Teacher Training Field Reports

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:39PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Tuesday, July 17, 2001 Anthropology Exhibit: Two femurs from a female human were found in Arlington Canyon on Santa Rosa Island. These 14,000 old bones are the oldest human remains found in North America. 14,000 years ago, North America was still covered with too much ice to allow humans to cross the land bridge. It is now believed people came to North America by watercraft, and settled along California. Different settlements would account for the 60 different languages among the California Native Americans. button The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has the second largest collections of baskets made by the Chumash. button One basket, decorated with images copied from Spanish coins, was made as a gift for the governor of Mexico. A dedication was later added to the rim. . Tuesday, July 17, 2001

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:42PM PST (-0800 GMT)
button One of the unique characteristics of the Chumash basket is that baskets were made always coiling to the right. The plant used for the structure of all Chumash baskets was the juncus plant. The black coloring used to create the stylized designs was made by burying the harvested juncus in mud. The darker brown coloring comes from the lower portion of the juncus. ..

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:43PM PST (-0800 GMT)

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:44PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr. Johnson took us to the storage area where we saw the seven baskets that the museum wishes to purchase from a private party. The acquisition of these baskets will make the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum's collection of Chumash baskets the largest in the world.

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:46PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Destination 2 Lotusland (Lotusland Internet site: --www.lotusland.org) www.lotusland.org Latitude 34.44285 Longitude -119.65805 …… Thursday, July 19, 2001 Lotusland, located on 37 acres in Montecito, is a unique, botanical garden. The Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation maintains Lotusland. The objectives of the school outreach program are to teach children the vocabulary and concepts of plants, the importance of a self-sustaining garden, and to introduce the beauty and magic of Lotusland. ……….. Madame Ganna Walska, (1887 - 1984), an opera singer, designed the 15+ individual theme gardens at Lotusland as a living stage for herself. Madame Walska, who liked the extraordinary and the bizarre, spent the last 40 years of her life collecting rare and unusual plants. If she saw a plant and statuary that she wanted in someone's yard, she would have her chauffeur barter with the owners for purchase. She lined her paths with the green slag glass left from the manufacturing of the Arrowhead Water bottles. Her garden stage has statues that she had buried in manure for safety in France during World War II. ……… . Madame Walska chose to showcase the rare and unusual plants; thus, creating gardens that were very different from other public viewing gardens. The swimming pool was filled in and planted with lotus. The lotus flowers were white, tinged with yellow or pink and having leaves the size of large pizzas. The walkway to the house was lined on one side with New World cacti and the other side with Old World euphorbia. The crescent shaped pool in the aloe garden is outlined with abalone shells designed in open and closed lotus flower shapes. The hedges in the theatre were planted to form the off stage curtains. The Cycad Garden has the second largest collection of cycads, plants that were on the earth when dinosaurs roamed.

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:47PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Pictured are the rarest cycads and now extinct in the wild, Encephalartos woodii.

J. Gallatin/Madison School: . . . . Tue, Aug 28, 4:47PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Lotusland is preserving some of the most unusual and endangered plants, and is educating the public about these exotic plants. The Foundation is striving to make the gardens self-sustaining by eliminating the use of chemicals. Lotusland is a unique botanical garden, working to conserve plants and to teach the public about the importance of plants to our world.

Gaby: . . . . Wed, Aug 29, 8:11PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The mission of Santa Barbara, founded in 1786, is built in several distinctly different styles. The church and its façade have Greek style architecture, which Padre Antonio Ripoll and his helpers copied from an architectural book by Vetruvious, written around 25 B.C. The long row of arches, which are the front to the museum and gift shop today are much more simple adobe buildings, of Spanish or Roman influence. The fountain in front of the mission is built in the Moorish style…………………Many different hands achieved the actual work of building the many different styles of the mission. Jose Antonio Ramirez, who also worked at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, was the master mason. The three stone statues, which adorn the front of the church represent Santa Barbara, and the virtues of faith and charity, were carved by a mission Indian from pictures in a book……………Fans of Karana, the Indian woman who survived 18 years on the island of San Nicolas, dramatized by Scott O'Dell in, Island of the Blue Dolphins, can see a plaque commemorating her by the gate leading out of the cemetery at Mission Santa Barbara. It says, "Juana Maria Indian woman abandoned on San Nicolas Island eighteen years found and brought to Santa Barbara by Capt. George Nidever in 1853 Daughters of the American Revolution 1928"…………………….The latitude and longitude of the mission are N 34.43785° and W - 119.71324°………………….More information about Mission Santa Barbara is at: button

