is an ADA-style trail. Animals, including deer and fox, regularly use the trail; seed and fruit-filled feeders insure the animals come to us.
Favorite Spot
Find a comfortable and accessible place in nature that you can visit repeatedly over the years to come. Take photos and videos and collect notes on the organisms present. Try visiting in different seasons and at different times of day or night (if safe). In a time of de-stashing and downsizing, it is easy to lose a sense of place or possession. Mentally “own” a habitat, like you would a famous painting in a museum, and experience how it changes you.
Sowbugs as Pets
We have kept sowbugs at home for over a decade and more recently we had a colony in a display windows on campus. They are a showstopper! There is something about the sheer number (when well fed), the noise of thousands of small legs moving, and their constant battle with the crickets for food and territory that can’t be beat.
World in a Yard
Our land is recovering from agricultural over-use and loss of soil organisms. Since 2002, we’ve seen the planted trees grow and a wide variety of animals appear.
Field Journaling
Wherever we go, field journals go with. It’s an opportunity to slow down and take in sensations the camera can not easily capture.
Journals are an excellent place to store plans made over time. We develop curricula for many courses, and instead of re-learning the process each time, a flip through journal pages quickly reviews the process.
Recommended Books
Give the soil inverts the respect they deserve and pass on their story to others.
The Oxford "very short introduction" series packs a punch on a variety of topics.
Learn advanced field research techniques to experience nature in a new way.
Build a Library
Whether its digital or print, collect resources that assist in exploring, describing, and explaining the natural world.
Field Work Product Page
Complete this guide’s products before advancing on to the next guide
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