Freedom High School students spend day at Mason Neck refuge

Students enrolled in the Center for Environmental and Natural Sciences program at Freedom High School stepped out of the classroom and into the woods recently.

LouEllen Brademan, director of CENS, led students during two separate trips to the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, where they applied their knowledge of the environment and contributed to a research project. The outing was an opportunity to gain field study experience while becoming a part of the “Environmental and Cultural History Project” at the refuge.

The field experience required hands-on data collection. With the tools of the trade ready and their senses prepared, students performed species composition, distribution, and diversity; soil sampling (horizons, texture and composition); and dendrochronlogy (tree ring analysis). They took samples of tree rings using an increment borer and measured trees with diameter tape.

Once back in the classroom, students will analyze the data they compiled and correlate their findings to land use and the cultural history of the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

During their trip to the refuge, students used curriculum and participated in activities developed specifically for this field study. Professors from Virginia Tech and the University of Georgia collaborated to develop the curriculum and resources used by students. The professors attended the field studies to lead CENS students through the data collection and analysis process. Students were able to talk with the professors about the data, and discuss potential science careers. Information about this program may be found at http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/mason.

Science equipment, teacher staff development, pre- and post-trip materials and curriculum, transportation, and funds for substitute costs were provided by a Preserve America grant and a partnership between Virginia Tech, the University of Georgia, Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge and the CENS program.

“It was an absolutely terrific experience for the CENS students to collect real scientific data and now that they are back at school, they will enter the data they collected on the Web site for use and analysis by scientists and other school groups,” said Brademan.