Gaby: . . . . Wed, Aug 29, 8:30PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Casa de la Guerra was the house of Presidio Commandante José de la Guerra. Built in the 1820s, it was a hub of political economic and social life in the pueblo of Santa Barbara. Although it was remodeled, and its original style changed over the years, it has recently been restored, using sophisticated methods, such as x-raying the walls to determine their composition and likely original construction. Inside the rooms, which are laid out in the typical plaza shape of three sides of a square, are surviving articles of the de la Guerra family's possessions. There is a child's wooden rocking horse, a delicate and intricate sewing table with little compartments for various notions, portraits of the family, furniture and many other things, which help to illustrate a story of pueblo life. The family loved beautiful objects as art and as craft. Even the brass door handle is sculpted as a dolphin or sea creature. ……………Richard Henry Dana Jr., author of Two Years Before the Mast, was a guest at the casa Jan 10, 1836. He was there during the occasion of the wedding of "Doña Anneta de G- de N-y C-, youngest daughter of Don Antonio N-" He describes the bride going to the mission church in black and then emerging an hour later dressed in white with the bridegroom, and how his ship delivered a 23 gun salute which, "…we thought was pretty well-a gun every fifteen seconds-for a merchantman with only four guns and a dozen or twenty men."…………………..Visiting the casa in its restored condition can feel like a trip back in time. That dimension only, separates you from the revelers that Dana describes in his book, everything else is the same. "The bride's father's house was the principle one in the place, with a large court in front, on which a tent was built capable of containing several hundred people. As we drew near we heard the accustomed sound of violins and guitars, and saw a great motion of people within. Going in, we found nearly all the people of the town-men, women, and children-collected and crowded together, leaving barely room for the dancers…. The latitude and longitude of the Casa de la Guerra are: N34.42039° W-119.69909°……………………..The casa is managed by the Santa Barbara Historic Trust, which can be contacted at http://sbht@rain.org . More information can be found about this period of California's history at: button

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:04AM PST (-0800 GMT)
On Tuesday, July 17, we went to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. www.sbnature.org There were several areas of interest to me in exploring life in early California. I am especially fascinated with the Pygmy Mammoth… As a child I felt that everything that had been discovered about prehistoric life was complete. I was always disappointed that there was not much written about the discoveries in the United States. The discovery of the Pygmy Mammoth has made me realize the dynamics of the study of paleontology and anthropology. It is speculated that the mammoths swam to the islands during the time before glaciers began to melt about 40,000 years ago. button Perhaps they were enticed to the islands by the scent of vegetation. At that time the Channel Islands formed one large island referred to as Santarosae.

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:08AM PST (-0800 GMT)
button The distance between the mainland and the island was, perhaps, only about ten miles. During the period between 40,000 years ago and 10,000 years ago, the mammoth underwent a change in size. It is interesting to look at the timeline to see when the first human life is evident as compared to the age of the Pygmy Mammoth remains. The age of the last Pygmy Mammoth bones discovered are about as old the oldest human bones that have been discovered.

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:11AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Destination 2 Lotusland button Latitude 34.44285 ……………………….. Longitude -119.65805 ……………………. Lotusland, located on 37 acres in Montecito near the city of Santa Barbara, is a unique, botanical garden. The Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation maintains the estate and preserves the rare plants while providing tours, workshops and lectures, a docent-training program, and an intern training in horticulture. A school outreach program provides tours for fourth grade classes. The objectives are to teach children vocabulary and concepts of plants, to show the importance of a sustainable garden to the preservation and cultivation of plants, and to introduce the beauty and magic of Lotusland. …As explained by the docent, sustainable gardens are protected from insects and disease by using natural methods to produce strong resistant plants. Composting various organic materials provides a means to reach this goal. button

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:13AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Madame Ganna Walska, (1887 - 1984), designed the 15+ individual theme gardens at Lotusland as a living stage for herself. Madame Walska was once a famous Polish opera singer. She achieved her wealth from marrying six husbands. Madame Walska, who liked the extraordinary and the bizarre, spent the last 40 years of her life collecting and cultivating rare and unusual plants. The gardens are as unique as Madame Walska, who referred to herself as the enemy of the average. Lotusland gets its name from a swimming pool that was filled in and planted with lotus plants. She was very direct about her wants and because of her wealth was able to realize her visions. She had all that money could buy including statuary from neighbor's yards for which her chauffeur bartered.

