National Geographic’s Maps: Tools for Adventure - Now open!

Maps are invaluable tools whether you are looking for adventure or just trying to find the nearest fast food. Many of our original maps were produced by brave explorers who ventured beyond their known world. Think about it: would you want to board a small ship to sail across an ocean when you had no idea how big the ocean was, how dangerous the journey would be, how long it might take or what you might find? In honor of these intrepid explorers, let’s look at some adventurous Virginians who challenged the unknown and explored the world.
Alexander Spotswood – born circa 1676 in Morocco
· Appointed Lt. Governor of Virginia colony; first to occupy Governor’s Mansion in Williamsburg
· Led Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition into Shenandoah Valley
· Founded German settlements to establish mining industry in Virginia
· Operated what was possibly the first colonial iron works
Meriwether Lewis – born August 18, 1774 in Albemarle County
· Part of Lewis and Clark team - made first US overland expedition to the Pacific Coast and back
· Expedition goal to get a sense of the Louisiana Purchase; US did not know what it was buying and France did not know what it was selling
· Produced the first accurate maps of Northwest US; brought back approximately 140 maps
· Collected information on natural resources; established relations with Native Americans
· Expedition laid the groundwork for US westward expansion
William Clark – born August 1, 1770 in Caroline County
· Part of Lewis and Clark team (see above)
Matthew Fontaine Maury – born January 14, 1806 in Spotsylvania County
· Nicknamed Pathfinder of the Seas and Father of Modern Oceanography
· US Naval career cut short by injury; became first superintendent of US Naval Observatory
· Studied ships’ logs and collected data on winds, calms, and ocean currents
· Convinced that ocean knowledge would improve only with international cooperation
· Advocated international system of land weather stations
· Launched American Association for the Advancement of Science
Richard Evelyn Byrd – born October 25, 1888 in Winchester
· First to fly over North Pole in 1926
· Made 5 expeditions to Antarctica
· First to fly over South Pole in 1929
· Did extensive exploration and mapping of Antarctica
· A plane from first Antarctic expedition displayed at Va. Aviation Museum

Day 4: Nature in the City

(Or, “another day, another macroinvertebrate”)

We loaded up and headed off deep into the wilds of… Alexandria.

Traffic wasn’t too bad! We made decent time getting to the Cameron Run, a 4th order stream in an industrial area with a LOT of human impacts. Think runoff and flooding, channelization, sewage and pollutants (ick.) But many of our fishies and bugs are resilient: even in these rather cruddy conditions, some organisms thrive.



Our first survey of the day was at a section of the Cameron Run between two railway bridges. The lower bridge has a definite Planet of the Apes post-apocalyptic feel, complete with overgrown vine-girded tunnels.



By now, everyone knows the routine. We suited up, grabbed gear, and hopped into the Cameron Run.


We electrofished.

We found lots of fish… there were many larger fish in this stream.

We measured and recorded physical and chemical characteristics.



We searched (and searched) for macroinvertebrates; we found lots of worms.


Oh, and we hung out under a bridge.

After visiting the animal shelter to avail ourselves of the restrooms (and to make goo-goo eyes at the kittens) we hopped into the truck and the van and headed for our second site, the 3rd-order Holmes Run.




This creek is in a park, but still has many of the same issues as the Cameron Run. There are sewage and storm drain outfalls dumping into it. Upstream, the banks are clad in concrete, turning the streambed into a giant culvert. The water here is smelly and the rocks are coated with algae.




We did shocking-ID-counting-measuring-recording-collecting. There are environmental problems in this waterway, but some animals can live here. This shallow, cobble-strewn creek just can’t support a very diverse community. We found just a few species of small fishes and inverts (Gene and I have found this pattern each time we’ve sampled this site!)

After packing up the gear for the last time, tired and grubby and hungry, we went to my favorite restaurant, El Tipico, for a late but well-appreciated lunch.


Terry is afraid that the starving Deborah may eat her...


Jeanine is having a cheese malfunction...


And Amy is just glad that she could wash the amoebas off her hands!

Another evening of talking and planning and sharing resources and stories… but for some reason we were all so exhausted that we headed off to bed by 10:00. Maybe it has something to do with staying up until after 1:00 the night before…?

Day Two:first day in the Field. Dana D'Agostino posting

Our first day in the field saw us piling into the caravan of vehicles, headed for Prince William Forest Park. We pulled off next to the stream and gathered our gear; waders, dip nets, pH meter, clipboards and the backpack electroshocker.

We trooped through the woods to our first test site; a third order stream. The weather was hot and humid, with a few clouds in the sky. We all made sure to cover ourselves with bug spray and sunscreen. Gene and his crew began our expedition by working downstream, shocking and collecting the fish.

