Teachers, please read through this information thoroughly, even if you are a veteran of these field trips.
First, thank you for participating in the Bobcat Ridge 4th grade field trip. We look forward to meeting you and your students. This page contains useful information about your field trip including what to expect during the field trip, what you need to bring, and how to get to Bobcat Ridge. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Stafford at [email protected].
About Your Field Trip
Field Trip Instructors
Your instructors for the Bobcat Ridge portion of your field trip are CSU students that have been selected to be a part of the D.R. and Ginny Pulliam Scholars Program. Through this program, selected students take two courses on environmental education and leadership, teach your students at Bobcat Ridge, and mentor high school students through science projects. Your instructors have received training on the lesson plan for the field trip and, throughout the year, receive instruction and practice in environmental education best practices, group management, age appropriateness, state standards, lesson planning, and more. We ask you to keep in mind that these students are growing as educators. Please take the time to fill out the evaluation form that was emailed to you by Ashley Reuter. Thank you in advance for supporting this program and these future educators.
What You Will Do on Your Field Trip
Upon arriving at Bobcat Ridge, you will be greeted by your instructors in the bus parking area. One instructor will briefly talk to teachers and chaperones about how they can be helpful during the field trip. Another instructor will welcome your students and introduce the day. Your students will then be split into their preassigned groups and an instructor will begin the field trip with each group. We will break from about 11-11:45am for lunch. Activities with instructors will resume at 11:45am.
While visiting Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, students will:
- Identify plants and animals that live at Bobcat Ridge.
- Identify and describe structures of plants and animals that live at Bobcat Ridge and their functions.
- Define adaptation.
- Identify the three geologic formations that make-up Bobcat Ridge.
- Identify geologic features of Bobcat Ridge using a topographic map.
- Make hypotheses on species abundance and diversity using a topographic map.
- Model interactions between biotic and abiotic components of the environment.
How to Prepare For Your Field Trip
Directions to Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
Bobcat Ridge’s address is 10184 West County Road 32C, Loveland. From Loveland, go west on Highway 34 about 4.5 miles west of Wilson Avenue. Turn north on CR 27 by Big Thompson Elementary and drive 4.5 miles. Turn left on CR 32C and go 1 mile west to the Bobcat Ridge parking lot.
What to Bring
Please have students bring/wear the following:
- a name tag
- close-toed shoes
- weather appropriate clothing
- a sack lunch
- a full water bottle (there is no potable water at Bobcat Ridge)
- a backpack
How to Prepare Your Students
Please split each class of students into two groups.
**Stay tuned for any pre-trip activities.**
How to Prepare Your Chaperones
Chaperones play an important role during the Bobcat Ridge field trip. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
We ask that chaperones help us keep students engaged and excited about what they are learning at Bobcat Ridge. This may include doing the following:
- Supervising a group of students during a group activity
- Encouraging curiosity by asking students questions about what they are learning
- Acting as boundaries in activities or games
- Helping the educator encourage/enforce respectful behavior
- If they have a child on the field trip, encouraging them to stay in their peer group
Field Trip Schedule
New this year – You will spend the entire day at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Below is a general schedule of your field trip day.
Post-trip Activities
***Stay tuned. This section will be updated as this year’s scholars learn how to write lesson plans.***
Other Logistics
Please note that if there has been recent rain or snowmelt, Bobcat Ridge may close to all use. If this is the case, you will be notified by Ashley Reuter that your field trip needs to be cancelled. In addition, if the forecast looks iffy for the day of your field trip, Ashley Reuter will be in contact with you and you will make a decision on whether or not to continue with the field trip. Our instructors are ready to teach in any weather (aside from lightning); we leave the decision to come or not up to you as you know your students better than we do.
Although some areas of Bobcat Ridge are wheelchair accessible, much of it is not. Please contact Nicole Stafford at [email protected] ahead of time to discuss any special needs your group may have.
Your instructors will have most standard first aid supplies on hand, but please be sure to bring any medications your students need.
Learn more about Bobcat Ridge Natural Area.