Parents, I need to share some information with you.
The Nature Bowl semifinal competition is on Wednesday, March 28 from about 8:30 AM to about 1 PM at the Yolo Basin Nature Center just east of Davis. This is a super-fun morning. I expect about 12 3rd/4th grade teams to compete at this site. They group us into sets of 3 or 4 teams that compete “head to head” through a rotation of events. From the 12 teams, two will advance to the finals at CSUS in May. But competition is not the emphasis of the day; learning is, and the kids will benefit. (Yes, they miss school, and parents are welcome to attend the competition. We will need enough parents to transport the kids.)
- Team competitors and alternates
I’m delighted that at this point I still have eleven active participants in Nature Bowl but unfortunately, we can only bring seven students to the semifinals. So four of our seven team members will be “alternates”.
I have a pretty good idea who is most enthusiastic about NB at this point, and those kids will be on the competing team. If your child is NOT eager to compete, please let me know and your child will be an alternate. Alternates and competitors alike will be recognized at the end-of-year school awards ceremony, and everyone will be invited to a party after the competition is over.
As you have heard, one of the events is the “enviromercial”. Three students will make a ONE MINUTE oral presentation on an environmental issue or problem of LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE. I recommend the student type up their presentation and practice reading it out loud many times so they essentially memorize it. Time is important; do not go over 1 minute. The student is allowed to use an index card for notes. They will turn in their cards to the judges. On the back of the card the student must list 3 resources/references they used. They should be prepared to answer a few questions from the judges about their topic. They are allowed, but are not required, a simple prop (for example, a picture of a plant or animal they’re talking about). The presentation should 1) describe the problem and 2) propose a solution. In the best case, the student should talk about some kind of action they themselves took to work on this problem.
I don’t expect every child to do one of these, but I’d like to have at least 4 as we need a minimum of three for competition. So far, Kylie Andrews, Audrey Graham, and Elizabeth Goodwin have expressed a desire to do this and each of them has a topic (Kylie: wood ducks/migratory waterfowl; Audrey: water pollution/storm drains/American River water quality; Elizabeth: burrowing owls). Anybody else?
Parents, you will need to work with your child on this project. In my time with the team, we are covering a lot of material and while I can advise on topic choice and sources of information, it is up to you and the student to actually put this presentation together. In March the students will practice by presenting to each other and to the 3rd grade class if they wish.
Students who prepare an enviromercial will be guaranteed a spot on the competing team.
I have the privilege of going to Beijing with my husband from March 7-18. Unfortunately this is going to interfere with Nature Bowl preparation. While I’m gone, it would help a lot if some of you could get the team together to go over questions asked at previous NB competitions, and practice the enviromercials. I have a ton of old questions, and even if you aren’t an expert on the topic, just drilling the kids with the questions and answers could be helpful. I recommend doing this outside of school at a special meeting or two if possible. Let me know if you are willing to organize and host.
I have three more field trips in mind. The California Raptor Center: Cindy Iseley is working on arranging this very popular field trip. The guided tour and discussion is led by a Raptor Center volunteer so you don’t need me to be there. Parents will be needed to drive. In the past, the Center has only been able to accomodate us on school afternoons from 3 PM to about 5 PM. The Center is located southwest of Davis, so the kids have left school early (2:20) to get there in time. Note that at that time of day it takes a long time to get back, so anticipate returning as late as 6 PM. The Raptor Center requests that visiting tour groups “sponsor” one of the birds ($40-$50 and up). To cover this cost and the cost of award medals (shh!! end of year surprise!), I ask any participating family who is able to do so to chip in $5-10 (cash or check to Amy Rogers).
On either February 25th or 26th I will lead another river/riparian field trip, starting at Bannister Park (Fair Oaks & Bannister).
The vernal pools at Mather Field are another big hit with previous teams, but I’m concerned it may not happen this year. Vernal pools are Sacramento’s most rare and most unusual habitat. This habitat contains many threatened and even endangered species. Vernal pools are temporary wetlands that form in unique areas lined by shallow “hardpan” which holds water from the start of the rainy season until the water evaporates in the spring. During this brief few months of wetness, countless creatures come to life, mature, reproduce, and die in the water, leaving behind cysts or eggs to start the cycle again next year. As the pools dry up, flowers bloom in abundance (April). In the summer and fall, the pools are dry and look like any other ordinary grassland. But because of the extreme lack of rain this year, I’m not sure the pools are going to fill. I will try to find out and if they’re wet, we’ll visit in late March either before or after the competition.