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:14AM PST (-0800 GMT)
She was ahead of her time in recycling. She utilized the green slag glass left from the manufacture of Arrowhead Water bottles by using it to line many of the pathways in the garden.

Lynda Bloomquist-Madison School: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 12:15AM PST (-0800 GMT)
One of the more enchanting areas is a garden laid out like a theater. Her garden stage has statues that she had buried in manure for safety in France during World War II. The hedges in the theatre are planted to form the off stage curtains, while there are benches for the audience. …………. Another area of interest is the walkway to the house that is lined on one side with New World cacti and the other side with the Old World counterpart, euphorbia. The crescent shaped pool in the aloe garden is outlined with abalone shells, designed in open and closed lotus flower shapes. The Cycad Garden has the second largest collection of cycads, plants that were on the earth at the time that dinosaurs roamed. Pictured below are rare cycads, Encephalartos woodii, which are now extinct in the wild. Lotusland with the support of the Foundation is preserving some of the most unusual and endangered plants, and educating the public about these exotic plants.

Patricia Shoenfeld: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 5:40PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Tuesday, July 17, Santa Barbara Museum Natural History, button Elevation 12 ft, latitude 34.44395, longitude 119.78819…………… The SBMNH offered a tremendous amount of insight into the history of Native Americans. While at the museum we were able to learn about the history of the Chumash Indian Tribes, and in fact were able to meet a Chumash decendant and learn a bit of history from her. She was teaching children about the Chumash in a summer program at the museum. The Museum has Chumash artifacts, including one of the largest Basket collections. We were also able to hear a recording by a Chumash woman to hear how their dialect sounded…………….. The museum also has a library, that is accessible to the public, and other displays throughout the museum. There was, at the time of my visit, an atrium for butterflies that you could go into and view the butterflies, up close and personal. I would recommend the museum to anyone who enjoys learning.

Patricia Schoenfeld @Hoover Elementary: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 5:44PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Thursday, July 19, Sea Center, ……………. The Sea Center provides a wonderful opportunity to gain "hands-on" experiences into oceanography. Our group had a private tour and we were able to touch and feel the sea life in the tank. They did mention that they rotate the sea life out as to keep stress to a minimum. The museum also offers classes for students that allow them to run tests in and around the water. We were able to conduct some of these tests to see how red the tide was, look at organisms in the water, figure out the depth of the ocean floor at a particular point, and use a microscope to look at some sea life up close and personal. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and the sea center was a great experience button ………………………………..

Patricia Schoenfeld @Hoover Elementary: . . . . Fri, Aug 31, 5:47PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Thursday, July 19, Maritime Museum, ……… The Maritime Museum was another fascinating place to visit. From start to finish there was a wealth of information and our guide was very nice. It was actually her first tour and she did a great job in providing information. The museum provides an opportunity to learn about California Maritime History. button The museum had displays that featured boats and ships, diving equipment through the years, and maritime disasters. ……….. The museum was also very kid-friendly in that it had an area set up for kids to explore and participate as well. The Museum is also continually looking to update and add to displays to make more available to the public.

