Image: Wake County Parks, Recreation, & Open Space manages Historic Yates Mill County Park. We will inventory a portion of the Park with them to support additional trails and improvements, and monitoring of flora and fauna. This image shows our team at the Steep Creek Trail kiosk.
02.18 ... Looks like there will be gusty winds again today, so please be sure to meet at the Yates parking lot by 1:10P to pick up a hard hat … and your vest and a first aid kit for each team. Don’t forget to grab all your equipment.
Image above: Part of Team Water Quality checking for macroinvertebrates.
Project work - making sure we're ready for the field
Refine plans and timelines
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (QuickLinks) - part of Reflection & Self-Evaluation due this week
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Team spokesperons & GIS leads inicated in Contact Information
Some learning information due in your evaluation documents this Th 02,12.
Next Tuesday 02.17 is a wellness day and there are no classes. You'll want to keep this in mind as you're planning - we'll be in the field next W 02.18 and in class on Th 02.19.
If you haven't already at least started a timeline / schedule, it's time to do that - there's some timeline guidance in the Yates Mill Project folder. If you have started, you might want to look at the guidance anyway - it might help with your planning worksheet also.
I've compiled all the propsals for change to the Operating Principles (QuickLinks) - they are linked to the OPs. Still looking for two volunteers to joing Alia in a task force to review these proposals and make (or not) appropriate changes.
Matt Fryar had no comments for change on our one-pagers - "This all looks great to me, I can't really think of anything to add to the scope. Thanks so much!"
Cabinet cleaned up ... some
10:20 Alejandra on GIS layers
10:25 Project work
Get ready for tomorrow.
GIS checkin with Betancourt - make sure you have the layers you need to collect the data you need tomorrow ... and that you know how to do it
11:15 Team spokesperson meeting with Hess & Betancourt
12:50 Vans depart from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall for Yates. Driving yourself, please be on site by 1:10 latest - meet in the usual parking area (or the building if raining).
15:35 Back at Hodges Lab
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Next Tuesday 02.17 is a wellness day and there are no classes. You'll want to keep this in mind as you're planning - we'll be in the field next W 02.18 and in class on Th 02.19.
Kira has agreed to work with Alia to revise the operating principles for presentation next Th 02.19
Take pics in the field - will be of great value for open house!
10:20 What did we learn yesterday?
10:30 Betancourt on GIS issues
10:40 Work time
Update on status, equipment needs, questions, plans for next week
Images above: Members of Team Wildlife placing cameras in the field.
Field work
Project planning and work
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
00:00-23:59 Today & every day ... Take good care of yourselves :-))
12:50 Depart for Yates from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall. Driving yourself, please arrive by 1:10P. Please be sure to being whatever equipment you'll need.
Looks like there will be gusty winds again today, so please be sure to meet at the Yates parking lot by 1:10P to pick up a hard hat … and your vest and a first aid kit for each team.
13:10 Arrive Yates.
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Someone turned in an SD card at Yates - it's in the lost & found box at the front desk. See Delayne or whoever is there.
Remember, we're all learning and that's the main purpose of what we're doing. So be sure, to the greatest degree possible, to let all team members try different things so they can get the experience. Maximum efficiency is not the key goal - learning is.
Mid-semester reflection and evaluation coming up on 02.26. Half-hour slots for a chat with me start 03.02 at go.ncsu.edu/MeetWithHess. Please have all of the mid-semester sections of the reflection document completed at least 2 days before your appointment, so I have time to review it.
When I ask for changes in a comment in your work, I say something like "please reply to the comment when done." I'm not asking you to put the changes in the reply to the comment, but to revise your text response. When it's ready, just press reply in the comment and say "Changes made." That notifies me to come back and have another look.
We've put the Trillium layer in every team's GIS project. Trillium pussilum (Dwarf trillium), a species of conservation concern, is hard to find right now because it's not blooming yet. It's trifoliate and pretty small. Please note this and if you walk in these areas, watch your footfalls and tread as lightly as possible; it may also be elsewhere - if you think you see it, drop a point and talk with Team Conservation Concern.
