Monday, June 9, 2008

Biology Field Trip!!!!


We are back from our Bio Field Trip across Kansas to Colorado and Utah. Chad Scholes and I drove two van-loads of students (Sean Kimbrell, Chistina Knoy, Chris Dondlinger and Stephanie Pearcy in my van and Kelsey Weigel, Meagan Hendrix, Peter Feuerborn, Nick Wagner and Emma Schrader in Chad's) first to the Pike's Peak area where we visited the Garden of the Gods. Then it was on to the Great Sand Dunes (an awesome but challenging hike) followed by Mesa Verde's Puebloan and Anasazi ruins. We next toured Natural Bridges and then traveled to Hanksville, Utah, where we were in close proximity to Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon (pictured). Our last stop was Moab, Utah, a central site from which we could visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The trip was incredible (despite the nearly 3500 miles of driving) and our group was fantastic! This course is truly the best way to actually experience biology (and geology and culture) and apply many of the concepts learned in class. It was an absolute blast.