J Perine Tulsa El. Fifth Grade: . . . . Sat, Sep 8, 7:01PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Field Report JoAnna Perine Fifth Grade Tulsa Elementary The Chumash Indians used the plentiful resources from their environment to build their homes, and to feed and cloth themselves. They not only had the resources from the ocean but they traded with other native people for seeds, tools, and resources that were not in their immediate environment. The Coastal Indians were able to build permanent settlements because they could depend on a permanent food supply, mild climate, and many natural resources that they used to construct shelter and clothing. After the arrival of the Europeans life for the Chumash changed dramatically. 1.Tule Reeds and other grasses were plentiful in the marshy coastal lands. How would you use this resource for tools and shelter? 2.The plant material in this photo is plentiful and the animals use it for shelter from their predators. How could the Indians use it for building huts or dwellings? 3.This photo was taken at San Juan Capistrano Mission Elevation 102 ft. North 33.50213 West 117.66261 How do you think these grasses were attached? What holds them up? Do you think this is a very strong structure? What do you think caused the holes in the stones in the fore ground? 4.We can see from this inside view of the hut that the plant material is woven very tightly. The Indians were expert at weaving. What do you think the opening at the top of the structure was for? 5.The Indians were not the only ones to use the plants creatively for tools and shelter. Do you see the bird’s nest attached to the palm leaf? The Hooded Oriole is a brightly colored yellow bird with a black throat and dark gray wings. This bird’s hanging, six-inch deep, pouch-like nest is very strong. It is made by the female who hatches 4-5 eggs in approximately two weeks. This photo was taken at the Buena Vista Nature Center. 6.Elevation 91ft North 33.50322 West 117.66310 Buena Vista Audubon Society’s Nature Center is located a few steps from the shore of Buena Vista Lagoon, and offers a variety of natural history experiences. This display shows the size of the marine sanctuary. 7.The Chumash Indians not only wove strong huts using reeds and grasses, but they were also well known for their tightly woven baskets. Some were woven so carefully that they were waterproof. Chumash baskets were highly prized in trade with other Indian groups. What do you think the Chumash traded their basket for? 8.Trading was important for all of the Coastal Indians. What kinds of seeds did the Island Chumash trade for? Do you remember the stone holes in front of the thatched hut? What do you think they did with the seeds that they traded for? Besides their prized baskets what else did the Island Chumash use for trade. Describe the “Hutash” What holiday do we celebrate that compares with the “Hutash”? button 9.Marshy areas where streams meet the shore, provide habitat and resting places for local and migrating sea and land birds such as the Blue Heron. It is one of the largest of the coastal birds. It has gray-blue plumage with red thighs. Herons build nests in high trees sometimes within sight of the city. The Chumash used the feathers of these magnificent birds in their clothing. 10.Notice the dagger-like yellow bill. Do you see how the eyes are positioned on either side of the head allowing the bird a wide viewing area for spotting its prey? Hunting herons will space themselves evenly in favorite hunting spots and they will strike out suddenly at prey below the water’s surface. The early ancestors may have learned their hunting techniques from this fascinating bird. 11.The islands and the marshes along the California coast provided a bounty of bird’s eggs that were just waiting to be gathered. Here is just a few of the eggs gathered around the Bjuena Vista Lagoon. 12.Animals such as this also live along the marshy wetlands and are easy to catch for food. 13.This animal is frequently seen scavenging the rivers and marshy areas along our coasts and interiors. 14.Recently scientists have discovered that Birds of Prey may be responsible for the near extinction of the Island Fox. Read more about this discovery in the Channel Island News. 15.Do you think the pups of this small animal would be easy pickings for large birds of prey? How can man save the Island Fox from permanent extinction? This photo was taken at the Channel Island Visitor Center in Ventura Elevation 15ft North 30.16325 West 117.35650 15.One of the most memorable natural sights of the Malibu Lagoon Teacher’s field trip was the air-borne hunting of the Brown Pelicans. After a flock spotted a school of fish, they would plunge headfirst into the water. After disappearing beneath the surface for a few instants, the pelicans then jolted back up to the water’s surface. This amazing bird opens its beak, expands its pouch and catches fish underwater. Its pouch holds up to four gallons of water which it drains before swallowing the fish. Anacapa Island is the major breeding ground of these unusual birds. Unlike the Brown Pelican, the American White Pelican in this photo forages on the surface of the water. It is larger than the Brown Pelican . Its body is all white, it has black wing tips and a large orange bill with yellow eyes. 16.Along with and abundance of animal and bird life the Chumash had many berries and roots to gather for food. The only fruit that grew along the coast was this cactus fruit. The Europeans brought the many kinds of fruits that grow in California today. 17.The Europeans brought a different way of life to the shores of California. Besides many different kinds of plants and animals that destroyed the native plants that the Indians depended upon, the Europeans brought disease that almost wiped out the Native populations. The Mission Period and The Rancho Period in California reduced the number of Chumash Indians that were able to survive without their life style. 18.How many Chumash were living on the mainland and on the islands when the Europeans arrived? What happened to almost bring their civilization to a close? button 19.The Language of the Chumash lives on in the names of places we are familiar with. What does the Indian word for Malibu “Humaliwo” mean? Find the meaning for the Indian word for Point Magu “Muwu” and the meaning of the Indian word for Pismo Beach “Pismu”. When we visit these places we are reminded of this once thriving civilization that lived in harmony with “mother earth” and took only what they needed to survive. Can we learn from them before it is too late for our “mother earth”? button

: . . . . Mon, Sep 10, 6:09PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The Indian Canyons are at the far end of Palm Canyon towards the moutains. The entrance to the canyons are through a toll booth ran by the Aqua Caliente Indians. Just past the toll booth is the road to Andreas Canyon, after turning right, the road heads up towards the palm trees. Aftter parking near a running stream, close to the trail head, a sign indicating the location of the indian grinding holes can be seen. On top of a large flatrock, are two grinding holes about 10inches in diameter. In generations past, the stream may have been much closer to the rocks, but it is difficult to say for sure.