10:20 Operating Principles Task Force
Review of any changes proposed as a result of Teamwork 3 assignment
10:30 Project Work - Hess & Betancourt will circulate
11:15 Brief, oral status report to full class from team leads
Image above: Team Soils after a dirty day at the office.
Carry on field work - you've got this!!
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Mid-semester reflection and self-evaluation coming up this week (see Assignments in Quick Links). Also please make an appointment to talk with me about your reflection ... pick an Appointment slot at go.ncsu.edu/MeetWithHess ... be sure your reflection document is completed at least 2 days before your appointment.
Drone flight for LIDAR and new aerial imagery
10:20 - Develop big timelines together
Discuss and organize team lessons, mostly for after break
Start organizing for end game - talk about open house; 1 draft presentation and 2 practices; 2 draft reports
10:45 Project work
Get ready for tomorrow
12:50 Depart for Yates from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall; arrive by 13:10
13:10 Arrive Crowder Park
13:30 Drone flight for LIDAR and new aerial imagery, weather permitting (Bost & Hess at Ag Field)
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
10:20 Project work
11:315 Team spokespersons meeting with Hess
Update on status, equipment needs, questions, lessons
Image above: Dragon, Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary NC.
Carry on field work
Work on team lessons
Start planning for the end game
10:15-10:25 Housekeeping & announcements
Teams should have standardized methods for their work by now (also known as standardized operating procedures) ... and this is a great time to start writing them down for your methods portion of the report.
Guidelines for report and open house are now available in the Yates Project folder and the Quick Links. We'll discuss next week, so please have a look in advance.
If you haven't signed up for a meeting with me yet, go.ncsu.edu/MeetWithHess
Upcoming assignments, both due Th 03.12, before break
Team peer reviews [ link coming ]
Learning 2 in your reflection document
Please (please) don't resolve comments in your reflection and self-evaluation documents. I need to be able to see our conversation and know that I've been in your document. It's fine to address the comments in the text or by reply, but please leave them open.
10:25 Project work
Get ready for tomorrow
Start thinking about post spring break - how to wrap field work, get report and open house done - only a few weeks after break. We have a schedule - now you have to figure out how to implement it
Plan to wrap field work by end of March (first week of April if absolutely needed)
Start thinking about data visualization, if you haven't already - how are you going to show your data in the report and during open house? Hess & Betancourt can help if you show us some initial ideas
11:15 Team Leads meet with Hess
12:50 Depart for Yates Park from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall
13:10 Arrive Yates Park
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15-10:25 Housekeeping & announcements
If you haven't made an appointment to talk with me yet, please do at go.ncsu.edu/MeetWithHess
10:25 Project work
Hess & Betancourt will circulate
Update on status, equipment needs, questions
11:15 Team Leads meet with Hess
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Above: Part of the Tree Hugger team working on some wetland delineation.
Carry on field work
Start working on reports and open house
Progress review (Th)
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Before break, please complete your 2nd learning (in your reflection document) and a mid-semester peer review for each of your teammates AND yourself (both due Th 03.12)
10:20 Report Guidelines
Report and Open House guidelines are available in the Yates Project folder and QuickLinks - we'll discuss on Thursday, so please have a look in advance and come prepared with any questions.
Everyone's project folder now has a Report and Open House folder within. Please do your report and open house work in the appropriate folder - makes it much easier for me (and you) to find stuff.
10:45 **Tentative** Dr Kays meets with THE Critter Team to talk through Wildlife Insights
10:35 Work time - prep for tomorrow
12:50 Departure for Yates Park from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall
13:20 Arrive Yates
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Before break, please complete your 2nd learning (in your reflection document) and a mid-semester peer review for each of your teammates AND yourself
10:20 Team Dysfunction Diagnostics
Each team memeber complete the form, individually without consulting with others
Discuss issues that are indicated based on results
10:35 Project work
Take some time to review how your work is going with respect to your goals (visit your one-pager and your project worksheets) - any course-corrections needed?
