Field Ecology Program Outline
Welcome and Introduction
Behavioral Guidelines for visit:
- We are in the animals' neighborhood
- Stay on trails with your group unless taken off trails with class activity
- Leave flowers and plants for animals (don't pick anything)
- Pick up trail treasures to enjoy on-site, but no collecting-leave everything
Field Ecology
- Study of what lives in a field and how all living and non-living elements interact
- Learn about the plants and animals that live in Ogden Nature Center fields
- Predator/Prey relationships
- What is a true insect
- What role to humans play in a field ecosystem
- Seed dispersal-how seeds move
Rotations
- Human connection: Students will use games to investigate our role in the ecosystem.
- Mammals in the Field: Camouflage game-Students (prey) learn by experience how to hide from a predator (teacher/naturalist) using such techniques as blending in by color, staying still, quiet, low, and far away. Mouse hole-Students go through a mouse tunnel to discover another strategy for avoiding predators.
- Field collection: Catch and release insects - students use nets and containers to examine insects up-close and determine if it is a true insect.
Topics are covered by varying degrees depending upon the maturity of students and time constraints.