: . . . . Mon, Sep 10, 6:10PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The trail along the stream is well marked with a slight grade, the large cotton wood trees and thirty foot palms kept the trail covered in shadows. Much of the landscape had been burnt at one time, indicating fires throughout the canyon. Large rock formations are on the N/E side of the trail and extend upward about 50-80’. A large number of small reptiles could be seen near the 1/4 mile mark, sun bathing on the rocks. Most of these lizards were 6” to 12” in lenght. The trail continues upward along the stream, lush vegetation grows near the edge of the stream. Away from the water, the catus and sage brush looks dry.

: . . . . Mon, Sep 10, 6:11PM PST (-0800 GMT)
While at the canyons we had the opportunity to talk to a park ranger. The Indian rock paintings are now off limits due to vandalism. Some of the sites that would be worth investigating, are sites where the villages once were located. These sites are about 4-5 miles up the Palm Canyon trail. Perhaps another day.

: . . . . Sat, Sep 15, 2:21PM PST (-0800 GMT)
What was the first creature was on erth?

cpaulson Tulsa Elem: . . . . Sun, Sep 16, 7:08PM PST (-0800 GMT)
For my field report I traveled to the visitor center of the Channel Islands National Park, which is located at Ventura Harbor. ( N 34.24846 W-118.26636) The visitor center is a wonderful resource for both students and teachers. There are exhibits on the various plants and animals indigenous to the Islands. There is also a recreation of a dig featuring the fossilized remains of a Pigmy Wooly Mammoth. At one end of the building is a tide pool area where the rangers give talks about the marine life of the Channel Islands. They also have a large auditorium where they show a movie giving an overview of the Channel Islands. The visitor center has many books, pamphlets, and posters. While I was there I purchased a wonderful poster of an aerial view of the islands for my classroom. The staff at the visitor center is very friendly and helpful. I was able to get a set of thirty newspapers with a wealth of information for no charge. Also when I mentioned that I was a teacher they gave me some wonderful pamphlets, which I have used to create a Camp Internet Channel Islands bulletin board. button

cpaulson Tulsa Elem: . . . . Sun, Sep 16, 7:10PM PST (-0800 GMT)

: . . . . Thu, Sep 20, 4:21PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center is the Los Angeles Unified School District 's residential science school located in the Angeles National Forest. Clear Creek stimulates students by providing experiential learning not available in the classroom. Students develop an appreciation of nature and their place in it as they hike in the forest, look through a telescope, or make friends with a snake.

Bowie Payne/ State Street: . . . . Thu, Sep 20, 4:22PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center is the Los Angeles Unified School District 's residential science school located in the Angeles National Forest. Clear Creek stimulates students by providing experiential learning not available in the classroom. Students develop an appreciation of nature and their place in it as they hike in the forest, look through a telescope, or make friends with a snake.

Norma Ramos, Rosie Elmore, Kahy Bates and Miguel Madrigal @ San Fernando Elementary: . . . . Sun, Oct 7, 2:12PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hello everyone! For our follow-up activity, we chose to visit the Chumash Interpretive Center in Thousand Oaks * The following is a list of questions that we focused on throughout our visit. 1) What is the latitude and longitude of the cultural center. N 344.21201 W 118.81292 2) What types of plants and wildlife can be seen on the nature trail? Plants: oak trees, elderberry trees, poison oak, purple sage Wildlife: rattle snakes, lizards, squirrels, birds, rabbits ( Also in the area are bobcats, mule deer and coyote) 3) What is the Chumash word for sweat house? Describe what it looks like. The work is Apayok. It is a round dome-like structure. There is a small low arched opening. Inside you can see sticks and grasses that were used to create the walls. There is a fire pit in the center. There is a hole in the ceiling for the smoke to leave. The ground is dirt, and on the exterior near the door there was some artwork. * 4) What is the Chumash name for the game field? What kind of games were played? The word is Mulamtepupi. One game that was played there was a hoop-and-pole game. A small hoop was rolled across the playing field. A boy would try to throw a pole or long stick through the moving hoop. This game helped the players strengthen their hunting skills. * 5) Describe the bedrock mortar station. What was this area used for? It was a large stone with a flat top. On top there were several basin-like holes carved into the surface of the rock. These holes were used by the Chumash to pound and grind acorn kernels to form a fine meal. The meal was washed in the rock. The acorn meal was later cooked into mush or baked to make bread. *

