Safety First
Before visiting a field site, it is important to highlight safety issues and how to be good stewards of our land and water. Talk with your students about not entering the water unless they are given permission, and if they are allowed, how to reduce their disturbance to it, while still collecting important data.
WE NEVER ENTER FARTHER THAN KNEE DEEP.
Explain how disturbing the water and sediment too much can reduce the water quality, as well as the reliability of the data collected.Other rules we recommend you consider establishing include:
WE NEVER ENTER FARTHER THAN KNEE DEEP.
Explain how disturbing the water and sediment too much can reduce the water quality, as well as the reliability of the data collected.Other rules we recommend you consider establishing include:
- Listen carefully to and follow all directions given by the teachers and other chaperones.
- Always stay with your assigned group and chaperone.
- If you need to leave an assigned area, ask your chaperone for permission.
- Stay on the trails as much as possible. This helps control erosion and prevents destruction of the plants and animal habitat.
- Speak in quiet voices and do not run to minimize impacts on wildlife.
- Observe plants and animals, but leave them for others to enjoy.
- Tell a teacher exactly where you see anything that looks like an artifact, but leave it there so we can see it just as you did.
- Listen closely. Many birds and other wildlife can be heard but not seen.
- Help keep the habitat clean by not littering.
- Be careful with the hands-on items. If they break, we may not be able to replace them.
- Bring a camera and/or field journal to document your discoveries. Do not use electronic devices such as smart phones for anything other than supporting your field studies.