Janneke Hille Ris Lambers is a biologist with the University of Washington.
Here are some ideas that she has for field experiences:
- Simple tree density, height and species composition turnover along elevational gradients - Mountains are great for illustrating that species have different climatic tolerances (niches) and that plant growth (translates to forest productivity and agriculture) is affected by climate. Depending on the time of year, you could stop at various locations along the road from the entrance up to Paradise and take data on tree size, identity, and density. A simple way would be to lay a transect tape (say 50 meters) in a straight line and have students identify and measure all trees within a meter of the tape (or one arms span). Teaching them species identity could be a bit tough b/c they are all conifers and look similar, but on the flip side, there aren't that many species total.
- I think students may also get a real kick out taking increment cores from trees to see the growth rings, and realizing how old some of those trees are. One option is to pair that with the exercise above, and not have them core trees but show them cross sections of trees collected at different elevations ahead of time (or at each elevation) - since it may be hard to get permisison to core trees year after year at the park (and increment borers are expensive). The park may be willing to donate a few cross sections of trees they had to clear from trails at different elevations, or of course, these props may already be available at Pack Forest. COring trees in Pack Forest may also be possible.
- There are some super fun plant-pollinator activities that come to mind (sitting a watching flowers, counting bees vs. flies at different species), but those are most feasible in summer, not fall and spring when I imagine you might have most of your visitors?
- Finally, how about monitoring phenology? Students could contribute long term phenological monitoring of some of the same organisms, which might be interesting for them to know they are contributing to a long term monitoring effort?