: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 3:38PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Field Report by Deborah Symons, Monte Vista Elementary School GPS Location N34.17255, W118.10597 In early September I visited the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, California. The institution founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, a wealthy businessman and visionary, has created one the nation’s great cultural and educational centers. Just roaming the many gardens could be a full day in itself. They cover 130 acres of the 207 acre grounds and consist of 15 specialized gardens. One of the most popular is the Desert Garden with a wide variety of cacti and succulent plants. Some cacti look so strange that it was hard to believe they were real! Across the grounds is another amazing garden, the Japanese Garden, which has a complete bonsai collection, a Zen tatami tea house, and a drum bridge. To fully experience the Rose Garden one must come during the Spring when they are in bloom. The Huntington boasts one of the largest rose collections in the country. The Library and museums have some exhibits that are permanent and others that are temporary. I spent most of my time in the special exhibit featuring literary works from throughout Western history which a focus on American pieces and finally California works. As a fourth grade teacher the California History was specifically of interest. The special exhibit started with an original Gutenberg Bible dating from 1455. The Gutenberg is known as the first substantial printed book with only 120 original copies. The hand done decoration on one of these books took approximately 3 years. The beginning of the exhibit also included Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer which colorfully tell of courtly romances, animal fables, sermons, and legends. Canterbury Tales were followed by some of the dark, ominous, serious vellum works of the Middle Ages which were all centered on messages from the Catholic Church. The literature from the Enlightenment period had an entirely different approach which questioned much of the assumed wisdom. The Renaissance piece by Vesalius featured an exploration of the human body in 1555. Starting the U.S. portion of the exhibit were some original maps used during the Revolution. Moving through American history there were letters from the 1840’s featuring correspondence between James Monroe, Abe Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. Finally, the exhibit narrowed down to texts specifically from California history. Manuscripts from Juan Bautista and reports concerning the state of Baja by Jose de Galvez in 1770 were displayed along with drawings of the area. Original photos dating back to 1887 of Native Americans were exhibited showing the "before" and "after" effects of the white settlers and missionaries on them. The before pictures showed long, tattered, dread lock hair with little or no clothing on. The after pictures had the Native Americans dressed in European stiff clothes with hair slickly styled. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the Huntington. It was a nice combination of leisurely walks and academic learning. I’d highly recommend a visit to the Huntington for both children and adults. If you go on the first Thursday of the month entrance is free!

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 5:53PM PST (-0800 GMT)
33.76116 Latitude 116.5498 Longitude Elevation 817 feet Although I had lived in the Coachella Valley for over 25 years, I had never before visited the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. I started with Andreas Canyon. At the trailhead I found grinding holes used by the early people. This must have been a location for the women to pass on oral traditions and stories to the Cahuilla children. indian_cyns01.JPG

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 5:54PM PST (-0800 GMT)
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J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:00PM PST (-0800 GMT)

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:04PM PST (-0800 GMT)
33.76096 116.5499 Although it was midsummer water was flowing through the canyon. A small pool had formed at the opening of the canyon.

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:08PM PST (-0800 GMT)
The mixture of plants, as well as rock formations, really held my attention. Besides this picture I took a lot of pictures of the rock formations. The canyon sides rose high above me. I could imagine being a child there and scampering up the rock wall. I couldn't help but look up each time I stopped for the view or a rest.....This is a great place.

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:10PM PST (-0800 GMT)
I followed the stream as I walked along the trail. It was very peaceful to stop and rest under the palm trees and sit next to the stream. I could just imagine living there many years ago and making a regular visit to this canyon to escape the heat. A dip in the stream would feel wonderful.

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:15PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Although I have visited Palm Springs and read signs pointing to the Indian Canyons, I could not believe they were there. The are located south of downtown and a few miles from the main road. Looking back down the valley I could see no signs of civilization.... Now I could really imagine being there many, many years ago.

