Field Trips

Six terrestrial ecosystems combine with the riparian and aquatic ecosystems of the Niobrara to create a mix of plants and animals that exist together like nowhere else. This unit focuses on the ecology and biodiversity of the Niobrara River Valley. It contains a field experience component in addition to pre and post experience classroom work.

This lesson is designed to introduce Middle School level students to basic bird identification to some of the common, and a few rare but easily identified,birds and waterfowl found along and around the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Students will take a field trip to an area of the Niobrara River Valley. During the trip they will use observation techniques and complete a Sensory Observation Sheet and use those ideas to prepare a brochure for a vacation would be taken in the Niobrara River valley.

Students will read about the community of the Niobrara Valley prior to their field trip to develop an understanding of the significance of development and its co-existence with preservation of a natural resource. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the interrelationships contained in the river system by writing a descriptive essay based on an essay prompt of their choice.