Make sure anything that has to happen during spring break is attended to
Week of 03.30 should be last week in field
11:15 Quick (<5min) progress review from each team for entire class
11:30 Adjourn for Spring Break
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Above: Examining macroinvertebrates as inidicators of stream quality.
Start working on reports and open house
THE Critter Crew Lesson (Th)
Meet at the park 07:00
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Hess out today
Crowder public meeting Tu 03.25 4-7P at the Heron Shelter where we usually park
10:20 Open House Guidelines
Trey will present - they are in the QuickLinks
10:35 Work time - prep for tomorrow
Remember where you left things. Carry on.
Dr Stephanie Jeffries will meet the Tree Hugger team out there - please prepare for the best use of her time.
Work on storyboarding for your open house (Guidance in Quick Links > Open House Guidelines)
Start organizing for your report and open house
11:15 Team leads meet with Mumma
12:50 Depart for Crowder from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall
13:10 Arrive Crowder
Steam team will be doing electrofishing - anyone can observe
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15 10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Crowder public meeting Tu 03.25 4-7P at the Heron Shelter where we usually park
Critter Crew - be sure to have waders arranged for electrofishing next Wednesday
10:20 THE Critter Crew Lesson
10:50 Project work
11:15 Team leads meet with Hess & Mumma
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
THE Critter Crew team member setting a minnow trap in the pond (top) and the team electrofishing Dutchmans Branch (bottom).
Complete field work
Work on reports, open house, and data - next week open house storyboard and first drafts of reports are due
Tree Huggers (Tu) & Water Quality (Th) lessons
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Crowder public meeting TONIGHT 4-7P at the Heron Shelter where we usually park
THE Critter Crew - be sure to have waders and boots arranged for tomorrow
10:20 Tree Huggers Lesson
10:50 Project Work - prepare for tomorrow - last field lab - do any needed cleanup - water quality, fetch rain data from office
12:50 Depart for Crowder from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall
13:10 Arrive Crowder
THE Critter Crew will be doing electrofishing in the stream, weather permitting - anyone can observe
Do any cleaneup needed
Water Quality - fetch rain data from office
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15 -10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
All equipment should be returned, including any books borrowed from the closet, first aid kits, vests, things from the equipment room, and so forth
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01)
Always eMail Hess & Mumma when you have a report or open house item ready for review, especially if it's ahead of the deadline. It's the best way to get feedback most quickly.
Help Wanted! ... I don't know who the open house and report leads are for each team
All roles are in the Contact Information page (QuickLinks)
10:20 Project Work
OK, where are we and what do you need? - quick reports from each team
10:55 Quick reports from each team to whole class
11:00 Water Quality Lesson
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Celebrate completion of field work (W)
Work on reports, open house, and data - open house storyboard & first draft report due this week
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Please return any other equipment this week
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01)
Always eMail Hess & Mumma when you have a report or presentation item ready for review, especially if it's ahead of the deadline. It's the best way to get feedback most quickly.
Halee coordinating Open House page photos and blurbs - see her this week
Nathan coordinating teaser slides for Open House introduction - see him this week
10:20 Project Work
10:30 Hess to meet with Report Leads - Aubrey, Halee, Madison
10:45 Hess to meet with Open House Leads - Allison, David, Reilly
10:45 Mumma will meet with GIS Leads
11:00 Hess to meet with Executive Summary, Intro, Acknowledgements, References leads - determine due dates - Ava, Cade, Ricky, Sarah
12:50 Housekeeping & announcements
THANK YOU - smoothest equipment return EVER :-))
Halee on English Ivy removal effort
13:00 Celebration of field work completion, followed by (or mixed with) project work
Special snacks
13:15 Project Work
Open house storyboard due today - we can review during class if you're ready
Hess and Mumma are here to help you work through any issues - please just ask!!