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:20PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Most amazing of all was the palm trees that occur here naturally. They have withstood time,limited rainfall and the elements....Fire struck here many times as witnessed by this palm.

J Jones, Valley View: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 6:22PM PST (-0800 GMT)
My visit to Andreas Canyon had come to an end. I'm already planning my next visit to another of the beautiful canyons....Be sure to visit button and plan your trip to the Indian Canyons.

DGraver/Tulsa El.: . . . . Mon, Oct 29, 3:22PM PST (-0800 GMT)
For my field trip I traveled to Mission San Juan Capistrano. Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh mission founded November 1, 1776 by Fr. Junipero Serra. Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at the Corner of Ortega Highway & Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. These are the bells in the Mission San Juan Capistrano. What were these bells used for? This beautiful statue welcomes you to the mission. Who is the person in this statue? The Spanish padres and Native Americans used adobe to build the mission. What was adobe made out of? This is the grinding wheel at the mission. What was ground with this wheel? How was the wheel powered? button This is the official web site of Mission San Juan Capistrano. button Read more about California’s missions by reading the information at Camp Internet.

lmacias/tulsa: . . . . Mon, Oct 29, 3:32PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Lisa Marie Macias, Tulsa Street Virtual Field Trip The California coast is alive with a huge number of interesting bird species. The Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad, California is a wonderful place to observe native and migratory birds. (N 33.50322 W117.66310) Elevation 91feet. Grasses like these along the California coast provide much food and shelter for many of our local birds as well as for many migratory birds. The Chumash Indians also used the tall grass to make baskets and sandals. This is a painting of a migrating Tern. Terns lay their eggs near the California coast. Unfortunately, some tern species are becoming endangered. The natural areas where the Tern lay their eggs are being taken over by people. As people build more condominiums and stores, the Tern have less opportunity to lay their eggs. Luckily, new laws are protecting these endangered birds. Who do you think built these homes? What “tools” did these birds use? What natural resources could you use to build yourself a home? The red-winged woodpecker builds its home in trees. Why would it choose to build its home in a tree? button Read about an endangered bird in another state. How is this bird like the Tern bird? button Can you find information about another endangered bird of prey?

MTurner/ Tulsa: . . . . Mon, Oct 29, 3:46PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Below are some photos of our San Juan Capistrano Mission learning experience. We were studying the mission lifestyles and the effect that the environment had on how both the Indians and the Spaniards lived. We especially focused on the religious aspects of the mission, the simplicity of mission life, and how this connected to both the environment and Christianity. One of the topics that arose in our discussions was the control that the missions had over the Indians. My students, on the other hand, began to look for ways in which the Indians had some type of influence over the Spanish. While looking at these pictures can you find any of these themes that we have discussed? These photos were taken at the San Juan Capistrano Mission (elevation 102ft, North 33.50213 West 117.66261. What can you tell about a padre’s style of life by looking at this picture? As you are looking at the padre’s room, please notice that his room is not occupied with many material objects other than those that are necessary. Which objects in this room do you think were more/less important to the padre? Why? How is this padre’s room different from your room at home? This is another room from the San Juan Capistrano mission. The room gives you a good example of what resources were available to both the Indians and the Spaniards who lived on or around the mission. The furniture is made of wood while the adobe walls provide the people who lived there with natural insulation. The floor rug is made of wool taken from sheep. The pots and vases found in the corner and on the shelves were made of clay. Finally, please notice the religious artifacts (the cross and painting) that support the religious ideas and beliefs of the mission. Again, the padre’s bed gives you a good idea of how important natural resources were to the people living in this environment. This is a practical bed made of both wood and leather that were readily available to both the Indians and the Spanish. Our theme of religion and humility can be seen through the simplicity of the room and the bible sitting on the stump next to the bed. Do you happen to notice anything missing from the bed? Well, if you thought of the mattress, you were right! What do you think the mattress was made of (hint: try to think of another natural resource.)? I hope you said feathers, and if you did, then give yourself a pat on the back. Hmmm, good. I guess you could say that this is a feast fit for a padre. Take a close look at the table and see what types of foods the padres ate and what types of utensils they used for eating. Which foods can you see on the table? Do you think these are typical foods of California or of Spain? The cooking and eating utensils you see in the photo might look like something you can find in your kitchen at home. Can you find any similarities or differences? Well, for one, the utensils in the picture are made of wood, silver, and clay. The utensils in your house might be different because they are often made of rubber and other modern materials. Finally, if you notice the placemat and the dishes, you can see that the Indians and their designs had some influence on the Spaniards. For further research on this topic, connect to the link below and use it as your search engine to learn more about missions. button

