Tag Archives: Ann Arbor

A new group of Earth Campers! Michigan 2018

After a week in Wyoming with our Earth Camp veterans, it was time to welcome a new class to Ann Arbor for their first summer experience. After checking into the dorms, we got right to work getting to know each other during the low-ropes course and climbing wall activity at the U-M Challenge Program.

Day 2 – We focused on water quality today – comparing macroinvertebrate distribution and chemistry in two different water bodies (macroinvertebrates are a proxy for stream health), then headed out on the Huron River in kayaks to explore and enjoy the resource we just studied.

Day 3 – We spent our last day in Ann Arbor on campus. Students built solar cells in the morning and used GPS units to find their way around campus on a scavenger hunt. We had a special treat when our Michigan-bound Earth Camp alumni on campus before their freshman fall semester joined us for lunch.

Day 4 – We left for the west side of Michigan to see and explore the sand dunes and Lake Michigan – this was the first time for many of our students visiting the sand dunes, and for some, hanging out on the beaches of one of our 4 Great Lakes. We started with a dune ride to cover a larger area than we can on foot, then headed up north and promptly got in the (cold!) water – lots of fun on the beach and walk out to the lighthouse.

Day 5 – We lucked out with weather – it was gorgeous our whole time up north. We mapped Sleeping Bear Dunes, took measurements to create beach profiles, and ended the night with a bonfire on the beach. Another great trip with a superb group of new students – excited to explore and learn more in the future with them!

Earth Camp 2015 – Day 3 (Ann Arbor)

We had another great day today. The students spent the day with Danielle and David (two of our instructors) building and testing titanium-dioxide nanocrystalline solar cells.

Prof. Adam Simon stopped by to talk to them about his research of rare earth metals (the kind needed to make solar cells) and gave a tour of his laboratory.

Lastly, the students got a chance to explore the Big House.

Another great day – we are looking forward to Sleeping Bear Dunes tomorrow!

Earth Camp 2015 – Day 2 (Ann Arbor)

Today the students had an action-packed day focusing on water quality. They visited two sites in Ann Arbor to get wet and muddy collecting macroinvertebrates – small organisms that live in the mud, like: snails, leeches, aquatic worms, mayfly larva, damselfly larva, and others.

Some of these organisms can tolerate polluted waters and others can’t. One of our sites was a low pollution site and the other was not as healthy. They were able to use the presence and abundance of these macroinvertebrates to learn about each location’s water quality. They also used chemistry sets to take water measurements to add to their knowledge of the overall water’s health.

After that they toured Prof. Gregory Dick’s lab at U-M who discussed his environmental microbiology work on the harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.

They finished the day kayaking the Huron River – the source of Ann Arbor’s drinking water. They all went through “The Cascades” – a series of shoots as the water level drops rapidly in the river.

Another great day with a great group of students!

Earth Camp 2015 – Day 1 (Ann Arbor)

Welcome to Earth Camp 2015. We have an exciting week of hands-on, earth science activities for our group of 10th graders.

Today the students spent the morning at the U-M Challenge Course on the low ropes course and climbing “The Wall”. Later, they came to Nicholas Arboretum (part of the University of Michigan campus) to use U-M’s seismic equipment and our newly acquired drone.

They learned about seismic profiles and how to apply Snell’s Law to seismic data to determine the depth to the rock layer below the surface of the Earth. They then had the opportunity to put what they had just learned to good use by using the seismic equipment to create their own mini “seismic-event” (like an earthquake, but only as powerful as the sledgehammer they wielded!) and used the real-time data to calculate how far the solid rock was below the surface (above this solid rock would be soil). They could also determine from their calculations of seismic wave velocities what type of rock it is.

Additionally, they sent up the drone with the GoPro attached and got to pilot it around. We got a lot of great footage, despite a few near misses with the trees.

It was a great first day – we are very excited about the upcoming week. This group of students is top notch and we look forward to spending more time with them.