THE Critter Team ... members working on visualization should sign up for a Tableau Public account in advance of Dr Kays' visit tomorrow
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Ricky: Re Study abroad in Namibia - wildlife and drones
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... [ Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01) - earlier is better, especially if graduating ]
10:20 Project Work
Please get your Open House page photos and blurbs to Halee today so I can start advertising
First draft of report findings & methods due end of class (or at least end of day) for my review. Please put them in the right folders, per the directions. Thanks!
Any team feel like they will be ready for a first presentation critique next week?
10:30 Roland Kays to meet with THE Critter Team to look at vizualization techniques from Wildlife Insights and Tableau
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Above: The north pond
Work on reports, open house, and data
10:15-10:25 Housekeeping & announcements
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01). News article will help you consolidate your thinking and highlight the value of what we've done - could influence your presentation and report in positive ways - start now! Earlier end of semester stuff would be appreciated, especially for graduating seniors.
First draft open house slide deck due (W 04.09)
First drafts of introduction, executive summary, and so forth due (Th 04,10)
Teaser slide changes due Th 04.10 - Nathan coordinating
Second report drafts due end of day F 04.11 - sooner is better - let us know when ready
10:25 Project Work
12:50 Housekeeping & announcements
Check title page - is your name the way you want it? Fix any mistakes, please
Instructor review draft of Open House slides due end of class - we can look them over in class if you're ready
Anyone ready for first run presentation this week (including today)?
12:55 Project Work
Check title page - is your name the way you want it? Fix any mistakes, please
3213 across the hall is available if anyone needs a quiet place or to practice talking
10:15 - 10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Teaser slide changes due today - Nathan coordinating
Intro, Exec Sum first draft due today; Ref and Ack leads should check in with each team to make sure it's happening
Second report draft due tomorrow F 04.11 - let us know when ready
First practice talks Tuesday
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... [ Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01) - earlier is better, especially if graduating ]
10:20 Project Work
As always ... be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Above: Evaluating wetland soils
Practice talks
Work on reports, open house, and data
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Rest of semester... Individual News Article (04.15 TODAY) ... Report (04.22) ... Data (04.22) ... Open House (04.25) ... [ Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01) - earlier is better, especially if graduating ]
10:25 Project Work
12:50 Housekeeping & announcements
3213 across the hall is available if anyone needs a quiet place or to practice talking after our first round
13:00 Round 1 Practice talks
Tree Huggers
Water Quality
Wildlife
14:00 (Latest) Project Work
3:35 Adjourn
10:15 10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Open house attire ... the classic "business casual" ... here are some pictures ... NCSU has a professional clothing closet if you don't have anything like this. Basically, something that's neat and clean and other than gym shorts & T-shirts. No need for ties and jackets or anything like that.
10:20 Project Work
Intro, Exec Sum final draft due today; Ref and Ack leads should check in with each team to make sure it's happening
Potential Round 2 practice talks
Water quality
Wildlife
Tree Huggers
As always ... be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
10:15 - 10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Happly LDOC!! Woohooo!!!
Happy Earth Day!
Rest of semester... Report (04.22 today) ... Data (04.22 today) ... Open House (04.25) ... [ Learning 3 (05.01) ... End of Semester Reflection (05.01) - earlier is better, especially if graduating - eMail Hess when ready ]
Open house attire ... the classic "business casual" ... here are some pictures ... NCSU has a professional clothing closet if you don't have anything like this. Basically, something that's neat and clean and other than gym shorts & T-shirts. No need for ties and jackets or anything like that.
10:20 Project Work
11:00 Course Review
15min - Hess & Mumma will leave room. Create two charts on the board - things that should stay the same in the course, and things that should change.
15min - Hess & Mumma return. Discussion.
Open house attire ... the classic "business casual" ... here are some pictures ... NCSU has a professional clothing closet if you don't have anything like this. Basically, something that's neat and clean and other than gym shorts & T-shirts. No need for ties and jackets or anything like that.
