Trout in the Classroom Release
For four months, the 7th grade class at Grayson Highlands School have been raising trout from eggs to fry in a 50 gallon aquarium. On March 24, the students celebrated their success with the release of 80 small fry into Wallen's Creek.
For four months, the 7th grade class at Grayson Highlands School have been raising trout from eggs to fry in a 50 gallon aquarium. On March 24, the students celebrated their success with the release of 80 small fry into Wallen's Creek.
This program involved learning about the life cycle of fish and the challenges of recreating the ideal environment for trout to flourish: cold and clean water with lots of oxygen. Each day the students diligently tested the chemical balance, fed the fish and cleaned the tank. Midway through the program to class successfully conducted an emergency overhaul on the tank to save the fish and restore balance to the tank.
The students also surveyed the creek for aquatic insects, picked up trash along the banks and discussed threats to the riparian habitat. During the activities, tree swallows circled above signaling their return from a winter in the subtropics- a sure sign that Spring has truly arrived.
Special thanks to Grayson National Bank and Trout Unlimited for supporting the Trout in the Classroom Program at Grayson Highlands School, and to Lisa Benish, BRDC's Program Coordinator for her contributions to this successful program.
Students released the young fish into Wallen's Creek
Galax Middle School Visits Matthews Museum
Galax Middle School students went on a field trip to the Mathews Museum Friday, March 11th, as part of the Galax Enrichment program. The kids were given a scavenger hunt list that challenged them to explore all the amazing exhibits.
Galax Middle School students went on a field trip to the Mathews Museum Friday, March 11th, as part of the Galax Enrichment program. The kids were given a scavenger hunt list that challenged them to explore all the amazing exhibits.
The museum has two floors packed with history: tools, stuffed animals, native American artifacts, oddities of nature, uniforms, costumes, mock ups of an old dentist office, an old country store, and much more.
Tony Burcham, director of the museum, is a history buff, eager to show off the thousands of interesting exhibits within the museum and offer detailed background information. He captured the students' attention and curiosity.
After the visit, the students were given a chance to wander behind the museum and Galax Library to search for signs of Spring.
Galax Enrichment Week - Give Me Shelter
For BRDCs Give Me Shelter course, students built and installed nest and roosting boxes for owls, bats, ducks and bluebirds. They learned about nesting strategies, comparing the enormous variety of bird and bat nests, and the importance of incorporating features preferred by the particular bird species, including the entrance hole size, the height at which the box is posted, and the type of habitat surrounding the box.
For BRDCs Give Me Shelter course, students built and installed nest and roosting boxes for owls, bats, ducks and bluebirds. They learned about nesting strategies, comparing the enormous variety of bird and bat nests, and the importance of incorporating features preferred by the particular bird species, including the entrance hole size, the height at which the box is posted, and the type of habitat surrounding the box.
During the week, students constructed a blue-bird box to take home, then moved on to building a screech owl, bat, wood duck and one other blue-bird box. Everyone got to help paint and decorate the boxes with an eye towards fun.
Students also examined bird feathers, skulls, feet, and wings. They participated in building nests and examining owl pellets.
Owls swallow most prey whole, and at some point in their digestive process the bones and fur are separated and eventually coughed up in the form of a mucous covered ball, or pellet. These pellets reveal what animal the owl had for a meal, and offer student-scientists the opportunity to better understand the diet of owls, and small mammal populations in a given area.
On Friday, in the frigid wind, the group placed nesting boxes on Dr. Robert Pryor's land, including protective baffles. The boxes were positioned to take advantage of early morning sun. The kids had a great time, and by week's end they understood the difference between open nesting and cavity nesting, as well as bird habitat and diet.
Galax Enrichment Week - Build A Beast
BRDCs Build A Beast course taught students the principles of physics and mechanics while building a mechanical walking "beast" operated by pedal power.
BRDCs Build A Beast course taught students the principles of physics and mechanics while building a mechanical walking "beast" operated by pedal power.
The class began with a series of videos demonstrating the wide variety of efforts to expand upon Theo Jansen's kinetic walking creatures. Each student was given a model to construct as an example of the technology behind the idea. The models operate by wind power, utilizing 2 gears to operate the many legs allowing the model to walk.
Later in the week, the students worked together as a group to dismantle and reconstruct a full-size walking beast made of plywood and metal parts created for the class by BRDC staff and volunteers. They were given a demonstration of the gear configuration and the process involved before they started. The students took photos and labeled parts to help with reassembly.
By the end of the week, the students had successfully accomplished the complex task. On the last day, they painted and decorated the beast, which became a black bear.
BRDC would like to thank tinkerers Don Pridgen, Lee Schores and William Roberts, whose combined expertise resulted in our first walking beast. The team is now officially known as the Beastly Boys. We look forward to further kinetic collaborations. Hats off to you guys!
Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology
BRDC recently hosted a Primitive Technology course as part of Galax Middle School Enrichment Week. The students were engaged with a variety of hands-on activities that connected them to skills used by early American Indians and materials found in their backyards.
BRDC recently hosted a Primitive Technology course as part of Galax Middle School Enrichment Week. The students were engaged with a variety of hands-on activities that connected them to skills used by early American Indians and materials found in their backyards.
They learned flint-knapping with chert and obsidian; basketmaking with willow branches and oriental bittersweet, survival shelter building; making cordage with dog bane, milkweed and deer sinew; making glue from white pine resin, charcoal and dried grass; tanning with an elk hide; lashing with inner bark; hafting a spear; and building a fire with flint and steel.
The students enjoyed Flint-knapping the most, where they attempted to shape blanks of chert into arrowheads. Using deer antler, sandstone and leather, they chipped each piece down to size.