Summer's group trailed behind, collecting physical parameters including stream depth, pH, stream width and stream flow. We recorded our data and moved downstream, collecting at three separate sites. While this site is considered "pristine", we made note of debris that littered the stream, including glass and plastic on the banks.

Everyone was fascinated by the variety of fish caught in our nets. Using the dip nets, we traipsed through the water, swishing and swirling, attempting to gather as many macroinvertebrates as we could. Specimens were transferred to collection jars, to be identified later.

Following a short break, we switched teams and began surveying a second order stream. It was interesting to note the difference in diversity between the two streams. Fewer species were found in the second order vs. the third order. The stream was also narrower and the flow was a bit slower.

By 12:30, we were ready to call it a day and head off in search of food. We went to Wegman's and indulged ourselves in the great variety of choices; sushi, pizza, subs, Chinese and Thai buffet, panini, salads, etc. Once our hunger was satiated, we piled back into the vehicles to return to our hotel.

In the breakfast room at the Holiday Inn, we laid out our tools to ID our macroinvertebrates. Pans, dissecting scopes, forceps and probes along with several liters of isopropyl alcohol. Specimens were sorted into trays and then identified with the aid of the dissecting scopes and Gene's expertise.

Dinner was at the local Mexican restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the tacos, burritos, enchiadas and salsa. Our waitress appeared to be a neophyte; she seemed flummoxed by the large group of people and kept running back and forth fetching ice and drinks and things she forgot.

Back to the hotel to listen to our guest speaker; Laura Grape from the North Virginia Regional Comission (http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?NID=8) She spoke to us about global warming and land use with an emphasis on sea level rise. How will residents deal with a projected rise in sea level of up to 5'? Will insurance rates rise so much that no one will be able to afford to live on the coastline? Will properties be abandoned as more and more coastline is gobbled up by the rising water levels?

After a verrrrry long day, we all bid each other good night and headed off to our respective rooms. Another long day awaited us in the morning and we needed to catch up on our sleep in order to be ready for more field work the next day.

Notes from Northern VA: Deborah and Terry reporting

A picture (or 5) really is worth a thousand words. Wish everyone could have seen the look on our faces when Dr. Maurakis (Gene) told us about the cautionary tales of those "brain eating amoeba" - Naegleria fowleri - that inhabit low level waters at temps of approx 78 degrees. Nice thoughts for our outing tomorrow and our introduction to electrofishing in Prince William Forest Park. Those pictures will certainly tell a story.

Today though we arrived (settled into our swanky new digs) and began to answer some of the aforementioned questions as to why we are here:

“I’m going to Woodbridge because I want to hang out with other teachers…” The best way to get to know each other was finding out what we already do by way of environmental studies and green practices personally & professionally. Steve takes the "less is best" approach by living in a one room studio where he has no trouble remembering to turn off the lights when he leaves a room & where he can't water a lawn b/c he doesn't have one.

“…and experience the natural world in a new way…” Today this meant viewing a turtle or catfish in a tank in one of our participant's labs (the rest of us can only dream of such a tank and lab in our schools) or eating lunch in the setting of a concrete courtyard? Where's the nature? Oh, we must be it. “I’ll spend a lot of time stuck in traffic…” Not today actually - everyone seemed to stay home b/c of the heat “and thinking about how I could use this mark and recapture lesson…” Can they eat the population? Only if they're the Goldfish that come in a cardboard carton….

“Dr. M’s study will establish a baseline for climate change…” that might include how to warm up a classroom designed for 30-40 students w/ only 12 people in it? “and I’ll get help from Summer to develop a proposal for my own study…” like a grant for a lab like Bryan's in the CENS (Center for Environmental and Natural Sciences!) “I’ll learn about so many things: fish and invertebrates and stream characteristics and maps and human impacts and”….and the brain eating amoeba.

“The best thing about this project will be (stuff) I’ll take home…” such as a planimeter for measuring distances of streams on a map…”and meeting new people, and free meals…" off to a great start w/ an excellent dinner out at Macaroni Grill & conversation ranging from experiences w/ students in environmental sciences - to the human impact of folks like Octomom and the Duggars - to the finer points of living w/ grizzlies and navigating NOVA traffic. “I’ll get resources…” such as a laminated/field tested Insect & Crustacean ID Card… “and I’ll do things I’ve never done before!” Like put ink dots on both sides of very small navy and pinto beans.

Above all else today we met Summer Schultz & Dr. Gene Maurakis, two scientists who truly are dedicated to their altruistic cause of providing information about the effects of climate change on our inland waterways. To make the cause even more worthwhile, they are willing to engage us as teachers in providing the tools for a whole new generation to keep up their work. Do they know what they're in for? They say teachers make the most challenging students. Do we know what we're in for? My guess is not a clue, judging by the first class treatment we have received. Could it be they are making these first impressions so positive so as to ward off any further misgivings we might have about standing about in water w/ electroshock sticks while avoiding droplets of amoeba contaminated water as we flee flailing from the stream? Stay tuned to see what answers tomorrow brings.

