I expect two different responses on this page. You will be responding to ONE of the following:
1. In three paragraphs, explain 3 significant aspects of the research you conducted on the Platte or Missouri River. These should be complete thoughts with each paragraph explaining a new aspect.
2. In three or MORE paragraphs, reflect on the camping trip to Indian Caves State Park. Your reflection should focus on YOUR experiences, such as hiking, backpack (difficulties or not), setting up camp, food, night hikes, caves, river, CARLOS, haunted hay rack ride, fire, sleeping, owls, boat ramp, etc.
I will say that the trip was a very fun and relaxing adventure. Thank you all for attending and making the outdoor experience part of your educational experience.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bittle
Missouri River Research Paper
ReplyDeleteThis was a significant thing to research because it taught me about the river itself and how over time things have been happening to and around the river. When the river was first established there wasnt much pollution to it, and there wasnt a lot of new technology.
After the great depression things started to improve with the way of life. Irrigation became a giant part of life so a lot of the river began to be diverted towards the irrigation systems. About 90% of all the water that is diverted away from the river is used for the irrigation system.
The pollution is very scary in the Missouri River, theres pollution from the sewage systems around, from run off from the farm lands around and from the industries around or near the river. The river is a giant pollutant now, because of everything that is being washed down into it. The normal wetlands are now dieing because the pollutants in the water are killing it. Also the fish population has declined extremely over the last five years. With the new dams that they are putting on the river, there are deep water resivours that things get caught in and sit in.. this is bad because it used to be free flowing water so now the eco system has changed and that is hard to do for most organisms.
This river has became very dangerous. I forgot what the the list was called, but it was about rivers being in danger.. and this river is now on it. I think that with the technology we have achieved over the last few years that we should be able to do something about the water, and the pollutants being pushed in the water.
The camping trip was fun and painful. Backpacking was honestly the WORST thing I have ever done in relation to camping. EVER. The extra weight put way too much strain on my ankles, knees and hips so I know I probably shouldn’t backpack again. Another issue was the freezing cold and lack of sleep. I have weird enough sleep patterns so that messed me up quite a bit too.
ReplyDeleteI did love getting to immerse myself in nature. Apparently “Carlos” (the skunk) got rather close to me our first night/early morning of the second day when I fell asleep by the fire. I really don’t mind skunks except when people scream and freak out about them. Just be quiet and calm and don’t startle it and it won’t spray you. I would’ve rather moved camp to at least TRY to get away from the skunks simply because I can’t stand the smell if they do spray. It gives me migraines.
Fishing was interesting and I was sad that we didn’t catch anything. I brought some of my grandfather’s special fish fry coating in a little plastic baggie so that was a disappointment. The Indian Caves (NOT A CAVE) was really neat to see but it is sad that so many people have carved their own names into the rock, possibly destroying the carvings left by natives as they used the rocky outcrop for shelter.
Overall it was a good experience but not one I would want to do again, at least at that pace. I don’t mind “roughing it” but when my legs get screwed up I can’t do anything fun. I really would have loved to play ultimate Frisbee or just do more than sit around majority of the time. I wish I hadn’t lost that walking stick. It was pretty cool once I whittled it all down. (With Cole’s help since he got bored and had a better knife.)
Thank you Mr. Bittle for taking out the extra time to take us on this trip and putting up with my whining. I know you don’t get any leave or extra pay for this but it really was cool. The haunted hay-rack ride was a fun bonus.
I researched the Missouri River for my assignment. During my research I discovered that the Missouri River is the third longest river in the world, because its source is in Montana and it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. I was unaware of this fact before conducting my research. I also learned the flow of the Missouri River fluctuates greatly from year to year, and it may have a different average discharge in one location than it does in another.
ReplyDeleteI also learned that the Platte River, which is a major tributary of the Missouri River, is responsible for most of Nebraska’s irrigation. Farmers first constructed irrigation ditches in Nebraska around 1856 since our state’s economy is largely dependent upon agriculture. Because the Platte is too shallow for navigation, it is mainly a source of drinking water and recreation.
Another interesting aspect of the Missouri River system is that over 18 million people are dependent upon it for their water supply. It is also a vital component to our nation’s economy because around 60% of the U.S.’s grain exports are shipped through its waters. It also generates a substantial sum of $3 million from recreational activities alone, mainly fishing. Before conducting this research, I never truly realizes how important this river is to the success and health of our country.