In groups they built survivor shelters including a lean-to, a wiki-up and a wedge-shaped lean-to. During the construction two of the groups got creative with the invasive oriental bittersweet, one building a swing and the other a hammock from the vines.
In a semi-circle the kids patiently processed Dog Bane (Also called Indian Hemp). They conducted a "silly rap off" while their hands went to work. They started by quartering the stem, removing the core and cleaning off the outer bark to reveal the strong fibers. They then hand twisted the fine strands into cordage to be used for basketmaking.
At the end of the week they learned fire building, collecting dry grass, tinder, kindling and pitch wood. After building a tiny "nest" of grass they placed a small piece of pocket lint in the middle and lit it with sparks from the flint and steel striker.
By the end of the course they had learned about the physical qualities of basic materials and how to go from found, raw materials to finished product.
Build-A-Beast
The Bearded Tinkerers are hard at work preparing the first iteration of "The Beast" for the kids at Galax Enrichment Week. Hopefully it will be up and walking on all four legs by the beginning of next week...
The Bearded Tinkerers are hard at work preparing the first iteration of "The Beast" for the kids at Galax Enrichment week. Hopefully it will be up and walking on all four legs by the beginning of next week...
Lee Pounding Out the Legs
Don Testing the Gears
Scott Drilling Holes
Young Explorers turn their attention to the rocks and may never look back!
Geology is literally at the foundation of everything having to do with Natural History, the root of it all, but even beyond that, there is the spectacular emotion that comes over a person when they spot a shiny speck in the dirt that might be a crystal. These two powerful draws pulled the Young Explorers out into the field on Saturday November 21, 2015 for a day of rockhounding, history lessons and exploration.
Geology is literally at the foundation of everything having to do with Natural History, the root of it all, but even beyond that, there is the spectacular emotion that comes over a person when they spot a shiny speck in the dirt that might be a crystal. These two powerful draws pulled the Young Explorers out into the field on Saturday November 21, 2015 for a day of rockhounding, history lessons and exploration.
The day started at 9am with 8 kids and 4 adults headed west towards Saltville. Our first stop was along route 603 at a road cut along Fox Creek Falls. In that cut we could see a dense conglomerate that represented a fast flowing stream much like the current Fox Creek. You can clearly see the rounded rocks touching one another to indicate the tumultuous flowing water. With closer inspection one can study the layout of the individual stones in the conglomerate and identify the direction of water flow.
The next stop was also along 603 where we had clear views of still-water sedimentary rock where one could observe the very distinct layers that defined varying seasons of silt and speed of erosion. Circular scars in the form of bore holes were left by geologists at both sites and made the kids jealous that they could not retrieve such perfect samples of geologic history.
Our third stop took us to a site that none of us had ever visited, just across I-81. It was a small limestone quarry in the valley along highway 107. With eyes peeled for fossils the group quickly realized that the quarry held a wealth of tiny crystals and set their sights on scouring the crushed stone for dolomite and quartz vugs. One very spectacular specimen sparkled amidst the limestone: a small quartz crystal that is referred to as a "Saltville Diamond". Even at just 6 millimeters in diameter it's beauty shone like an engagement ring in contrast to the limestone and dolomite it was perched on. We also found multiple curious formations in the limestone that tell a distinct geologic story...
"Saltville Diamond"
From there we headed over to The Museum of the Middle Appalachians in Saltville, VA where we intended to study their impressive local geologic and ice age mammal displays. Instead we ended up talking with their curator almost entirely about the history of Saltville and the importance of salt to humans. Mildly disappointed on the focus and a bit behind schedule we left the Museum and headed west to "The Great Channels of Virginia". Although the curator drew us a treasure map for a local fossil collecting site we had to skip over the site to begin our strenuous 6 mile round trip hike before the day got any further along.
After a quick lunch in the route 80 trailhead parking lot, we gathered our explorer packs and set off on foot towards the Great Channels. This fascinating geological feature is part of a State Natural Area Preserve that encompasses 721 acres around Middle Knob on Clinch Mountain. The peak of which caps out at just over 4,200ft and hosts a fire tower as a beacon for the destination. Geologists speculate that the 400 million year old sandstone formation was cracked to its current state during the last ice age when the power of ice wedged the rocks apart to create the channels.
The hike to the top gave us clear alternating views of the Blue Ridge's Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain in the Southeast and the 4,600ft evergreen cap of Beartown Mountain to the Northeast with the West Virginia coal laden mountains off to the far north. The trail spanned millions of years of geologic record with layers and layers of sandstone rocks as we climbed to the top. One particular section held a mass of fossil deposits including Trilobites.
Trilobite Fossil
At about 3,800ft in elevation the forest dramatically changed to a rhododendron understory and the harder sandstone formations began their presence along the trail cut.
As the trail leveled out and the destination came into reach, the kids (and adults) picked up the pace and excitement. We arrived at the peak and fire tower, a little bit confused about what and where the Channels were but eager to seek out the reason we had made the journey. After a short inspection we found a sign that pointed the way.
Of all things that can influence one's emotion, perhaps a dramatic change in space is the most powerful. The wonderment of a new spectrum of senses will heighten your attention to detail and bring on a wave of excitement like no other. In the case of the The Great Channels that change could not be more dramatic. One goes from a vast windswept and sun-bleached peak where the ruins of a shelter bare evidence of brutal exposure... to the flip opposite: a series of crevices that feel as cozy and protected as a hobbit hut.