Deborah Andersen & Terry Milton

A picture is worth a thousand words

SMV is conducting a multi-year study of fishes and invertebrates. Yes, we’re collecting, identifying, and counting critters! But we’re also looking at the physical environment: water temperature, current, pH... all sorts of other factors that determine what critters live where.

OK, this is where I need to get a bit “wordy” to explain things. You see, one goal of this study is designing a mathematical model… basically, a computer program… that can predict what critters should be in a creek. Plug in your values for stream order, stream depth, etc etc… and wow, here’s a list of the fishes and inverts you’ll find!

Believe it or not, scientists get really excited about this type of modeling. A program like this could then predict how climate and ecosystem changes will play out in the future. In the midst of an epic drought? Tweak the input values for water temp and stream depth, and see what happens to your fish populations.

Of course, to build a realistic program, we need to look at data from more than one stream (we’re studying 21.) And we definitely need to consider how human factors (Storm runoff! Culverts! and dams! Oh my!) come into play. Which leads me, in my long-winded wordy way, to today’s pictures, courtesy of Google Earth.

Satellite view #1: half of our study sites are in this region





Satellite view # 2: and the other half are here!

Think we can get some good “human impact” data for our computer program?

“So, why are you going to Woodbridge….?” Or, what to tell your friends about your Field Study experience.

Between August 10 and August 14, 2009, ten brave Virginia educators will trek into the wilds of Northern Virginia with Dr. Maurakis and me. They’ll be participating in classes, labs, and field collections in streams and rivers… all in an effort to… well… do lots of things, actually. Check out this blog next week for pics and reports from the field. (No snow this time!)

In the meantime: for those ten intrepid pioneers who are having trouble explaining this project to friends and family, I have provided you with some possible answers to “So, tell me again why you’re going to Woodbridge for a week?”

Take your pick!

“I’m going to Woodbridge because I want to….”
a) learn how to design and conduct a research project
b) wear rubber pants in public… in a socially acceptable setting
c) hang out with other teachers and share ideas
d) experience the natural world in a new way

“I’ll spend a lot of time…”
a) in the water, collecting samples
b) stuck in traffic (this is Northern VA, baby!)
c) thinking about how I could use this “mark and recapture” lesson plan with my students
d) reminding myself “don’t put your hand in the water when the shocker’s on… don’t put your hand in the water when the shocker’s on…”

“This field study project is important because…”
a) I’ll be doing real science… Dr. M’s study will establish a baseline for climate change
b) I’ll get to work on my tan while I’m learning, oh, and we even get to watch some videos!
c) I’ll get help from Summer to develop a proposal for my own study
d) I’ll learn about so many things: fish and invertebrates and stream characteristics and maps and human impacts and….

“The best thing about this project will be…”
a) the scientific equipment, specimens, data, and technical knowledge I’ll take home
b) meeting new people, hanging out under bridges, and getting free meals for 5 days
c) I’ll get resources and materials to do some great work with my students
d) I’ll do things I’ve never done before!

Inspiration From Exploration: Notes From the Field
Céline Cousteau
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7 p.m.

Céline Cousteau tells captivating stories and shares personal photographs from her many incredible voyages into the world's oceans.

Advance tickets required: $20; $10 for museum members. Available online now or by calling (804) 864-1400 or 800-659-1727. Museum members, please call so that we can include your discount.

About Céline Cousteau

Whether she’s free-diving, horseback riding, leading an expedition to the peaks of the Andes, or swimming amid a school of sharks in the South Pacific, Céline Cousteau seeks to educate through adventure and exploration.Daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, Céline Cousteau is featured in PBS’ most successful new television series, "Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures."

Fluent in three languages, Cousteau has collaborated with her father's Ocean Futures Society promoting the educational program, "Ambassadors of the Environment," throughout her travels. She has worked on the preparation of expeditions, field production and as an on-camera presenter. Recently, Cousteau has worked on an upcoming documentary for Discovery Channel, aiding scientists conducting research on the many shark species of the Great Barrier Reef. She is also an international spokeswoman for La Prairie cosmetic company, representing their new line of Advanced Marine Biology creams and is ambassador to the Clean Up the World Campaign.

Passionate about intercultural relations, Cousteau received her master's degree in international and intercultural management from the School for International Training. She has worked for a number of prestigious organizations, from the University for Peace of United Nations to the Earth Council’s Earth Charter Project. Her most recent project is trying to bring medical attention to the indigenous people of the Vale do Javari reserve in Brazil.