08:00-08:30 Arrive, setup, get comfortable
08:35 Introduction & Teaser Slides - Hess leads
08:45 Open House - Teams lead
10:30 Open House ends
10:35 Last thoughts
11:00 Adjuorn - have a great summer / life!
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Final reflection and evaluation due W 05.01 - sooner is better, especially if you're graduating - grades are due 05.02
Above: A group pf people counting blades of grass.
Start getting to know one another, build team spirit, set the tone for a wondeful semester
Review statistics while building team spirit
Have a great week
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
10:15-10:50 – Activity
Instructors will be along shortly - please begin activity without them
Create clusters of 4-5 people, preferably by sitting with people you don’t know well. Please (re)arrange the furniture as needed.
Review summaries of Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team here and here
Trust-building teamwork activity
– Within each cluster, each person should take a turn using Google maps and streetview to show the others where they grew up (the place they consider home). Talk briefly about what it was like growing up there.
– Also spend some time talking about whether you’ve experienced any of Lencioni’s dysfunctions in prior team work, and what you might do to avoid them
– Be finished by 10:50 and ready to debrief – you need to allocate your time so that you can make this deadline
10:50-11:10 – Debrief: DEAL – Describe, Examine, Articulate Learning
11:10-11:30 – Brief description of how the course will work (will do tomorrow if we're short on time)
Website, project, assignments, grading, etc
You will be outside part of the time - dress accordingly!
12:50-12:55 Housekeeping, Announcements
Class eMail that will reach everyone in the class - students and instructors - is nr-300-001-sprg-2026-everyone@wolfware.ncsu.edu - anyone in the class should be able send to it.
On W, our room clears out at noon - you're welcome to come in after that to chill or eat or work or whatever.
12:55-13:05
Please sit in groups of 4-5 people, preferably people you don’t know and different from yesterday
Introduce yourselves around the table … from your perspective, what’s the most interesting, exciting place you’ve ever been?
Quick round of names around the class as you state your place.
13:05-14:25 Sampling discovery and teamwork - here's our work area
You can use this time as you wish to organize, collect data, perform calculations, prepare report, etc.
Be ready with your estimate(s) and prepared to de-brief by 14:25
14:25-14:40 De-brief & discussion: DEAL – Describe, Examine, Articulate Learning
14:40 Open discussion
15:00 Misc
As needed ... Website, project, assignments, grading, etc
If time remaining ... Complete the "Request ArcOnline Account" and "Consent Form" assignments (see Assignments in Quicklinks) right now. Alejandra can help with the ArcOnline account if you have any issues.
10:15-10:30 Housekeeping / Announcements
Don’t forget to check assignments
Any troubles with ArcOnline account activation? See Alejandra!
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar (Quick Links)
Above: A team working the Innovation Maze last aThursday. No writing, no talking, no breadcrumbs! Photo credit: S Jeffries.
Meet our partners
Start scoping out topic ideas
Keep getting to know one another
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar
10:15 Housekeeping & Announcements
Don't forget to check Assignment Calendar ... Teamwork 1 Reading Guide due Thursday
10:20 Partners for our work this semester ... those present will introduce themselves ...
Matt Fryar, Park Manager
Patrick Lynch, Assistant Park Manager of Operations
Thomas Reed, Open Space Manager
Chris Snow, Director, Wake County Parks, Recreation, & Open Space
Sam Trogdon, Associate Director, Wake County Parks, Recreation, & Open Space
Johnny Floyd, Park Technician
Mary-Gray Crickmore, Park Technician
10:30 Description of site, goals, potential work - questions and disucssion throughout
11:10 Any final questions and discussion
11:20 Instructions for tomorrow
Meet vans in the lower parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall
Be prepared to depart at 12:50, the start of our lab period; we'll return no later than 15:35, the end of our lab period
We'll be outside, so dress appropriately. Closed-toed shoes required (no sandals, flip-flops, etc), long pants and sleeves highly recommended. Please bring water, snacks, any medications you need. If you carry an epi-pen or similar, please let Hess know.