The light switches from the glaring bright white of a clear November day to a soft ambient sandy glow filtered by 40' tall moss lined walls. You go from being a speck in a near endless Appalachian vista to being a wedge between rock walls that are sanding holes through your pack as you explore deeper. Your steps echo through the seemingly hollow white-sand and moss-lined bottoms of the crevices. The wind may be howling above at 40mph but you would never know it inside of the Channels. The air is still, humid and cool but not cold. The rocks are cold, and damp to the touch, but with the ever-present texture of 80 grit sandpaper. The walls are a surface of endless undulations and soft curves that beckon you along the path. Around each corner lies another irresistible dark crack with soft light glowing at end. The few trees that have taken root in the Channels climb straight as arrows to the window of light above . You have to brace yourself between the rocks to tilt your head back far enough to find that same light. The sounds are all still, quiet and reflective, except the occasional "WOW! you've got to check this out" echoing from around the corner, but which corner? It is a maze of channels that feels like it repeats endlessly but uniquely at the same time. It is a wonderment everyone should experience sooner rather than later.
Running out of daylight we had to cut our exploration of the channels short at just 45 minutes and reverse course to avoid hiking in the dark. With such a short trip this adventure just cracked the door of our curiosity about the Great Channels. We will be back to answer the many questions aroused by the hike. The explorers in us stood on the edge of the steep ridge looking west, longing to continue the adventure into the ridges and valleys before us but alas we must turn around and refocus our attention on the yet unexplored coves of our homeland: The Blue Ridge.
The hardy group made the chilly trek back to the cars, arriving just as darkness set in at about 5:45pm. The parking lot resolution was that we needed sustenance! The drowsy caravan headed east to Marion and 27 Lions where Mrs. Benish treated us all to brick-fired pizza and coca-cola! After twelve hours in the field this impressive group of explorers put another notch in their belt with this bond forming western quest to the Great Channels of Virginia.
Owl Pellet Journal: A Collaboration with Grayson County’s 4-H and Blue Ridge Discovery Center
Our local 4-H has established a tradition of bringing owl pellet dissection to 4th grade science classes for a number of years. Covering the geographic extent of Grayson County ‘s elementary schools required two days, the first beginning in Fries and ending in Fairview, on the 4th of November. In between we hit Baywood. On our second day, November 11th, we started at Independence Elementary and finished up at Grayson Highlands School. For the two days our student total reached 119.
Our local 4-H has established a tradition of bringing owl pellet dissection to 4th grade science classes for a number of years. Covering the geographic extent of Grayson County ‘s elementary schools required two days, the first beginning in Fries and ending in Fairview, on the 4th of November. In between we hit Baywood. On our second day, November 11th, we started at Independence Elementary and finished up at Grayson Highlands School. For the two days our student total reached 119.
Actually, the owl pellet dissection exercise has been around for many years across our country in both public and private/home school environments. It remains a premier hands-on entry science project, always successful because the kids are mostly in control of their investigations. These pellets come from barn owls, which true to their name, inhabit barns and other large human made structures that are typically situated in an agricultural environment and especially open country that includes vast fields. All owls and indeed most raptors produce pellets, but finding pellets outdoors is difficult, and the pellets don’t hold up well under varying weather conditions. The barn floor provides a better pellet harvesting zone.
Owls swallow most prey whole, and at some point in their digestive process the bones and fur are separated and eventually rejected prior to digestion, and coughed up in the form of a mucous covered ball, or pellet. These pellets reveal what animal the owl had for a meal, and have offered scientists the opportunity to not only better understand the diet of owls, but also what small mammal populations are about in a given area of study. When kids sit down to inspect an owl pellet, they are in fact performing real science.
Naturally, for a kid’s first time owl pellet experience, there are some gross-out hurdles to overcome. They are told that pellets are not poop, not puke, and have been sterilized. Still, until they get started, skeptical expressions remain the norm. It doesn’t take long, though, for all of that initial reluctance to give way to full on excitement. It always happens. Once they start finding the tiny skulls and other bones and begin to identify the critter meal, they are hooked.
When conducting an owl pellet program, all we need for each student aside from their very own pellet, is a bone chart and a couple of simple tools like tweezers and a toothpick. We explain that this is part archeology, part forensic science, and it is up to them to match the bones to the chart as they dig away. Of course we help, and if time allows we bring out the magnifying glasses and sometimes even microscopes.
An hour for 4th graders is just about right, but often at the session’s end we hear cries of despair, that they were having so much fun, and can we do this again? For this recent session, my favorite comment was, “I don’t like this, I love it!” As one girl was leaving the class to wash her hands, she turned to me and said, “Now I know I want to be a scientist!” Exactly.
I would like to thank the following teachers: Megan Boyer (Fries), Ginger Burnett (Baywood), Angela Martin (Fairview), Jennifer Aldred and Kasey Hallman (Independence), and Roberta Paisley (Highlands).
Also, special thanks to Grayson County 4-H for including Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Young Explorers Find an American Chestnut Tree
The plan was to find an American Chestnut Tree in the wild, a rarity. Saturday morning, the club headed out in search of this mighty tree.
Last Thursday night, the Young Explorers Club met at the Grayson County Public Library to plan and prepare for their Saturday Field Trip. The plan was to find an American Chestnut Tree in the wild, a rarity. They made leaf presses and learned about the American Chestnut Tree.
Using the learning box donated by the American Chestnut Foundation, the members learned about some of the history of the American Chestnut Tree and how the blight nearly eradicated this mighty tree in a very short period of time. They examined the leaves and burrs of the American Chestnut Tree and compared them to the Chinese Chestnut, Japanese Chestnut and the Chinquapin. They also read about the chestnut blight and viewed samples of bark damaged by this fungus.
Saturday morning, the club headed out in search of this incredible tree. Samples of the leaf were studied during the car ride to the destination. Having an idea where to find one, they began their quest.
