Salvador and the other high school students here at TREE have been busy designing and carrying out their own research projects in the field. In the picture above Sal is radio tracking western hognose snakes to study the home range of this little studied species. This is the kind of thing that really gets kids hooked on science and is hard to replicate in the classroom. Here is what he has to say about the experience:
The past three days here at TREE have been very interesting. I have met new people and made a couple of friends. TREE is a very cool program because I get to experience the science of biology, first hand. I don’t have to worry about anything here but just the projects that I am working on. There are three types of teams; the Trapping team, the Sand Prairie team, and the Predation type. Every team focuses on different side projects that revolve around Turtle camp. For my first year I have chosen, the Sand Prairie team. We focus on reptiles in the prairie such as Ornate Box Turtles, Hognose snakes, and the Six-lined Racerunners. My team members and I have developed an experiment to find out where Hognose snakes spend their time. To do this we are using a tracking device to follow them. The weather has not been the best but it has only been my third day. I can’t wait for what is in store for our team and what other animals we will get to see.
I envy Sal and the other students at TREE. When it comes to science, nothing beats learning by doing.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your hypothesis on where the hognose snakes spend most of their time?
ReplyDeleteGreat experiments! Liv can't wait until she is old enough to return to Turtle Camp.
ReplyDelete@MK This experiment of tracking the hognose snake is sort of extra data. What we are trying to find out is if the predation risk differs depending on the microhabitat that they use. Our hypothesis for that question is that predation risk does differ with the microhabitat
ReplyDeleteWhat were the results of your time at Turtle camp? Looking forward to an update.
ReplyDeleteLearning science by doing science! Can't think of a better way! Really proud of my fellow peers who were in this program. Can't wait to know about their successes!
ReplyDeleteIrma! Great to hear from you. Your peers did well in the field. I was proud of them, but not surprised. I knew they would do well. Keep in touch. I can't wait to hear about the science you will be doing in college. Send me an email from time to time to tell me all about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy they did great. I was sure they will too because part of their successes was thanks to all that you taught us & yes I will. I already have my schedule & it is a lot of science! It seems really challenging but I will work really hard & remember all that you taught us.
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