Dripping Springs Middle School
Field Trip @ Lazy 8 Ranch
(E.D.Hill - Owner)

May 1st - Agenda

Class Instructors / Volunteers  will meet at the Lazy 8 Ranch by 8:15am

(We’ll go over the agenda, set up stations, and make any last minute changes necessary.)

9:00am                            Students/ Teachers  depart D.S. M.S.         

9:15 – 9:20am                   Arrive at Ranch – Unload buses       

9:25 – 9:35                       Welcome, Introductions, Go over agenda

9:35 – 9:45am                   Travel to 1st Station

9:45 – 10:25am                 1st Station   Habitat Management Tools         

10:25 – 10:35am                Travel to 2nd Station            

10:35 – 11:15am                2nd Station- Plant ID & Journaling       

11:15 – 11:25am                Travel to 3rd Station

11:25 – 12:05pm                3rd Station –Soils & Rainfall Simulator

12:05 – 12:35pm           Lunch & Break             

12:35 – 12:45pm                Travel to 4th Station             

12:45 – 1:25pm                      4th Station –Quail CSI & Scent Stations

1:25 – 1:35pm                   Travel to 5th Station

1:35 – 2:15pm                   5th Station – Bird Dog Demos

2:15 – 2:25pm                   Travel back to buses , load kids

2:25 – 2:45pm                   Depart Lazy 8 for D.S.M.S. .  

We will offer  5 Stations (kids will be divided into 4 groups at each station) 
#1 a,b,c, d - Quail CSI  &  Scent Stations  
#2 a,b,c, d - Plant Identification  &  Journaling    
#3 a,b,c, d - Soils  &  Rainwater Simulator     
#4 a,b,c, d - Habitat Management Tools 
#5 a,b,c, d –Bird Dog Demos

There will be a lead person for each station.
Each station will have approximately 19 kids.  (380 kids / 5 stations/ 4 in each = 19)
Time at each station will be 40 minutes, then they will rotate to the next station.
3 stations will have 2 activities going at once, the other 2 stations will only have one. 

We will have 3 rotations – lunch (30 min) – and then the last 2 stations.

After we finalize who will be helping at what station, I’ll update the list and send
out to everyone.  Until then, be sure to look over the topics below so you’ll know
what we will be offering throughout the day. 

Since many of you have helped at an Outdoor Classroom Field Trip before, I ask that each of you  bring something you’ve used in the past, or would like to add to a particular subject area to make it a better learning experience for the students.  

(Here are a few EXAMPLES of what has been done previously);

* Plant ID Station  &  Journaling – go over a few vocabulary words like browse, forbs, grass…
Then give them a few examples of Texas Native plants and why they are so important.
If available, walk around with the kids and let them pick up a few leaves so they can write about them and draw in their journal.  (If possible, have a few pictures of several Texas natives that are 
normally in this area.)  Show them how to use a Field Guide and then let them tell you why they
think each plant is important to wildlife. 

* Soils  &  Rainfall Simulator– show samples of several soils and talk about their difference.
Have microscopes or magnifying lenses available so students can look through to see textures, then let them touch it with their bare hands.   At the Rain Fall Simulator students will learn the importance of soil and how it stays together better with plants / grasses on it.  Lastly, do a demonstration on how water flows off each soil, vs. cement or stone. 

* Quail CSI   &   Scent Stations – talk about Quail nest (time of year, how many eggs, etc),
then walk around and let the students locate mock nest and ask them what ate the eggs & how can they tell?
Scent stations.. have various tracks implanted on the flour and ask the students to identify what they are… (they can look on the track sheets we let them use to help identify)  Last..what quail predators are in this area?  How do we know?

* Habitat Management Tools –talk about what it takes to have good quail habitat.
  (Fire – plow – ax – cow – gun)  If possible, talk about what the ranch is presently doing.
  If a tractor is available with a plow, walk over to it and let them see it up close.
  I believe there are still cows out on the ranch… ask if anyone saw them and why they are 
   important?  Talk about the other tools and why they too are important also.
  * If needed - show pictures* - ask questions - get the kids engaged. *

* Bird Dog Demonstration -  handlers will talk about the importance of dogs in hunting,
   how old a dog needs to be before they can be used, how they are trained, what they eat,
   and any other little “tid bits” that can be shared with the kids.
   After talking about 15-20 min… each handler will demonstrate how their dogs work.

TWA will supply:
* Coffee and pastries in the morning before students arrive for Instructors & Volunteers

* Pens / Pencils / Clipboards / Agendas / Talking Points / Station Signs

* Plant ID & Journaling – shears, a few field guides, plastic bags to use while
   collecting plants, & paper for students to use while writing & drawing about plants

* Soil & Rainwater Simulator– several buckets to hold various types of soil, shovel, & plastic bags
   One of the volunteers is coordinating the rainwater simulator.

* Quail CSI / Scent Stations –  material to set up scent stations, Quail CSI activity,
   and animal track handouts for students
* Lunch for Instructors & Volunteers   (Sandwich / chips/ cookies/ fruit / drinks / water)

* Port – A – Potties  ( 4 have been ordered)

* Will have Extra water & ice in coolers -  Each student needs to bring a bottle of water
   or re-useable bottle to hold water throughout the day.  We will NOT be supplying   
   bottled water for each student.  We WILL have water coolers so that when their
   container goes empty, they can refill it with fresh water. 

* Tables to set plants & Soils on (Mike will help get 4-5 tables & 20 chairs from the
   DS Ag Barn) 

* Tarps so kids can sit on them while visiting particular stations (if needed)

Students will ;
* Supply their own lunch
* Carry a water container that can be re-filled throughout the day
* Be responsible for picking up after themselves while at the ranch