Very shortly after setting out, one of our youngest members brought to our attention, the first possible American Chestnut leaf. Everyone circled to investigate and determine whether we had found a tree. The leaf was a great match but they were uncertain as the tree from which it came was very small, basically a sapling. They placed the leaf in their presses for further review later. With no other identifying features such as a burr, they moved on.
Traveling along the trail for over an hour, the group was becoming disheartened as the chances of finding the tree seemed slim. They were looking along the trail for signs of burrs and up in the canopy for correctly shaped leaves. Finally, a member pointed up to a tree and asked if that could be it? It was fairly tall so binoculars were used to get a better look at the leaves. It appeared to be a match! Next they traveled down to the tree and looked for other identifying features such as burrs. Burrs were found and it was decided that they had found an American Chestnut Tree. Everyone was very excited! They collected some leaves, placing them in their presses, and some burrs.
With goals accomplished and spirits lifted, they headed back. Explorations continued as wildflowers, butterflies, large trees and mushrooms were added to the findings of the day. Once back at the trailhead, everyone sat together and enjoyed lunch while writing in their journals.
Into the vehicle they went for the second half of the trip, to visit the American Chestnut Foundation's Glenn C. Price Research Farm in Meadowview, VA. This facility does extensive research on the American Chestnut Tree and Chestnut blight. Several strains of the fungus are grown in the lab for use in their research as well as the plantings that take place in the fields. The Chinese Chestnut Tree is blight resistant so researchers are backcrossing the American and Chinese Chestnut Trees trying to get a blight resistant American Chestnut Tree with the physical characteristics of the American Chestnut Tree. This is a long and tedious process of collecting and planting nuts, as well as inoculating, measuring, and culling trees. Extensive work is being done to bring back this amazing tree.
The American Chestnut Foundation was having a Chestnut Celebration! The group enjoyed foods made from chestnuts such as cookies, brownies and hummus, fresh made apple cider, crafts and music. Drawings were held for door prizes and raffle items and three of our members won prizes! A hayride through the Chestnut Orchards to view the trees used for their research ended the afternoon.
Everyone had a great time searching out the extremely rare American Chestnut Tree and celebrating its successes. It is a remarkable tree that was once so plentiful in our forests. They left with the hopes that they will one day see it flourish again in our Blue Ridge Mountains.
Blue Ridge Illustrated: Oaks of Matthews State Forest
14 students spent two hours in the field defining the difference between the bark, acorns, leaves and tree structure of six species of oaks in the forest while effectively blocking out the myriad of other species in the forest. Their investigative efforts began the latest BRDC poster: The Oaks of Matthews State Forest.
Anytime one dives into a new field of identification, be it birds, butterflies, flowers, or in this case trees, it is best to choose one "family" of similar species and hone in on those for clarity. That is exactly what we did at Matthews State Forest last Friday morning with the Galax High School Art Class. 14 students spent two hours in the field defining the difference between the bark, acorns, leaves and tree structure of six species of oaks while effectively blocking out the myriad of other species in the forest. Their investigative efforts began the latest BRDC poster: The Oaks of Matthews State Forest.
The exploration began with a compare and contrast exercise in the shapes of leaves collected from the forest floor. First they decided which were representatives of oaks and which were not. Then they defined a rounded lobe versus a pointed lobe to separate the white oaks from the reds. Lastly they looked at color and sinus depth to separate the collection of leaves into five clearly defined species.
We then filtered back into the woods to find the leaves hanging on the trees where they documented each species with bark and leaf rubbings. Once the trees were identified the students scratched the forest floor for acorn samples to take back to the classroom. On our return trip we added one more species to the list, a post oak just off the path for a total of six species. They begin the in-class scientific illustrations this week!
Identified in the forest were:
Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra
Black Oak, Quercus velutina
Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea
White Oak, Quercus alba
Post Oak, Quercus stellata
Chestnut Oak, Quercus prinus
Galax Middle School Attends Hokie BugFest
Heidi Breedlove (BRDC volunteer), Mark Robinson, (Galax 5th grade science teacher), and Scott Jackson-Ricketts (BRDC Program Director) hopped on a bus with our young charge to make the trip to Virginia Tech’s annual Hokie BugFest.
The phrase ‘herding cats’ has become an over-used cliché describing the management of groups of animals, often people, and especially kids. But that term is unavoidably applicable to our experience this last Saturday, October 17th, as BRDC hosted 15 middle school students through the Galax Remedial Program. On Thursday before our trip, Aaron and Lisa Benish (BRDC volunteer guide) were smart to help the students create their own tee shirts, which were bright green, and fairly easy to spot. Heidi Breedlove (BRDC volunteer), Mark Robinson, (Galax 5th grade science teacher), and Scott Jackson-Ricketts (BRDC Program Director) hopped on a bus with our young charge to make the trip to Virginia Tech’s annual Hokie BugFest.
Begun in 2011, the festival claims to have grown by about 2000/year, with last year’s attendance reaching 6,112. If indeed that statistic held true this year, our 15 kids were snaking through a crowd of 8,000. According to their website, “Hokie BugFest is an annual fall festival celebrating the science of entomology -- a function of the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology.” With 40 booths, including BRDC’s (manned by Executive Director Aaron Floyd and board member Clyde Kessler), 9 tables, 7 activity rooms, and several scheduled presentations on the stage, the kids had their options, and we our hands full.
These selections included many VTech entomology specific booths dedicated to various orders of insects and spiders. The students were able to play with giant cockroaches, watch live bees in a portable hive, study exotic butterflies, and participate in Jeopardy modeled contests. They all spent some time upstairs, taking in the spider lair, face painting, and the crafts room. But the event that drew the most excitement was the Bug Chef’s demonstration. David George Gordon is apparently some kind of celebrity, and knew how to captivate his audience. Our group of kids squeezed up front, and several made it up on stage to assist in bug cooking. The grand finale was the deep frying of a tarantula, and two of our lucky lot ate spider legs. ‘Bug breath’ became a theme.
