Disclaimer: OK, so this post is 2 weeks late as a result of my temporarily misplacing my thumbdrive and getting caught up with other work. Sincerest apologies! The good news is, it's still plenty relevant, because BioBlitz is a year-round initiative. And in fact, planning is already underway for the 2010 signature event in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Look for more BioBlitz news in upcoming months here on the blog!
This past weekend [er, May 15], I trekked out to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) to take part in the 3rd annual BioBlitz, a 24 hour species inventory hosted by National Geographic and the National Park Service. While not quite as sunny as last year's event at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA or "SAMO"), it was no less rich of a scientific endeavor. At SAMO, I was primarily occupied with public outreach, manning an activities booth. This year, my focus was a citizen science collaborative mapping project. Along with a few other staffers, I led four groups of local students using National Geographic Education's new Fieldscope tool to track ecological succession along the dunes. But that was just one of the activities taking place at the park. Here are some highlights, in the spirit of "Five for Friday."
5 Favorite Blog Posts
For the past two years, National Geographic's Ford Cochran and Emily Landis have braved extreme temperatures and sleep deprivation to bring round-the-clock coverage of the Blitz. Here are my five favorite posts from this year's Blog:
Born of Nature and Industry
An intro to INDU.
Where the Wild Things Are
BioBlitz kickoff.
I Love Everything About this Event!
Students and teachers sound off about WHY they decided to participate in the BioBlitz.
Are You Recycling Tonight?
"Green-E," the Environmental Elvis, made a special appearance at INDU. He did not disappoint.
Fair Warning
Enough said.
5 Favorite INDU Memories
This past weekend [er, May 15], I trekked out to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) to take part in the 3rd annual BioBlitz, a 24 hour species inventory hosted by National Geographic and the National Park Service. While not quite as sunny as last year's event at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA or "SAMO"), it was no less rich of a scientific endeavor. At SAMO, I was primarily occupied with public outreach, manning an activities booth. This year, my focus was a citizen science collaborative mapping project. Along with a few other staffers, I led four groups of local students using National Geographic Education's new Fieldscope tool to track ecological succession along the dunes. But that was just one of the activities taking place at the park. Here are some highlights, in the spirit of "Five for Friday."
5 Favorite Blog Posts
For the past two years, National Geographic's Ford Cochran and Emily Landis have braved extreme temperatures and sleep deprivation to bring round-the-clock coverage of the Blitz. Here are my five favorite posts from this year's Blog:
Born of Nature and Industry
An intro to INDU.
Where the Wild Things Are
BioBlitz kickoff.
I Love Everything About this Event!
Students and teachers sound off about WHY they decided to participate in the BioBlitz.
Are You Recycling Tonight?
"Green-E," the Environmental Elvis, made a special appearance at INDU. He did not disappoint.
Fair Warning
Enough said.
5 Favorite INDU Memories
Summiting Mt. Baldy for the first timeNot so much a mountain as a large dune, Mt. Baldy is well worth the short ascent. It's pretty surreal to gaze out at the massive expanse of Lake Michigan and see Chicago in the distance, framed by steel mills in the foreground of this mixed-use park.
The students!
Despite the rain that plagued us throughout much of the Fieldscope inventories, all four groups of students retained high spirits and solid work ethics. Impressive mettle!
Hiking in a downpour
After getting "lost" from our group, two other National Geographic staffers and I (I know, you'd think geographers would be immune to this sort of thing) got caught in a downpour, and my jeans were not exactly waterproof. After the initial shock wore off and we accepted the futility of our soaked state, we enjoyed a lovely hike through the forested dunes, culminating with the sighting of a majestic heron. It was much better than being stuck in the science tent without power, and it made my dip in the hotel Jacuzzi that much more indulgent!
Personal dune guide
A group of us joined an inventory with a University of Chicago professor who has been studying ecological succession on the dunes for over 50 years. He pointed out all kinds of unique sights and species. What a treat!
Dinners at the Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk and Quaker Steak & Lube
We kicked off the BioBlitz Thursday night with a sunset dinner at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, a brand new, LEED gold-certified development built on the site of a former brownfield along the shore of Lake Michigan. Saturday night, we celebrated a successful BioBlitz with a trip to another extreme on the dining spectrum--the Quaker Steak & Lube, "America's #1 Motorsports-themed family restaurant." Located in the strip mall that contained our hotel, the scenery was distinctly less impressive than that first night on the lake, but the food was equally delicious and the company just as friendly!
Thanks all for a fantastic BioBlitz!
And now, for the final five-fer:
5 Reasons YOU Should Attend a BioBlitz
Explore a new environment
The annual NPS/NGS BioBlitzes are hosted at "urban" parks close to major metropolitan areas. These hidden gems are often less well-known than the celebrated NPS flagships such as Yellowstone, Great Smokies, or Death Valley. Get out and discover the natural wonders you never knew existed in your backyard!
Do real science
It's one thing to follow a structured experimental procedure in a lab; it's another to work alongside scientists in the field. BioBlitz gives students and the public a unique opportunity to engage in a real scientific endeavor. Through this spirited data collection "race," they learn that science can be fun!
See kids awestruck
There's nothing cuter than a young kid encountering a critter for the first time, gesturing wildly with eyes wide open. Many of the urban students who attend the BioBlitz have had limited opportunities to get out in nature, and their excitement upon seeing new plants, bugs, and larger animals is palpable--and downright contagious!
Meet fantastic folks
BioBlitz scientists, conservationists, park staff, volunteers and attendees are notoriously "good people" of great passion, with interesting backgrounds and stories--not that I'm biased. Spend an hour in the science tent and you'll make new acquaintances, like my professor friend from the University of Chicago.
Build awareness
At MWW we're all about awareness building--about the wonderful world around us, and about the critical importance of geographic education. The BioBlitz advances both these goals by engaging students and members of the public in experiential ecological education, and demonstrating why it's so important to conserve our natural resources.
Thank You..