Weaving People and Place Together:

Telling the Biodiversity Story at Sam’s Point Preserve

Teaching the Hudson Valley Institute

Cara Lee, Emma Sears, Heidi Wagner and Jennifer Gilles

Sam’s Point Preserve

A unique landscape… “in our backyard”

Biodiversity of the Shawangunks

A large number of plant and animal species in a relatively small area....

* 35 natural communities

* 5 globally rare plant communities

* 200 species of nesting birds

* 57 rare and imperiled plant and animal species

Conditions That Give Rise To Biodiversity

• Ecoregional “edge”

•Exposed, rugged environs

• Thin soils

• Droughty conditions

• Well-defined microclimates

• Highly adapted plant and animal species

Threat: Fire suppression in a fire-adapted ecosystem

9,000 year record of fire

• 50 years of fire suppression

• Current 50 year fuel build up could lead to fires of devastating intensity

Restoration of Fire as a Natural Process

1881 Hudson River School Painting

(Dellenbaugh) Fire in the Shawangunks

Using controlled burns to restore forest health and reduce wildfire risk

Project Goals

• Connect kids with nature in their community

• Provide “hands-on” about basic ecology

• Build support for management and protection of a globally rare ecosystem in the Shawangunks

•Connect kids with place and people

Sam’s Point Conservation Center

Sam’s Point Habitats Mural

Five Natural Community Types

90 Species of Plants and Animals

Biodiversity

Habitats

Natural Communities

Prey

Predator

Natural Resources Forests

Web of Life

Bedrock

Wetlands

Wildlife

Temperature

Ecosystems

SOIL

WATERPLANTS

Into the woods – to observe, measure, calculate and record…….

Oak Forest

Slab Rock

Pitch Pine Barrens

Comparing 3 Habitats at Sam’s Point

Data/Observation Oak Forest Ridge-top Slab rock

Pine Barrens

1. Physical SettingOrientationSlopeSunny/shadedWater

South facingModerateShaded

Yes

West facingFlat

SunnyYes (after rainfall)/no

Northwest facingModerateShaded

No

2. WeatherAir temperature °CWind speed (mph)

53°F/13°2 mph

42°F / 5°C9 mph

42°F / 5°C7 mph

3. SoilTemperature °CPHSoil core% rock visible

54°F / 14°C6moist, dark, rich25%

44° / 7°66sandy, tan, moist

44° / 7°C6

dry, sandy, thin topsoil

0

4. Dominant treePopulation countCircumferenceDeciduous/coniferousHeight: Short, medium, tall% Sky visible thru canopy

Oak/maple11

84 cmDeciduous

tall15%

Pitch pine321 cmConiferousshort100%

Pitch pine923 cmConiferousmedium25%

5. Other plants Mountain Laurel Grass,Low bush blueberry

Huckleberry

1. Which habitat was the windiest? Why?

2. Where did we find the deepest, richest soil? Why does this habitat have better soil?

3. Which trees have adapted to the most severe climate conditions?

4. What factors contribute to severe climate?

Comparing Different Habitats at Sam’s Point Preserve

Getting Thoughts Down…..

What do You Think?

Your school is given 60 acres for an “outdoor classroom’ to teach about “biodiversity”.

You have a limited budget for making trails.

The biology teacher suggests a trail in the forest, the PE teacher wants the field to be accessible for “New Games”.

Where would you put the trail and why?

(Hint: Mix it up and make sure to include edges)

Connecting People and Place

The Huckleberry Pickers StoryDirections: Imagine that you and your family spend summers at Sam’s Point picking huckleberries. Use the photos to help you develop answers to the following questions. Support your answer with evidence from the photo.

When was this photo taken?

Why were you picking berries?

What did your family like about Sam’s Point?

What did they dislike?

Where were the berries sold? To whom?

Describe the shack you lived in.

How did you spend your evenings?

Where were your favorite picking locations?

Do you recall the huckleberry bushes being intentionally set on fire? How and when were the fires set?What did your family do the rest of the year when berries were not in season?Turn the paper over and write a group question that you want to ask the berry pickers.

Sam’s Point Berrypickers Tell Their Stories at

Ellenville Middle School

Artifacts of a Past Lifeway

At Sam’s Point Preserve

Special Thanks to: Kelly Brumblelow, Science TeacherSue Brosnahan, Science TeacherAlison Chapin, Middle School CounselorSam’s Point VolunteersThe Ellenville Middle School

Questions?