THE ROCKY BRANCH-NCSU -Matthew Williams-

I got a chance to go down and see what N.C. State calls, “The Rocky Branch.” The particular area that looked at was at the intersection of Dan Allen Dr. and Sullivan Dr. The Rocky Branch is full of rocks and erosion that goes right through central campus of N.C. State, and is over a mile long. The Rocky Branch is currently undergoing restoration trying to restore the erosion and disposition of land in the area. When I was down there I noticed the branch is very polluted and not taken good care of, because there is trash, dead trees and plants, and over crowding of boulders and rocks all along the branch. N.C. State is taking measures on these issues but they can not be fixed in a short period of time. I think that Rocky Branch is a neat, unique addition to our campus that makes our campus much more natural and environmentally friendly. I feel that every student and faculty staff needs to see the branch in order to get a sense of what needs to be done to it and what it would look like if it is taken better care of.

THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES -Matthew Williams-

I spent a whole day at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences over break. The museum itself is made up of four different stories or levels. There were the major coastal area exhibits and North Carolina’s natural treasures on the 1st floor; then the mountains, underground and explorer’s exhibits on the 2nd floor.

The 3rd floor really caught my attention whenever I saw the dinosaurs and how there was a remake of an Acrocanthosaurus atokensis attacking a pleurocoelus. There was also an exhibit that showed which fruits came from where all over the world and you could see the mountains exhibit from the overlook. The 4th floor was rather new to me just because I had not been to the museum in years and they refurnished everything up there and made a café, along with the arthropod section that has been there since the last time I came to the museum, and the snakes on that floor always grabbed my attention.

There were several different ecosystems being portrayed on each level of the museum such as the forests, wetlands, oceans, and deserts with each of them having abiotic and biotic organisms. I really enjoyed experiencing what the museum had to offer after going back to it after several years had gone by. I would recommend that everyone should go check it out and see for themselves.

Over spring break I helped out on a small stream/pond restoration project. The project began 4 years ago to restore a small section of stream in southern Virginia after a dam was constructed. The dam’s construction drastically changed the stream, especially at the portion entering the lake and leaving it. The restoration effort was not done well and there were many features that were unsuitable for the particular soil type and peak runoff rates. Among the problems was the fact that the initial plans did not account for large spring melts, such as the one 2 years ago that destroyed much of the previous restoration work.

In this particular section, we were removing deposited soil and debris to create a riffle section to flow into a settling pond. During the construction, large quantities of sediment were controlled with the deposition pond and later removed from the pool to restore it as well. Banks were also cleared of any invasive Japanese honeysuckle and multiflora rose to encourage native dogwoods and beeches.

By restoring the section of stream that had become clogged with clay, loam, and leaves back to its original rocky bed, biota that used to live there will be able to return. Macroinvertebrates, such as caddisfly larvae and stonefly nymphs are already present in the restored upper section and will hopefully spread downstream quickly. Also, the restored natural overhanging will ensure that the water remains cool and shaded and that the banks remain intact during future spring melts.

Natural Science Center of Greensboro - Ronlee Ben-Gal

I went to the Natural Science Center in Greensboro, NC over break. It is a place I took many field trips to in elementary school, but have not been back in a very long time. In the last few years they have added a small-scale zoo, which has helped revive the center. They have a lot of non-harmful animals walking around freely, like peacocks and turkeys, they have a petting zoo area, an indoor area for reptiles and such, as well as separate habitats for the different animals outdoors. I would say my favorite past was seeing the two tigers they have, a brother and sister or mixed bread. They had to neuter the male, so that they couldn’t reproduce. The male was walking showing off for the crowd while the female was relaxing in the shade.

The Natural Science Center is all about educating its visitors. It has lots of signs explaining things about each animals, as well as interactive activities for children and adults both for learning. They have signs about extinction, preservation, and human influence and how they affect the different animals. There are always specialists around ready to answer whatever question someone may have. Inside, they always have changing exhibits coming through as well as ones that have been there forever, like the room with lifelike scale recreations of dinosaurs. Wow, the science center has changed so much since I was in elementary school!

"The Center is committed to excellence in science education by providing the community with a dynamic, experiential and family-focused attraction designed to inspire scientific curiosity and encourage personal discovery about life and the natural world."

