Expedition Yellowstone

Nov. 18-22, 2013

Wonders of Yellowstone

What will we learn?• Expedition Yellowstone is an interdisciplinary trip

• Geology Day– Rock cycle (sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous) – Calderas, volcanoes, and earthquakes; Oh My!– Geologic Time

• Ecology Day• Organisms that live in extreme environments• Water quality testing • Predator and prey relationships• Using dichotomous keys

• History Day– Sheep Eaters, trappers and calvery men– Artists of the West

Gear List• Warm sleeping bag, pillow, flannel bag liner or blanket, pillow,

flashlight with spare batteries, towel • Clothing: 1 sweat shirt, 2 prs jeans, 5 t-shirts, 5 prs underwear,

4 prs socks (2 for hiking), 2 prs of shoes (1 hiking, 1 camp), bandana (optional), hat, rain gear/winter gear, wind breaker, warm jacket, gloves, warm hat/head band

• Toiletry Items – toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/combcontact solution (if required), washcloth, small hand mirror

• Sunscreen, chapstick (everyone needs their own), sunglasses – DON’T BRING MAKEUP, CURLING IRONS OR BLOW DRYERS!!

• Two 1 Liter water bottles– MUST HAVE A SCREW ON LID!!• Backpack with shoulder straps that you can wear for day hikes

(packed with day 1 lunch & snacks, pen and pencils, Yellowstone Journal, binoculars, camera, and water bottle)

Cost & Food• Cost of the trip: $200 (lodging + student designed t-shirt)• Parents donate food for the weeks meals• Think of how much your child would eat in a week and try

to donate accordingly• Meal planning will take place following the meeting• If you have a specialty food item that you make, consider

volunteering to prepare that and have other parents pitch in with ingredients

• Food can be prepared and stored ahead of time (no more than a week for frozen items and no more than 2 days for fresh items-meat, fruit, milk, etc.)

• We have the option to order from Sysco through the school if parents want to donate money instead of food (ex: case of apples, cut vegetables, snacks, etc.)

Meal Planning• Menu for trip : 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

• Breakfast Day 1:• Breakfast Day 2:• Breakfast Day 3:• Breakfast Day 3:

• Lunch Day 1:• Lunch Day 2:• Lunch Day 3:• Lunch Day 4:

• Dinner Day 1:• Dinner Day 2: • Dinner Day 3:• Dinner Day 4:

Safety and Yellowstone Rules

• I will be entirely respectful of others. This means that I will not gossip, make any disparaging or mean remarks, or engage in any type of rude, hurtful or disrespectful, excluding or unkind behavior to anyone.

• I will make every attempt to resolve conflicts maturely, swiftly, and responsibly, with adult support if necessary.

• I understand that I will be expected to help with cooking and cleaning. I will take the initiative to be useful and productive.

• I will not impose “bad travel attitudes” on others. I will make every effort to maintain a consistent, pleasant disposition, even in the face of unpleasant challenges that may arise.

Safety and Yellowstone Rules (Cont.)• I will not cause physical harm to others or to myself.• I will not be physically intrusive to anyone’s personal

space and will also be respectful of all property.• I will be respectful of nature and animals in every

way. This means that I will use extreme caution and heed guidance and authority with regard to touching geological features, and interacting with nature and animals.

• I will respond to behavioral warnings respectfully and with self-reflection, using respect and responsibility as my guiding concepts.

Safety and Yellowstone Rules (Cont.)• I agree to respect the curfew set by the teacher and

the park rangers. This means I will be in my room and ready for lights out at the expressed time. I understand that curfew violations are serious matters and will result in consequences.

• I agree that I will not enter other cabins without express permission of the cabin resident or chaperone and I understand boys never go into a girl’s room and girls never go into a boy’s room. I will not leave the group without express permission of the groups adults. I agree to check with chaperones as requested.

• In addition to the above expectations, I agree to honor all Expedition Rules.

Bears In Yellowstone• Bear Spray:• In school we will have speakers, videos and demonstrations on the

proper use of bear spray. We will also learn that bear spray should only be used as a last resort in an encounter with a bear.

• Techniques for avoiding bear contacts: (1) stay in a group of 3 or more, (2) make noise while hiking, (3) watch for signs of bears or any fresh animal kill where a bear may be feeding and avoid those areas, (4) keep food or things with a strong odor away from your camping area.

• When encountering a bear: (1) you should talk to it in a calm voice to get its attention, (2) back away slowly, never turning your back to the bear, (3) avoid direct eye contact with the bear. If charged (1) use bear spray to deter the charge when the bear reaches 30-40 feet from you, (2) play dead if you don’t have time to react in any other manner.

• Each group leader will have bear spray on the day hikes and students will be required to stay with their leaders at all times.

ChaperonesMrs. MelinBus driverMaximum of 5 chaperones to

accommodate as many kids as possible

This is not a vacation! (See chaperone duties…)

Roles and Responsibilities of Chaperones

Supervise students during bus ride and throughout week at EY

Assist in discipline, if necessaryReport issues (safety, injury, homesickness,

etc.) to Mrs. MelinParticipate in daily chores with group

(cooking, cleaning, doctoring, etc.) and group leader meetings in the mornings and evenings (days start at 5:45am and end at 11pm for chaperones)

Questions??

To do tonight:• Parents:– Fill out/sign registration forms– Choose meal to plan for and elect chair of the

meal to organize food prior to leaving (1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner)

– Forms due October 14 and payment due Nov 1.

• Students– Design ideas for t-shirts: class vote by Oct 3– Sign registration forms– Give input on menu