You will be outside for around 2 hours - dress accordingly!
12:50 Depart from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall for Yates Mill County Park (4629 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh).
13:10 Arrive Historic Yates Mill County Park
Meet Wake County staff on site
13:30 Field site tour
15:05 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15 Housekeeping & Announcements
Betancourt out today - presenting at Appalachian Society of American Foresters
Don't forget assignments ... Teamwork 1 Reading Guide due today
Professional courtesy
10:20 What topics interest you? - Here are Potential Topics of Interest from our discussions and site visit (Yates Mill Project Folder) ... shout out or add to document if I've missed any ... then we'll gauge interest levels around each and see if we can form some topic groups, at least to explore ... you will not be required to stay with the team you'll pick today
Proximate Goal: Next week, we'd like to (mostly) complete a Project Worksheet and One-Pager for each thing we want to work on (templates in Yates Mill Project Folder)
10:40 We'll form some topic groups to develop ideas ... move furniture around as needed
Everyone in each group, introduce yourself as you wish
Talk thru the different ideas within your topic for about 30min.
You can work in the Potential Topics of Interest document to save your thoughts (just start a new page in there, head it, and go), or write on the board
Rank the ideas within your topic from most to least interest / enthusiasm
Be prepared to talk about them for 3-5 min per group
11:10 Hear from each group
What are your ideas, ranked
Photo above: small groups developing teamwork guidelines
Continue developing project ideas - get something ready to share with Wake County
Review reflection and self-evaluation document
Develop team operating principles
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar - Teamwork 2 coming due
If you haven't completed the ArcGIS survey, please see the ArcGIS assignment in the Assignment Calendar and do so as soon as possible.
10:15-10:40 Housekeeping & announcements
Sit with work teams (the ones you selected last week)
Please enter your current team in the Contact Information spreadsheet (QuickLinks), if you haven't already done that
The Reflection & Evaluation 2026 - DRAFT document is available for your comments (Course Information in Quick Links). We'll spend class time on this W, but feel free to have a look and comment in advance.
On Th, we'll have some students from last year available for you to talk with
10:40 Start developing project worksheet and timelines
Each team from last week now has a working folder within the Yates Mill Project Folder (QuickLinks) where you can continue your work. Within each of those folders, I've placed a Project Worksheet template for the team to start completing. This will be your working document for planning purposes. There's also a One-Pager Template in each folder; we'd like to have a relatively solid version of this that we can deliver to Wake County Parks early next week for review. Finally, I copied your project ideas into the folder.
We can do a recon trip to Yates Mill next Wednesday, if you see value in that for planning purposes - discuss and decide and let me know
There is some guidance for developing timelines in the Yates Mill Project folder. Have a look and start developing a timeline in your team's folder. You won't know all the pieces-parts yet, but we have to start somewhere.
Hess & Betancourt will wander the room to ask and answer questions.
11:15 Full class discussion of issues and whatnot
12:50-12:55 Housekeeping & announcements
Betancourt leaving around 14:30
Need a GIS lead for each team
James Buzzard Leadership Program (10 minutes)
12:55-13:05 Hannah Miller, Environmental Sciences - Slide Deck
Reflection & Evaluation (35 minutes)
13:05-13:15 Hess to describe
13:15-13:35 Review Reflection & Evaluation 2026 - DRAFT document (Course Information) - make comments and any suggestions for change. Feel free to ask me questions as you do this - either in the document or verbally (call me over). I'll work on things live as you enter, as fast as I can, and will finish this week.
13:35-13:45 Class discussion as needed
Open House Date
Here's the basic format, using the afternoon time slot we chose last year. Some people came in at 11:30 to help set up. If you chose the morning slot, the start time would be 08:30 ending by 11, with some people coming in at 08:00 for setup.
The choices are ...
Th 04.30 08:30-11:00 - first day of exams, early morning
W 05.06 Noon-14:30 - last day of exams, mid-afternoon
Vote using this form some time during class (right now would be perfect)
Project Development
Continue working on your project worksheets and one-pages. Hess & Betancourt will wander the room to ask and answer questions.
