Youngsters at the Child Development Center participated in the Bioblitz and Field Day hosted by CENRS (the Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability).
Jen Mapes, Ph.D., from the Geography program, organized the event, along with Andrew Scholl, Ph.D., (Geography), Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Ph.D., (Biological Sciences), John Gerrath, Ph.D., (Biological Sciences), and several Ecology students who planned and facilitated hands-on science investigation experiences focusing on the natural area behind the Child Development Center.
As part of this event, Andrew Scholl, Ph.D., gave a drone demonstration to the kindergartens and explained that the drones are used for environmental research by the geography department. One of the drones takes photos that detects thermal imagery. Scholl also talked about how drones aid scientific research by locating animals in the woods.
The children were very interested in the drone capabilities. With Kinsman-Costello the preschool children participated in transformation and aquatic creatures activities. Mapes and Gerrath led the group in quadrant sampling (what lives within a square cubic area) and studied aerial maps of the location.