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Chihuahuan
Desert
Research
Institute
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Chihuahuan
Desert Field School
Come
join us for our outdoor education programs. Learn about the Trans-Pecos bioregion and the desert ecosystem. We’ve got over 500 acres to explore and great hands-on, science-based
activities that follow TEKS guidelines. We provide pre- and post-visit
materials. You provide hat, sunscreen, water, good hiking shoes, and listening
skills. Completion of the program is rewarded with a CDRI embroidered patch
(school programs only). All programs are $5.00 per person. For more information
contact CDRI at 432/364-2499 or email
jhill@cdri.org.
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TEKS
& TAKS
Critical
thinking, safety, and problem-solving skills are important elements of the field
school program. It is designed to
reinforce concepts that have been studied in the classroom through application
in the field. Even though the
program is ideal for 4th and 9th graders (in preparation for the 5th and 10th
grade TAKS) any grade level is welcome to attend and is sure to benefit.
Some of the many concepts covered include:
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Scientific
methodology/designing experiments
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Making
observations in the field
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Plant
& animal adaptations
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Desert
ecosystems & bioregions
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Effect
of human activity on ecosystems
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Biodiversity
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Interdependence
of organisms in an ecosystem
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Sustainable
living practices/renewable resources
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Water
conservation
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Importance
of habitats
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Wildscaping
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Carrying
capacity & population density
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Classification
of rocks in the rock cycle
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Identifying
common minerals and economic uses
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Photosynthesis
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...and
most importantly, science is fun!
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- Desert Ecology
- 2 hour program; adaptable to all ages
- This is an educational hands-on interpretive hike
not an athletic endeavor.
- Come explore the botanical gardens and cactus
greenhouse at CDRI and learn all about what makes the Chihuahuan
Desert such a unique and special place and what you can do to preserve it.
Identify both the “lem’me getcha” plant and the “wax” plant
that were used by the Native American and Hispanic cultures.
Hear the story of the yucca tree and find your own niche in the web
of life of the Chihuahuan
Desert. Conduct simple and fun
scientific experiments to show how cacti and other species adapt to the hot,
dry climate. Learn to recognize specific Chihuahuan Desert natives and how they have been used for medicinal and ethnobotanical
purposes. Actually extract a
needle and thread from an agave leaf and start your own bracelet or rope
with this incredibly strong thread.
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- Clayton’s Overlook Interpretive Hike
- 1.5 to 2 hours; all ages
- If you just want to get out there and climb a
mountain this is your hike: good,
basic excursion for groups which are too large for much interpretation (over
20). This guided hike offers
participants the opportunity to learn a little about the unique
ecology of the Chihuahuan Desert region.
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- Walk the Geological Time Line with an Expert
- 1.5 hours; all ages
- Join retired mining geologist, Joe Mussey, as you
walk this unique geological timeline. The rocks are arranged to represent
all the geological periods of the history of the earth. The walk begins at the most ancient of rocks from the time of
earth’s beginning (4.6 billion years ago)
and takes you forward through time to the youngest of rocks still
forming today. Afterwards Joe
will guide you through the mining heritage exhibit and tell tales of the
history of mining and reveal the struggles, sorrows, and successes of more
than 12,000 years of mining in the Chihuahuan
Desert.
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- Orienteering
- 3 to 4 hour program; all ages
- Self-guided.
- If you’re handy with map and compass try out our
orienteering course. Maps,
compasses, and
other information can be obtained at the front desk. Interested, but don’t have enough experience? Ask about our beginning orienteering classes.
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