Inventorying Fish in Northwest Branch

For the next month, the students will participate and learn how to identify and inventory plant and animal species in Northwest Branch Park. By inventorying, they will gain knowledge about the health of the park ecosystem and ways humans hamper or can improve its health. Today, two field biologists from Maryland National Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) taught students the process by which they inventory fish and macroinvertabrates in the park stream. By inventorying both, bioligists can determine the health of the stream. Some macroinvertabrates and fish are tolerant to polluntants in the water while others are not. We inventoried species (White Suckers, Red Breast Sunfish, Black Nose Dace, Tesalated Darter, Blunt Nose Mino, and Spot Tailed Shiner) that are categorized as tolerant and intermediate, meaning they can tolerate some level of pollutants but not at higher amounts or levels. In the coming month, look for additional postings of other species students inventory in the park.

Stormy Nature

I can her the wind brushing through the leaves. The grass is moving around me. Birds and crickets are chirping at a beat. It sounds like music if you add the flies wings moving. The clouds are turning darker and darker as I write. It looks like it is going to rain hard, then all of that music from the bugs and birds will come to a screatching hault so they can find shelter. The graceful wind that moved through the trees and grass will change to gusts of wind. Branches will break and leaves will fall. The storm came. I rushed to shelter as the drops came falling. I watched the drops crash on the window. They made a beat as they put me to sleep.
Written by Courtney, Senior.

It's My Turn!

The new year has started and the time has finally come for me to participate in this wonderful new experience. I have been interested in working with the environment for years and when I found out 2 years ago about this research group I couldn’t wait ‘til my senior year. During the first few weeks of the class are numbers got smaller to the point where it might disappear. I hope it doesn’t because from what we have done so far is very enjoyable. From hikes on local trails to read about ‘a sense of wonder’ has made this class exciting. This class also let me bring my love of art into the class from any numbers of pictures.
Also in the small hikes we have done some nature journaling. In these I have been able to reflect on the world around us and how it is changing. I remember when I used to walk along the sides of a stream near my house as a kid and you would see a trash very sparsely and other than that it was fine. Now if I go down to that very stream there are pieces of trash and cans everywhere. I remember one time during a stream clean up that we found a full bag of trash and car parts. It is things like these that make me want to get involved and help out not only with the up-keeping, but to understand how to preserve this earth we share. I am looking forward to a great year.
Written by Kady, Senior.

My Experience on the Appalachian Trail

My biggest experience in nature was when I went backpacking on the Appalachian Trail over the summer. All throughout the trail I felt as though I was free. I felt as though none of the troubles I had back home could get me here. All I ever saw was nature at its finest. It was as though mankind had never even laid their hand on the entire land. I would always hear the rustling of the trees or the chirping of birds. Unfortunately, this trip did not turn out very well later on. We were unable to stay at the first rest point so we had to hike an entire days worth ahead. This course also lead us straight through devil’s race course. It was dark when we finally got to the fully occupied rest area. We were so weak we had to rest for a day so that we would be able to trek on tomorrow. As fate would have it, this was in vain because my father had injured himself on the race course. The temperature dropped below freezing and it wasn’t going to get any better. So in the end, we were forced to quit early. It was one of the best summers I have had so far and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Written by James, Junior.