15:35 Adjourn
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
We'll be doing a recon visit to Yates Mill Park next Wednesday - at least that's the plan, if the weather cooperates - so keep thinking about that. We're working on having some GIS / mapping / data collection guidance for you to practice when you're out there.
Any further comments on the reflection and self-eval document (QuickLinks / Course Information) please get done by F 01.30
Open House is ... Th 04.30 08:30-11:00 ... by a pretty overwhelming count (70%)
Students from Last Year
10:15-10:40
A few students from last year's class will visit to talk with you about the course and grading approaches. Hess & Betancourt will leave the room so you can talk freely. Only a summary of concerns will be reported to us.
Operating Principles (or whatever you decide to call them)
10:40-11:10 Past experience with teams ... and what you wish it had been like
(maybe 15 min) Groups develop list of team experiences and attributes they have experienced that helped or hindered the effective operation of a team (so basically create a helped column and a hindered column). As needed review summaries of Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team (see Week 1) and talk about whether and how you’ve experienced them during past projects, as well as anything you did to overcome them.
Now use this information to develop Operating Principles that will help our teams function more effectively. How should our teams operate? You can grab another easel sheet for that.
11:10 Class agreement on Operating Principles
One small group will speak first, then others will build on what they say – agreed on rules of operation wind up in the document linked above and in the QuickLinks
Someone(s) help me document these Operating Principles as we talk
Need a volunteer or two to clean this up by tomorrow (F 01.30) so we can use it for the Teamwork3 assignment.
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar
Above: Team Invasives & Species of Conservation Concern (that's a mouthful) on a reconnaissance visit to Historic Yates Mill County Park
Safety and public interactions
Recon at site
Planning - get one-pager to Wake; keep pushing the workplans
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Many groundhogs saw their shadows yesterday, but predictions are split.
Anyone doing the Krispy Kreme Challenge this coming weekend (Sa 02.07)?
Need a leader / spokesperson for each team - lots of communication already, so it is time!
The revised Reflection & Evaluation document is now available in the Course Information folder - use the one called "Reflection & Evaluation 2026 - USE THIS VERSION." There is also a version with all of your comments intact in the folder, in case you want to refer (Reflection & Evaluation 2026 - DRAFT WITH COMMENTS).
You will be outside for around 2 hours tomorrow - chance of rain, high 47F - dress accordingly!
I've started moving the past weeks of the class to the bottom of the web page so you don't have to scroll through all of that
10:20 Review equipment room instructions (QuickLinks)
10:25 Safety & Public Interactions (Quick Links)
10:40 Work time
Prep for tomorrow's recon visit - what do you want to accomplish? Do you need any equipment? If you need equipmenet you need to eMail Ried Pitts TODAY and arrange for pickup within his schedule.
Finish One-pagers for review by Wake County. Goal is to send these to Wake County no later than Thursday. Brief but complete. Please use some narrative - not just bullet points. I've left comments on all.
Continue completing and fleshing out your worksheet. Include placeholders for things that you know you have to do, even if you don't know how to do them yet.
You will be outside for around 2 hours - chance of rain, high 47F - dress accordingly!
12:50 Depart from parking lot by Hodges Lab, behind Biltmore Hall for Crowder Park.
13:10 Arrive Yates Park
Now that we have preliminary plans, it's time to revisit the site to help you assess the viability of your plan.
We'll also have some mapping / data collection guidance and questions for you to work through
15:10 (latest) Depart for NC State
10:15-10:20 Housekeeping & announcements
Betancourt out today
If you were not online Tuesday and did not hear my talk about Safety & Publish Interactions (QuickLinks), please watch this video (20min)
10:20 DeBrief from yesterday - what did we learn?
Boundary issues
10:35 Work session
Hess will visit with teams
11:10 Team spokesperson meetings with Hess
Determine if we're ready for fieldwork next week
Be sure to check Assignment Calendar
