Project Location/Destination: Out of town - Joshua Tree, California
Faculty Leaders: Geraldine Schmadeke & David Wisnieski
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Cost: $2720
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
Students will be able to participate in a road cycling tour through Joshua Tree National Park. Along the way, students will learn the unique factors that contribute to a desert ecosystem.
Description
Students will experience the unique Joshua Tree ecosystem from two wheels on this five-day road cycling and camping tour. Each day will involve approximately four to five hours of biking, averaging about 40 miles, before returning to our camp each night. A trained guide will be facilitating our bike rides with a support vehicle in case of any mechanical difficulties, and will be providing bicycles, helmets and camping gear. There will be stops along each route to discuss and journal the abiotic and biotic factors that are at play in stabilizing a desert ecosystem. Conversely, students will explore how the disruption of those factors can destabilize an ecosystem. While at camp each night students can expect to read articles about desert ecology, participate in discussions around observations made that day, and listen to lectures about the unique adaptations in the desert. March is an ideal time to visit Joshua Tree; we can expect sunny skies with highs around 72° and lows around 48 °F.
Note: Students must be willing to go “device-free” for the week; cell phones/tablets will be collected at the start of the project and will not be returned to students until the end. This will allow students to experience the trip fully and create lasting relationships with their peers. If parents need to contact their student in the case of an emergency, the project leaders will be able to receive calls. Students are welcome to bring cameras to take pictures.
Student Requirements and Expectations
Students are required to keep a journal of unique plant/animal adaptations that they observe throughout the week.
Students must be prepared to bike for approximately four hours every day with an average of 40 miles per day.
Students must be prepared to hike everyday as we dismount our bikes to explore the area.
Students must be willing to camp outdoors and be comfortable with basic amenities.
Students must be willing to pack lightly with one carry-on bag for the week.
Students must be willing to set up and take down tents, help out with meal service, and follow all guidelines using "Leave No Trace" principles of exploring the backcountry.
About the Faculty
Geraldine Schmadeke has completed two biking project weeks in Chicago and is excited about a third one. She is also excited to apply her knowledge of ecology to the desert ecosystem.
David Wisnieski loves to bike around Chicago and is looking forward to being able to go on long rides in March. He has been camping in several different deserts around the world, is excited to learn more what makes the Sonoran Desert special.
Ms. Schmadeke and Mr. Wisnieski led a successful biking trip to the Sonoran Desert last year and are excited to take that trip to new terrain.
Special Remarks
Students are camping each night so no hotels. We will be transported directly to/from the airport to the campsite in vans. These same vans will be our support vehicles during each of the bike rides. Each day we will bike to a different part of the parks to see different habitats. The biology of the area is our focus but the bikes are the medium to explore that.
Special Considerations
Ability to ride a bike - Students are expected to be able to ride a bicycle for extended distances.
Accommodation considerations - Students will be expected to sleep in shared accommodations.
Accommodation considerations - Students will sleep in tents.
COVID related information - Some venues may require proof of COVID vaccination or negative test. Students are encouraged to travel with this information and provide it, if required. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Equipment requirements: hiking gear - Students will be responsible for bringing and carrying their own backpack, large enough to hold their own rain gear, water bottles, additional attire for layering, depending on the weather.
Expectation for physical activity - This project will require a significant amount of physical exertion and possibly some physical discomfort. Students on this project should be willing to deal with discomfort, at times, in inclement weather. Students are expected to be able to participate fully in all these daily activities.
Food limitations and allergies - Students with food allergies and food sensitivities should understand that there may be times that food options will be limited. In addition, there may be cross contamination risk of allergens, as there will be times where outside food vendors will prepare our meals. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Scheduling (Out-of-Town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the M-F (8-4) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.