In preparation for this field trip, BRDC had been working with the remedial class on identification and capture of a variety of insects. We created killing jars, where the butterflies and grasshoppers, etc. could be humanely dispatched. Then we pinned them in a display case, which we brought with us to enter in the festival’s collection contest. On the bus heading to Blacksburg, we worked on creating and applying labels, including more identification. By the time we arrived, the collection was ready for submission. As it turned out, there were more collections entered in the contest than the judges were expecting, but we managed to earn a trophy for honorable mention, of which I think there were three. The kids were proud.
In the 3 hours we were playing cat and mouse, the kids exhausted themselves. Much thanks goes to Mark and Heidi, who along with me, were able to not lose one of the 15. In our estimation, the field trip was a huge success, and the students expressed appropriate appreciation.
Galax Enrichment Week - Aquatic Adventures
Despite the LOW pressure system hanging over the area bringing inches of rain, the students enthusiasm remained HIGH. They spent the week away from campus at Dannelly Park enjoying Aquatic Adventures.
Despite the LOW pressure system hanging over the area bringing inches of rain, the middle school student's enthusiasm remained HIGH. They spent the week away from campus at Dannelly Park enjoying Aquatic Adventures.
Once given an introduction to water quality and testing procedures, we began the week by collecting data such as temperature, weather and water conditions, pH, dissolved oxygen, and bacteria from Chestnut Creek. This information was then recorded on data sheets. Students used pipettes, titration tubes, syringes and droppers to accurately measure water and chemicals. It was a great hands-on experience in chemistry as they became familiar with sterile technique, meniscus measurement and scientific method.
Tuesday the weather sent us indoors. Matthew State Forest was generous enough to allow us to use their cabin, so we utilized this space to learn about the various flies used in fly fishing. Using vices, chenille, hackle feathers, hooks and thread, the students made woolly buggers, a fly that imitates many things and can be used in multiple scenarios. Everyone seemed to enjoy this great rainy day activity.
Wednesday brought no rain, so we separated into three groups and rotated between three activities at Dannelley Park. Scott Jackson-Ricketts led the fish bugs activity. Waders were put on and the students clambered into the creek to see what they could dredge up. A seine net is placed downstream across the creek and hand rakes, as well as hands, were used to stir the bottom to uncover the macro-invertebrates living below the surface. We removed the net and carried it to a table collecting the aquatic insects in ice trays filled with water. They identified the aquatic insects using a dichotomous key field guide. As with the water quality testing done on Monday, this is an exercise in determining stream health. Brenda Bonk lead the second activity in which the students learned the life cycles of the macro-invertebrates most commonly found; mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies. They had relay races requiring them to match all three aquatic insects' life cycles and the flies that imitate them. And finally, Lisa Benish had the third group learning the parts of the fly rod, fly reel and fly line. The rod and reels were put together and basic casting technique was taught in preparation for fishing days.
The rain held off for us once again on Thursday so we commenced to setting up our fly rods and reels. We did a quick tutorial on how to cast fly line and off to the creek we went with our handmade flies to catch some fish! Lack of trout sent us to a fish pond where we changed our flies from woolly buggers to poppers. Several students caught bluegill and were very pleased with their catch!
We started Friday afternoon finishing up our water quality testing. Students examined the petri dishes that contained the bacterial growth from the water collected on Monday. We counted the number of E. coli colonies that grew on that petri dish and recorded that information on the data collection sheets. They were surprised to see the number of bacterial colonies that grew from our water. Hopefully this will emphasize the need to keep our streams healthy and clean. Once again we put our rods together, attached our flies and headed off to a local pond to catch some bass and bluegill. Just about everyone caught a fish!
So even though the weather was damp and dreary, spirits were not! The students loved getting out of the classroom and out of doors exploring, discovering and sharing their aquatic habitat.
Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology
Galax Middle School Students spent the week at Matthews State Forest learning all about basic materials through a course on primitive technology.
Galax Middle School Students spent the week at Matthews State Forest learning primitive technology as part of their intercession enrichment. A primary goal due to the on-slaught of rain, was shelter! Students spent two days cutting, lashing and erecting a longhouse that was used as shelter from the elements. Patrick Shell, Aaron Floyd, Scott Jackson-Ricketts and Lisa Benish assisted thirteen boys and girls build this structure strong enough to climb upon and keep them all out of the rain. They learned lashing techniques and structural principles.
Additionally, they learned about other essential things needed for survival using materials found in their surroundings. Clay, donated by Hoffman Pottery, was used to build vessels that could hold food and/or water. Students were given small slabs of clay and using different techniques, made small pots or bowls. They made pinch pots and coil pots. Pinch pots can be formed and shaped by hand using a methodical pinching process in which the clay walls are thinned by pinching them with thumb and forefinger. Using the coiling technique, it is possible to build a thicker and/or taller vessel. To do this you take the clay and roll it into a long roll. It is then built up by placing one coil on top of the other. Leaves, bark and acorns were collected and used to make impressions in the clay for decorative purposes. There were lots of unique creations made by the students.
Another type of vessel made by the students were baskets. They gathered vines from the forest that were of an appropriate thickness and yet still flexible enough to bend without breaking. Oriental bittersweet and virginia creeper were excellent sources of material. Also collected was inner bark from green maple saplings used to make the longhouse. This became the lashing material for the base structure of the baskets due to its strength. Students connected the rib structure using the inner bark and then commenced weaving the virginia creeper vine and smaller oriental bittersweet around the ribs to form their baskets. Handles were attached using more of the inner bark lashings. The end results were quite impressive!