The Florida Reef and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Over Spring Break, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Florida Keys and go snorkeling in the only living coral reef system in the continental United States. This reef system is adjacent to the island chain of the Florida Keys, and is a part of a marine ecosystem that supports a high level of biodiversity, equivalent to that of rain forests: the 2,800 square mile Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Because the area is an attractive because of its beauty and its abundance of species, it plays a huge role in the tourism industry for the Florida Keys, as well as the commercial fishing industry. However, overuse, overharvesting, physical impact, and pollution harm the plants and animals that make up this marine ecosystem, and the sanctuary was created to prevent further biological and environmental degradation of the area.

The part of the reef that we visited was known as "The Stake" (you can see why in the picture to the left). The light parts are where there was sand, while the darker areas of the ocean are where the coral reef formations were. I saw so many different types of fish, some that I recognized and some that I didn't. I saw a sea turtle, and got a picture of it, and I also saw an eel (though I didn't get a picture of it). The colors of the coral were incredible as well - it's hard to tell in the pictures, but everything was purple, bright green, and orange; it was gorgeous.














It was a great experience, and I'm glad I can share it with you all. It really reinforced some of the ideas we talked about in class, particularly biophilia - I loved being in the ocean, in the coral reef, and definitely felt at home; honestly, I didn't want to come home!
- Meghan Coats

The Museum of Art Pond

I learned the Pond at the North Carolina Museum of Art is part of a comprehensive sustainable plan for water management. It was created to make a slow controlled method to clean storm water before it enters the pond. It is funded by the grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The pond has native plants and tree groves. Also, the clean pond is a great place for many animals such as geese. The design demonstrates the process of removing pollutants and reducing runoff from the museum. It is part of a larger water management plant at the museum, which includes a 90,000 gallon underground water storage cistern. It was created with the last year. The pond gives a wonderful view when you are looking around at the outdoor art work.
-Hannah Fallanca

INSTRUCTIONS

Here's how to do the blog project. Visit an environmental education center (see the link on the right to find one near you) Some are even on or very near campus, but try to visit some around the state if you are able. I will accept experiences from out of state, but check with me first. Don't "recycle" a visit from the past.

Post a blog entry about your visit and include one to three photos. Tell about what you see and learn, about 150 to 200 words. If possible, include yourself in the photo, or at least include some kind of proof that the photos are original, such as something with the date, such as a sign or calendar of the center's events, programs, etc. Show me that you learned something, but make it a fun experience as well!

See the sample post below to get an idea of what I am talking about. Don't worry if you have never used blogger--it is very similar to using an email, and putting in photos is like doing an email attachment.

HOW TO POST

Blogger is really simple. It's a lot like using an email. Here is a video on how to do it from youtube ( you may want to turn down your volume, or crank it up depending on your taste in music).

It doesn't show how to do photos, but it is just like attaching photos or images to an email. In the post window in blogger, you'll see a small icon of an image in the toolbar, to the right of spellcheck ("abc") You just click it and it will let you browse to where you saved your photos and attach them. I suggest you choose "small" on the size. You can alwasy see me in class if you have a question and I'll show you how to do it when we return from break as well.

SAMPLE POST

Here is a sample of a good post. Note photos and the fact that he noted some of the environmental issues and educational aspects of the site.




Located in Raleigh, Durant Park contains campgrounds, a lake, and over 5 miles of trails stretching through loblolly pine and hardwood forests. It is a favorite location of bird watchers and butterfly enthusiasts alike. An insect meadow is maintained as a study site for Raleigh Nature Programs such as Science Afield. The meadow is mowed twice annually in order to encourage a diverse insect population.

The lake at Durant is a popular attraction for fishermen and paddle boaters. While the park encourages fishing, they enforce the North Carolina state fishing regulations which prohibit taking more than five largemouth bass from the lake in one day. There is also a bulletin requesting visitors to release any grass carp they may catch. These fish are purchased by the park in order to control the lake’s hydrilla, a type of invasive aquatic plant.

Other measures are taken to preserve the environmental aesthetics of the park. There is an initiative to prevent trail erosion and cyclists are advised not to lock their back tires and to avoid controlled slides when maneuvering around bends. They are also encouraged to avoid mud and to stay on the designated trails.