mpapietro -tulsa: . . . . Mon, Oct 29, 4:02PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Field Report by Michele Papietro Tulsa Street School From the deep forest to the open country birds of prey soar down forage for food.These picture were taken at the Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center. Elevation 91 ft. North 33.50322 West 117.66310 Birds of prey: The Redtailed Hawk gets its name from its red tail. The American Kesterel is the smallest and most colorful of the North American Falcons. The Golden Eagle is found nearly everywhere in the United States. The habitats bald Eagles’ are near rivers,lakes or even seashores. Prairie Falcons feast on ground squirrels, prairie dog, lizards and birds. How is the diet of the baby bird different? Turkey Vultures are feeders that locate food by vision or smell. The Redshouldered Hawk does most of his hunting from a perch. This Hawk nests in mature trees, usually in oaks. Sharpskinned Hawks and Cooper’s Hawk have larger, narrower shoulders. Red – tailed Hawk is larger and lacks the tail banding. This Owl is about 18-25 inches from beak to tail. It hunts rabbits, rodents, birds, ducks and other Owls. Habit is varied from forest to arid deserts and wooded city parks, nesting in trees , caves on cliff ledges or on the ground. Go to this sight to found out more about the Great Horned Owl. button Get more information about the Red- Tailed Hawk button

A. Pitt-Tulsa-Room43: . . . . Mon, Oct 29, 4:07PM PST (-0800 GMT)
A. Pitt, Tulsa Street, Room 43 A main source of food for the Chumash was waterfowl. Also various types of bird eggs were gathered. There was a plentiful supply of seeds, roots and berries that allowed the Chumash to thrive along our California coast. Many waterfowl species are attracted to our California waterways because of the shelter and food that is still available. This is true in spite of the encroachment upon their sanctuary by humans and their housing developments. The Chumash took advantage of the migratory patterns of the local waterfowl. These birds returned each year to their local sanctuary for breeding. California’s coastal region has an abundant number of different waterfowls nesting in the area. Buena Vista Lagoon is home to these waterfowl. Notice the variety of waterfowl. How many different kinds can you find? This longneck goose in the foreground is impressive. These cattails are abundant and provide food and shelter for the migratory birds. button The lagoon is located: elevation 91ft., North 33.50322 West 117.66310, Buena Vista Lagoon, located in Carlsbad, California. Notice the homes built in the background. Man is encroaching on the migratory bird’s habitat. How will this impact the future of this sanctuary for future generations? button Canadian Geese stop here each year. button Canadian geese are interesting birds. button Mallard ducks are found in the Chumash region as well. button Mallard ducks are interesting birds.

renswick/humphreys magnet: . . . . Wed, Nov 7, 8:05PM PST (-0800 GMT)
G. Renswick from Humphreys Magnet Field Report: Watts Towers GIS: elevation: 56m N 33.94º W 118.24º The evening of September 27, 2001 brought the re-opening of the Watts Towers, a cultural and artistic landmark in Los Angeles. The Towers are located in a residential area, not usually known for its art. The Watts Towers and Watts Towers Arts Center are located at 1727 E. 107th Street in Los Angeles. button The Towers were built by Simon Rodia, a Watts resident, an immigrant, and artist from 1921 to 1954. Members of the Rodia family, along with James Hahn, the Mayor of Los Angeles, and well-known entertainers, the Watts Prophets heralded in the lighting ceremony of the retrofitted Towers, which had been closed to the public for 7 years. The Towers have a very interesting history. They have been praised and almost demolished since Mr. Rodia began building the structures, seventeen in all, from cement, rebar, glass, and ceramic pieces. The Towers are unusual due to the manner in which they were constructed. Today, a metal fence surrounds the Towers to deter vandalism. Here is a mini web-quest... Can you describe how the towers were made? button What country did Simon Rodia immigrate from? How tall is the highest tower? How much does a tour cost today to view the Towers inside of the fence? What famous architect is Simon Rodia often compared to? button button button button www.wattstowers.net Photos to follow once I figure out how to do it!!

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