Tools were another necessity throughout the entire week. Aaron Floyd brought his collection of arrowheads and primitive artifacts to share with the students. A short geology lesson and types of local materials that would have been used were discussed and shared. The fun began as Aaron demonstrated flintknapping, a primitive method for making stone tools. All students donned safety glasses and leather gloves ready for making arrowheads. Leather across the thighs readied the students for the flakes that were removed by the billet, an antler that is used to strike the chert or flint to remove flakes for thinning the stone. The pointed end of the antler, the pressure flaker, is used to remove small flakes and shape the tool. Everyone attempted to leave with a tool. It was discovered that tool making is not such an easy feat.
Students ended the week with a better understanding of the basic materials available for use in providing food and shelter. They learned how innovative, difficult and time consuming meeting our basic needs can be when restricted to collecting materials from nature. Great fun was had and new skills were learned by all. Thank you Matthews State Forest for hosting the mini-camp and Mr. Parnell for assistance! If you would like to see the long house structure you can visit Matthews State Forest on the north side of Hwy 58 and walk along the trail/road to the left of the cabin.
Educational resource planted last Fall shows us life!
Last fall, BRDC, led by Sarah Osborne, planted a brand new butterfly garden on the grounds of the Galax High School as part of the Fall 2014 Middle School Enrichment Program. The results a year later are astounding!
On September 15th we started a second Young Explorers Club with seventeen pumped up 10-13 year olds. The program kicked off our 2015-16 Galax After School Enrichment Program. We will be meeting with the kids two days a week and taking one extended Saturday field trip each month during the school year. The Young Explorers will earn a Junior Naturalist Certificate over the course of 2015-16.
For our first session the group gathered to discuss official club items in the classroom. After talking about the array of subjects we will be studying and what it means to be a naturalist, we honed in on insects in preparation for an October 17th field trip to the Hokie BugFest in Blacksburg. Our first club activity was to visit the butterfly garden on school grounds to do some maintenance and field investigation.
Last fall, BRDC, led by Sarah Osborne, planted a brand new butterfly garden on the grounds of the Galax High School as part of the Fall 2014 Middle School Enrichment Program. The results a year later are astounding! The garden is lush with life and the sharp eyes of the students quickly discovered a Monarch butterfly, then a caterpillar, then a bigger caterpillar, then three chrysalises and a caterpillar forming it's chrysalis! They were ecstatic to say they least!
Monarch Caterpillar
Hanging Caterpillar
Monarch Chrysalis
Monarch Butterfly
In the short time available the students weeded out the crab grass, collected seeds to be planted in the spring and found an array of insects in the garden. We are looking forward to studying the garden in detail during the coming weeks. The students will also be building a club insect collection to be entered into the insect collection contest at the Hokie BugFest.
What a fantastic resource for young scientists to explore life! Every school needs a pollinator garden.
Young Explorers find possibly the ugliest but coolest creature in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Suited up and ready to roll we made our way downstream to form lines of snorkelers. With 64 deg water even the experienced snorkelers were hesitant, but once the crew laid flat and got their heads in the water the elation began to ring out.
Young Explorers Club goes snorkeling for Hellbenders
On Thursday September 3, 2015, BRDC hosted a sign up and preparatory meeting for the Young Explorers Club at the Independence Public Library where twelve young explorers signed the membership rules and code of conduct to become the founding members of the club. During the meeting we discussed the basic premise of an explorers club and introduced them to the hobby of being a naturalist. In preparation for our first outing, a snorkeling trip to the South Fork of the Holston River, we studied up on fish species with the Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia and discussed the hellbender. The following Saturday we met up and carpooled over the mountain to Buller Fish Hatchery and the South Fork of the Holston River which is part of the Tennessee River watershed to explore the riches of a mountain stream.
With the water low and the sun shining bright it was the perfect day to explore the creek bottom. After a short study of the Mount Rogers National Geographic Map (part of the naturalist packs) the club took on the challenge of squeezing into wetsuits. Suited up and ready to roll we made our way downstream to form lines of snorkelers. With 64 deg water even the experienced snorkelers were hesitant, but once the crew laid flat and got their heads in the water the elation began to ring out. The group worked their way up stream finding all sorts of creatures. The occasional scream or snorkel muffled rambling of excitement signaled the next great find. Trout, darters, sculpin and crayfish were everywhere! Rhiannon became the group fish whisper as she surfaced with multiple sculpins and darters in hand for everyone to have a close look.
We worked our way up stream in 16" of water searching every crevice and crack for creatures of the deep, until the leading edge discovered the stone cold face of a hellbender under a large rock! Everyone got a chance to peak over the edge and come face to face with one of the ugliest creatures of the Blue Ridge. Hellbenders are often referred to as Mud Puppies by locals and have a mottled light brown and dark brown skin that resembles the coloration of a brown algae covered rock. On first look, one would not recognize the motionless hellbender for a salamander, not the least of the reasons being that it was over 20" long! Two beady pale blue eyes sat at the front of the head and kept a watch out for unsuspecting crayfish or snorkelers in this case! Lifting up the rock we got to see the full extent of the salamander. Handling the spectacular creature gently, everyone observed its "white finger nails" and long flat tail that it uses to propel itself in the water. Being careful to return the rock to its exact position, we let the hellbender crawl back into its hiding place. We were left stunned by the simultaneous beauty and ugliness of the hellbender. As such a docile creature it is easy to feel sympathy for its vulnerability but then you remember it eats crayfish for a living and is basically pure muscle! For more information about the hellbender, its distribution and threats, please visit: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hellbender/
Luke enjoying the waterfall!
