Archive for the ‘Sabino Creek’ Tag
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists and Trainees Following the Carl “Bug Man” Olson Over Sabino Creek
If you feel like life if bugging’ you, it’s not the “bug man.” It’s more likely that you are suffering from “nature-deficit disorder,” something you will not have if you are spending time out in nature with the “creek critters.”
The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Nationalist (SCVN) thrive in natural environments and in being part of bonded social groups. Science continues to gather evidence for the benefits of living closer to nature. Most naturalists are well aware of the spiritual and mental sustenance obtained from spending time outdoors — now science is validating it. A few years ago, journalist Richard Louv wrote a book documenting the radical transformation of the culture in which American children grow up, a transformation in which “young people are being taught to avoid direct experience in nature.” (“Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder“) The SCVN mission is to help stop this transformation by promoting the value of learning from nature through activities and programs for children and adults.
To help the SCVN members better understand the aquatic habitats of insects and arachnids, Carl “Bug Man” Olson, Associate Curator, Insects, with the University of Arizona presented to the SCVN mentors and trainees at the Sabino Canyon Visitor’s Center, also down by Sabino Creek. Now I know such things as “The Katydid’s ears are on its legs.” And, “. . . that an insect with the congeal nickname of “kissing bug” could cause life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.”
Carl also lead us through a variation of the Creek Critters activity, which involves using nets and small dishes to gather some of the critters in the creek. The images in this posting are from Carl’s creekside discussion. There were plenty of bugs, but no one was “bugged” by the “bug man.”
kenne
Images by kenne
- SCVN Nature Walk #2 In Sabino Canyon (kenneturner.wordpress.com)
- Funnel-Web Spider: Part II (kenneturner.wordpress.com)
- You’re buggin’ me (gregtaylor.wordpress.com)
Naturalist, Gwen Swanson, Demonstrates “Panning” to Students — Image by kenne
The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) training includes many topics important to Sabino Canyon and the Santa Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona. One of the topics is the study of Earth’s history. Over time, the region has undergone geological changes that have made the canyon what it is today.
Yesterday, I observed fifth-graders participating in the SCVN activity, “Strike It Rich,” conducted by naturalist, Gwen Swanson. The creekside activity allows children to learn about difference between rocks and minerals by panning for garnets and magnetite in the sand, and the importance of water in forming the canyon.
One of the things unique about Sabino Canyon are its banded cliffs. Students learn that these beautiful formations are composed of a hard metamorphic rock called “gneiss,” which formed 1.5 billion years ago. In the Strike It Rich kit, students see example of minerals and gneiss. After the panning activity, the naturalist leads the students on a nature walk where they see the geology of the canyon, pointing out examples of gneiss.
kenne
Gwen Swanson Using a Magnet to Show That Magnetite in the Sand Along Sabino creek — Image by kenne
Gneiss Boulders Along Sabino Creek — Image taken in mid-September by kenne
Gwen Swanson Leading A Nature Walk Through The Riparian Area of Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
This was Sabino Creek on September 14th . . .
. . . this was Sabino Creek, October 27th. There was a nice flow after late monsoon rains in September, but as noted in this morning’s Arizona Daily Star, “A brief autumn dry-up of the stream is not uncommon after monsoon rains end. But this year’s rains were sketchy in the canyon, and the forecast shows no promise of moisture to turn the flow on again anytime soon.” (Click here to read more.)
The creek has been without a flow since mid-October, making it a little difficult for the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) to conduct one of their elementary school children activities, “Creek Critters,” this past week.
However, a few ponds of water remain, so the schedule of activities along the creek continued.
There was plenty of water for the kids to have fun learning about the unique aquatic and riparian habitats in a desert environment. Few things can out do a day in Sabino Canyon, water flowing or not!
I like going to Sabino Canyon —
I like going to Sabino Canyon,
a place to be with nature.
I like the people there,
sharing feelings with nature.
I like being able to see
the beauty of nature.
I like going to Sabino Canyon —
I like being able to reflect
on nature’s art.
I like close-up encounters
with all things natural.
I like capturing the moment
and drawing inspiration from nature.
I like going to Sabino Canyon —
I like learning new ways
to connect with nature.
I like getting to know myself
through the connections.
I like being surprised
by the wonders of nature.
I like going to Sabino Canyon —
I like the feeling of being alive
by walking with nature.
I like knowing that
forever is the life of nature.
I like knowing that
all that is is nature.
I like going to Sabino Canyon.
— kenne
(Images by kenne)
Sabino Canyon Dam — Image by kenne
Water has returned to Sabino Creek.
Life is refreshed in the canyon.
Gila chub fish swim in the pools.
Two girls slide on dam boulders.
Lushness is abundant in the desert.
kenne
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists and Trainees Following the Carl “Bug Man” Olson Over Sabino Creek
Images by kenne
