March SIFT Saturday

Saturday, March 3, 2012 marked the close of the SIFT 2011-12 program.  The day's activities opened with Aileen's signature "natural items egg drop" challenge.  SIFTers worked in small groups to come up with the best design of plant materials packaging to protect a raw egg from the long drop off the Assembly Building porch.  (Epic failure for all.)

The rest of the cold and windy morning was spent on a field challenge with five teams competing for completion of a scavenger hunt designed to review some key skills and knowledge.  After lunch the SIFTers went out with a bang (down in flames?) with a demonstration controlled burn near the Trail House parking lot.

James Trager explains how to use the flapper to put out small flames.

Aileen Abbott shows Mohammed how to wet down the perimeter area before the burn.

James shows the SIFTers how a drip torch is used to start the fire.

Watching the fire creep across the target burn area.

SIFTers use water packs, rakes, and flappers to make sure the fire is out.

Congratulations to SIFT Cohort 4!

TERF Winter Symposium

On Saturday, January 28, 2011, the TERFers hosted their own symposium at Tyson Research Center from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Living Learning Center.  There were six posters, four slide presentations, and a video project presented to an audience of close to 100 people.

The TERFers explained their work on Tyson-based research projects to family, friends, participants in the SIFT program, and interested community members.

Garima gave a personal reflection on her summer internship experience.

Another amazing TERF cake from the Kanak family!

A happy bunch after the big event was over.

TERFers present at Wash U

On Saturday, October 22, 2011, the TERFers presented seven posters at the Washington University Undergraduate Research Symposium in Olin Library.

Dr. Tiffany Knight with uber-TERFer Taylor Rohan (r)

Alicia McCabe and Nina Fischer with their poster on Amber Burgett's dissertation research

WU undergraduates (and former TERFers!) Cassandra Galluppi and Emily Stein hear about the Tyson Forest Dynamics Plot from Aidan Kelly (r)

Bryan Rosinski (l) explains his work investigating the effects of fire on Lespedeza cuneata

Brendan Hellebusch (l) explains his work in the Tyson experimental prairie to Dr. Kathy Miller, chair of WU biology department

Mary Blair (r) explains her work collecting insects in the Tyson experimental glades

Fall SIFT Meeting

On Saturday, September 24 a group of 31 SIFTers made their way back to Shaw Nature Reserve for an eclectic mix of activities. Since this was the first meeting at SNR that involved large numbers of SIFTers from each of the three summer sessions, the day began with a small activity designed to help everyone get acquainted.

Next, everyone was divided into one of three groups and the remainder of the morning was spent examining a single habitat. One group studied a tallgrass prairie, another explored a glade, and the last a forest. Every participant had visited all three habitats during the June SIFT sessions. Their task on Saturday was to compare and contrast the current look of their assigned habitat with the way it appeared in June. Specifically, they were asked to note phenological changes in their habitat. After spending about an hour outside, the groups returned to the Assembly Building where each one was asked to create a short presentation on the changes that they had observed.

After lunch, The SIFTers remained in the same groups for their afternoon sessions. Each of the three groups participated in 2 out of the 3 following activities:

1) monarch butterfly tagging
2) grasshopper netting and identification
3) medicinal plants & how to make cordage

Only two monarchs were caught and tagged on Saturday, but there is no doubt that their fall migration is in full swing. A different group of students was able to tag 50 only 4 days later. Apparently, it's all about the weather...

The grasshopper groups netted and identified as many of the insects as they could find. Based on what the students said afterwards, this was an entertaining and informative session. Luckily, there was a decent variety of grasshoppers to be found.

The medicinal plant/cordage groups learned about plants that can alleviate various skin ailments like rashes, bites, stings, scrapes, and even exposure to poison ivy. In addition, they learned how to transform cattail leaves into cordage (a simple type of rope).

Overall, it was a good meeting and SNR's staff was pleased with the turnout. Many high school students tend to have a lot going on during weekends in the fall, so it was nice to see so many SIFTers finding time in their busy schedules to attend. Thanks SIFTers for another great meeting!

SIFT GIS Training at WU

On Friday, August 5, many SIFTers participated in geographical information system (GIS) training at the Washington University Danforth Campus. Two 3-hour training sessions were taught by Deanna Lawlor from the Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, with support from a LREC intern and SIFT instructor Stephen Bean.