The afternoon was capped off with a refreshing dunk under the cascading waterfall of the dam. The explorers found a large air pocket behind the water and took turns disappearing into the deafening roar of the water. After a gearing down we documented the species observed in our journal and each member got a Hellbender poster and one of the Crayfish of Virginia courtesy of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Everyone departed wishing we could keep on exploring and excited for the next trip afield!
The Young Explorers Club
Fished Wilson Creek Tenkara Style
Amelia Hulth with the Grayson Highland State Park, graciously arranged an eager group to join us for a lesson on Tenkara fly fishing on Wilson Creek Friday, August 21.
Tenkara is a traditional type of fly fishing practiced in Japan for hundreds of years. The rod is telescoping and has no reel making it an excellent choice for fishing our mountain trout streams. Amelia Hulth with the Grayson Highland State Park, graciously arranged an eager group to join us for a lesson on Tenkara fly fishing on Wilson Creek Friday, August 21.
Aaron Floyd and myself were joined by two women, a gentleman and three of his sons along Wilson Creek Trail to learn about Tenkara. After some introductory information about Tenkara and fly fishing, fly imitation and reading water for brook trout, we commenced to casting lessons stream side. Everyone picked up the technique quickly and efficiently.
We hiked along the trail in search of accessible pools in which to encounter the elusive brook trout. Separating into small groups, we took turns casting into the pools and runs in the hope of catching this beauty of a trout. The boys climbed rocks and falls (almost as much fun as fishing...almost) in order to reach a great hole. They stalked, in true form, a big brookie from the ledge up above. The fish took but the set was missed. A classic brook trout moment! All the fishers got their flies on target but to our dismay, they landed no fish.
Our infamous guide and seasoned Tenkara fly fisherman, Aaron saved the day with a catch. Everyone left with new skills: Tenkara fly fishing, knot tying, and how to remove their fly from a tree. But most importantly, how much beauty a mountain stream can hold and how simple it is to enjoy it.
Rainbow Trout
Announcing The Young Explorers Club!
The Explorers Club is a group of 16 youth that will come together to explore, discover and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge.
Attend a meeting to join the club!
The Young Explorers Club is a group of youth ages 9-18 that will come together to explore, discover and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge. BRDC's goal for establishing this Club is to create new ideas and avenues for exploration and critical thinking for our youth and to foster a new generation of explorers interested in sharing our biodiversity with others.
The Explorers Club will go on one official exploration each month and hold a preparatory meeting prior to each outing. We will offer each member a naturalist pack and Naturalist Certificate and how to earn its possession.
For more information visit: The Young Explorers Club
Students explore the life of birds through BRDC's Avian Adventures
On Monday afternoon William Roberts (board member of Blue Ridge Discovery Center and Scott Jackson-Ricketts (program director of BRDC) introduced the art of birding to Mark Robinson’s biology enrichment class. After sharing names and a getting-to-know-one-another session, we began by holding up bird flash cards to determine what birds, if any, the students recognized.
Galax Middle School Enrichment Week (June 15-19)
Avian Adventures
On Monday afternoon William Roberts (board member of Blue Ridge Discovery Center and Scott Jackson-Ricketts (program director of BRDC) introduced the art of birding to Mark Robinson’s biology enrichment class. After sharing names and a getting-to-know-one-another session, we began by holding up bird flash cards to determine what birds, if any, the students recognized. We followed with handing out bird field guides and giving the students a chance to familiarize themselves with how to use the guides. From there we showed Cornell’s All About Birds website, where we listened to a variety of bird songs and calls. The kids were given a chance to choose what bird they would like to hear and view videos of. We also introduced the ‘I Wonder’ board, upon which the students could attach any questions they might have relating to birds.
In preparation for going outside, we reviewed how to use binoculars, including the importance of adjustments specific to the user. Mr. Robinson suggested we head down below the school to a shady area surrounding a grave yard. And so, we launched our field identifications that would comprise much of the rest of our week.
Tuesday, William, Brenda Bonk (president of BRDC), and Scott joined Mr. Robinson and his class at the Matthews State Forest. We set up a field station, brought out the binoculars and field guides, and after handing out clipboards with data collection sheets, we chose a trail and started listening to and looking for birds. Our first bird of the day was an indigo bunting, of which every person got great views. We listened to a red-eyed vireo who remained hidden, got close looks at the tufted titmouse, and learned the song of the towhee as well as watching it sing.
Back at our field station we wrote down our notes, what birds we saw and/or heard and where. For a mid-afternoon break, we opened up the bird parts box and brought out wings, skulls and feet of a variety of avian critters. The students were able to compare great horned owl skulls and wings with its much smaller cousin, the Eastern screech owl. We examined turkey, great blue heron and Northern flicker parts, which brought up discussions on niche, habitat, and adaptation. For instance, the kids showed great interest in how birds specialize in food acquisition, paying close attention to the difference between the heron’s bill and feet and those features of the owl.
We spent the remainder of our allotted time taking to another trail, but this time each kid chose a bird for themselves to find. We had three hits: blue jay, Northern cardinal and a crow.
Wednesday, we met in the MSF Headquarters parking lot to start birding in a different habitat. Here we found Northern mockingbird, Northern flicker, European starling and red-winged blackbirds. We hiked to our field station, spent some time on writing down our data, and then took a trail to the open field surrounding the fire tower. Along the trail we picked up a scarlet tanager who was so cooperative that everyone was able to focus through their binoculars on him as he sang away. Exclamations from the students were appropriately, “Wow, that’s beautiful, so pretty”, etc. We heard and then found a Carolina wren, several blue jays, and crows; and after returning to base camp, listened to both an ovenbird and a wood thrush.
