BY AMANDA PEVEY
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Last week two Stanhope Elmore High AP Environmental Science classes went to the Alabama Nature Center, located at the Alabama Wildlife Federation in Millbrook for a plant biodiversity field lab experiment away from the school campus.
Jennifer Daniels is the teacher for two AP Environmental Science classes, one AP Physics class, and one standard Environmental class. She has taught AP Environmental Science for two years.
Her first year teaching AP Environmental Science was during the COVID pandemic. She wasn’t able to bring the students out of the classroom for experiments due to COVID protocols that the school had in place until now.
Daniels said, “This year were able to do a total of four field trips for my students and they will all be at the Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook.” Daniels coordinated everything with Hollie Terry at AWF. Terry who has been with AWF for almost seven years and is the Director of School Programs.
Terry said, “My team and I are in charge of all the education programs, including field trips, the homeschool program, Nature on Wheels programs, volunteer program, education animals, and the seasonal naturalists that lead those programs.”
Assistant Principal Brad Mann accompanied Daniels on the September 29th field trip. Assistant Principal Michael Collins accompanied Daniels on the September 30th field trip. Also, Daniels invited Roger Birkhead on the September 30th field trip to assist the students. Birkhead is the Auburn University Science in Motion Biology Specialist. He knew everything about plant species and where they come from, sharing that knowledge with students.
Once the students arrived at the Alabama Nature Center complex, they were split into groups of three or four and then half of them went to the upland dry area, and the other half went to the wetland area. Each group had a Naturalist; Hollie Terry and Kristen Irions on the 29th, and Hollie Terry and Carol Alford on the 30th.
Both days they directed the students in the right direction of the area to work. in. The Naturalists were very helpful to the students if they needed any help. Once the students completed the assignment, they were all brought back to the classroom at the Alabama Nature Center.
Irions, an employee for AWF, taught the class on the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem on both days. Irions is the Assistant Director of school programs and an AL Master BeeKeeper.
Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms within a particular geographic area. The students sampled the biodiversity of plant species in natural areas. Once they gathered all of the information needed in the field, they took what they wrote back to the classroom to compare the biodiversity of plants from each of the different areas (hills vs. creeks).
The class calculated the biodiversity using the Simpson’s Diversity Index. One group of students went to the Hilltop Pass Trail, the dry area, and the other half went to the Cypress Creek Trail, the wetland area. All the students were able to have their cellphones with them for the plant biodiversity field lap trip. The students used the iNaturalist app to help identify species. They also spoke to the naturalists in their groups and Mr. Birkhead, the Biology Specialist, from Auburn University. Ms. Daniels and the Assistant Principals that came each day assisted the students as well.
Irions also gave a live animal demonstration for that each Ecosystem. She informed the class how to take care of the animal being in their own habitat. Irions brought out a frog, salamander, turtles, a small non-venomous snake, and a big black non-venomous friendly snake. Each of the students had the chance to touch a turtle or the snake with the assistance of Kelly LaFreniere, employee from AWF on the 29th and Hollie Terry on the 30th.
A few students spoke up and wanted to talk about their experience on this field trip. Stephanie Townley said, “I enjoyed the hike, but I do not like the spiders.”
Anna Wilson said, “I really enjoyed this field trip.”
Macaidyn Bradford said, “I love nature! Also, don’t wear sandals while hiking!”
Bella Barfoot touched a huge yellow and black spider and also picked up a wasp larva that was growing in an oak tree. She was not afraid at all.
This field trip was great for all students as they were able to get out of the classroom and learn more about plant life at the Alabama Nature Center.
The staff at AWF was amazing and very dedicated to what they do each day.
Principal Ewell Fuller said he has incredible teachers and assistant principals at his school. The students in the AP Environmental Science class did a superb job on this plant biodiversity field lab trip.