Changing pace, Brenda and I shared the wonders of owl pellets, spreading out charts, toothpicks, tweezers, magnifying glasses and tightly wrapped pellets. Each student was given two pellets to dissect, while we explained what exactly is a pellet and what to expect. Surprisingly, not one of the kids had ever encountered an owl pellet before, so they found this exercise especially interesting. One student had 5 small mammal skulls in his first pellet, a record in our experience.
We also made time to go over the wonder board and encouraged the students to ask more questions.
On Thursday, under Mr. Robinson’s sound suggestion, we met at the other end of the MSF, off of White Pine Road, and set up our field station in the shade on the forest road. Just down the road from there, a bridge crosses over a small creek running through a sycamore stand and offering us another contrasting habitat. The kids were somewhat distracted by the creek, where they discovered a baby turtle, an enormous crayfish, and a few small ticks. The surprise bird for that hike was a hooded warbler, who also gave everyone a chance to get good looks. It sang the entire time we were down there.
Returning to our field station and water chest, we were entertained by several red-bellied woodpeckers, most likely a family of very active juveniles. We took a break, with Brenda attaching bird cards to each student’s back. Then each student was instructed to ask questions such as, am I blue, am I a small bird, is my bill long or short, and so on, which the other students answered. Eventually the birds were identified.
For our last walk of the week, we headed down off the forest road and onto a foot path which Brenda was familiar with. Mostly winding through the woods and changing elevation, this meandering path offered up our only chance at a pileated woodpecker. It called and honked, coming closer, but never close enough to see. For consolation, we pulled out the field guides to show each other what that bird looked like.
Friday, we met outside behind the high school, set up our tent and tables, and commenced building bird houses and feeders that William and I had previously kitted out. It took all hands on deck to supervise this project, which required the use of power screwdrivers, screws, nails and paint. Eventually every student had either a feeder or a wren house.
For the third time, the kids were shown the flash cards…and amazingly…most of them now knew the names of most of the common birds. We then played the same game from yesterday, with similar success. As another step in committing their birding experience to memory, we had each student draw a bird of their choice, and all managed to accomplish that task.
The grand finale combined the sharing of National Geographic’s Birds of Paradise book, full of dazzling photos of these incredible tropical birds, and our wonder board questions. For instance, one of the questions was why male birds are colorful while females by contrast are drab. This gave rise to how could the birds of paradise get away with such outlandish and bright displays. The answer, to some degree, is that those particular species in their habitats are relatively free from predatory pressures, thus allowing the males to be selected by the females creating subsequent generations of increased attractiveness. I think the kids got it, though one of the boys could not get over why the males spent so much time and effort trying to gain the attention of such drab mates.
We tallied 25 species which is not bad during hot afternoons at this time of year.
Fishbugs and Snorkeling with the Scout Troop #5
A small pack from Boy Scout Troop #5 hauled their swimming trunks, snorkels and bug nets down to Big Wilson Creek in search of Southern Appalachain Brook Trout. Upon arriving we found a tea-colored tannin stained creek. Not to be deterred, the scouts geared up and entered the 62 degree water without hesitation.
Alex Benish leading the way!
A small pack from Boy Scout Troop #5 hauled their swimming trunks, snorkels and bug nets down to Big Wilson Creek in search of Southern Appalachain Brook Trout. Upon arriving we found a tea-colored tannin stained creek. Not to be deterred, the scouts geared up and entered the 62 degree water without hesitation. Although visibility was less than an arms length, the boys quickly found a pod of trout lurking in the rocks on the bottom of the big hole. The first snorkeling attempt resulted in success! We can't wait to get back when the water is crystal clear!
Wrapping up 2015 Bird Sleuth program at Grayson County High School
We had two working classes: Becky Absher’s ecology and Deb Greif’s/Kathy Davis' math analysis. Working with both classes from March through April, Blue Ridge Discovery Center focused on acquainting the students with local birds, their habitats and behavior. Starting in early March, we divided up our instruction time between in-class studies and outdoor walks behind the school. Through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology curriculum, called Bird Sleuth, we watched a series of videos dedicated to the skills of bird id and natural history. Outside, along Stinky Creek, we set up a few bird feeders to draw in common feeder birds, giving us the opportunity to put our new-found skills to test.
We had two working classes: Becky Absher’s ecology and Deb Greif’s/Kathy Davis' math analysis. Working with both classes from March through April, Blue Ridge Discovery Center focused on acquainting the students with local birds, their habitats and behavior. Starting in early March, we divided up our instruction time between in-class studies and outdoor walks behind the school. Through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology curriculum, called Bird Sleuth, we watched a series of videos dedicated to the skills of bird id and natural history. Outside, along Stinky Creek, we set up a few bird feeders to draw in common feeder birds, giving us the opportunity to put our new-found skills to test.
When the weather turned to warmer days, we initiated a series of field trips to offer the kids a chance to observe birds in different habitats while giving them ideas for developing their hypotheses, a crucial component of this program. We began at the Grayson County Recreation Park, moving on to the Matthews State Forest and Don Philen’s farm in Baywood. Our last field trips were held at the Cox’s Chapel Low Water Bridge.
As questions morphed into hypotheses, the students created a series of observable phenomena as presented:
There are more small birds than large birds (small and large defined by the study groups)
There are more birds found in a coniferous forest than a hardwood forest
The dimorphism displayed by birds of the same species is mostly explained by sex
On May 21, Greif and Kathy Davis held a presentation ceremony for their class, (while Absher’s class had previously conducted an internal review). What follows is a series of photos from the ceremony, in celebration of the student’s hard work. BRDC is appropriately grateful for the chance to work inside the public schools with such support at Absher, Greif and Davis have offered. We are also grateful to the kids who, regardless of their inherent interest in birds, go away with an experience that they will never forget.
And to top off the ceremony, as she did last year, Deb Greif made a bird cake!