Going on the camping trip was a very fun experience. It will be a memory that i wont forget. I haven't been able to go outside as much as i would like to. I am for sure going to go camping more in the future. I enjoyed everything on the camping trip, from the hiking, to the fire, and even Carlos. It was very fun. Next time tho ill bring more clothes its got a little cold outside. My favorite part tho was fishing in the Missouri River and learning how to make trotline. I go fishing a lot and that is a technique i will use next time im on a big lake. The night hikes were also very fun, and getting to adjust to night time was cool. The food was good too. I really liked the red beans and rice i wish we would of made more. Also to make sure that we clean up everything so wild animals like Carlos wont show up on campsites. Indian Caves really cool too. All and all i enjoyed the trip. One thing i didnt enjoy was the haunted hay rack ride. Thats not my kind of ride. Finding wood and cutting down trees was fun. Lots of fire wood and kept us warm.
ReplyDeleteThe Missouri River:
ReplyDelete>In my research on the Missouri River i found that humans have a huge impact on the flow and the different sizes and depths of river's. In my research i found that humans have built many dams and levees in the Missouri River to control the depth and the different ways of flow of the river. All of the work that they have done on the Missouri River has shortened it by 199 miles since the 70's. Making the Missouri River the sixth longest in the United States.
>The Missouri River is currently used to Transport things such as, wheat and gravel on very large barges. But the Missouri River's use has been cut down a lot in the last few years because of the water levels and the ability of large barges to fit through the different depths and areas of the Missouri River. Nearly 10 million people live along the Missouri River Basin today.
>Some of the very first people to live and use the Missouri River were many different tribes of Indians, the Indians used the river not only as a source of food and water but as a way to have boundaries between the different Indian tribes. The Indian tribes living on the Missouri River led to the discovery of the different uses of horses, which helped the Indians to communicate better with other tribes and make trades, they also helped tremendously with hunting Buffalo. But all of the hunting of the Buffalo led to the decrease in amount of buffalo which led to a lot of deaths Indians deaths and a huge change in the environment of the River.
1. In three paragraphs, explain 3 significant aspects of the research you conducted on the Platte or Missouri River. These should be complete thoughts with each paragraph explaining a new aspect.
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend, I conducted research on the Platte River. I found information about its use, it's importance to the wildlife, and how it will be affected in the future by human development.
The Platte river is an important eco-system, it makes a major contribution to the diversity of Nebraska. I found over 300 bird species can be found at the river. It is an important rest stop for migratory birds. Many of the species it sustains are endangered, however which major river doesn't these days.
The Platte river is responsible much of the habitation in Nebraska. Large populations need large amounts of water, and the Platte provides just that. This also includes large metropolitan areas in Colorado and Wyoming diverting water for their use.It also supports the irrigation required for the agri-economy.
A last chilling aspect of my research focused on how the Platte river is threatened. A combined projects of new and incoming projects would cut the rivers flow by 65% from the 1970's level. Growing human demand has led to the creation of dams and water storage facilities. The threat to species that depend on the river ecosystem should stir people to renew efforts to recreate the wetlands that have been so beneficial to the wildlife.
Ca-Ca-Ca-Camping!
ReplyDeleteIndian Caves State Park was an adventure, from the first day when we got lost in the woods backpacking to making all sorts of nature friends like Carlos and Pedro. Backpacking wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, me and Fel did a good job at making sure no one got left behind on the hike. Once we set up camp Jenna and I cooked some awesome chicken noodle soup for everyone that we had to big spoon a little bit. That first night was freezing but otherwise than the temperature I snuggled up to Abby and slept fine.
I learned that I am not a big fan of oatmeal for breakfast or waking up to the sounds of birdcalls (real or fake). We hiked around so much Friday to go sightseeing and we had some free time to nap and adventure around the campsite. That night we went on a Haunted Hayrack Ride and I learned that a three-year old boy named River is way braver than me. Also that Ramen can be your best friend if you don’t like to eat red beans and rice.
I would be down for going on another camping trip but maybe this time with tents (or even a camper ha ha). But the tarps weren’t that bad, we did a lot of snuggling (Abigail) for warmth and protection. The second night we were smart and slept by the campfire. By Saturday morning I was up and packed and ready to go home. Camping was a good learning experience to see how much nature you can tolerate and how life could be different without cell phones and televisions, but I must say I am way to attached to civilization to go camping all the time. Can’t wait to make our shirts though (CARLOS !!!) (WWHD?)
The Missouri River is one of the largest rivers in North America and in my research it says that it starts in Montana and then is a tributary to the Mississippi River. The Missouri River was home to some of the Native Americans in the past. The Native Americans they I mentioned were the Ponca, Omaha, Arikara tribes. Many other Indians have settled there mainly for water and other resources such as plants. Many also used the river for boating and traveling. The Missouri River was mainly used for traveling. It got people from place to place in a quicker pace for importing and exporting resources. But today people have created state parks that are located near the river and the some of the activities that they did were canoeing and kayaking.
ReplyDeleteSome facts about the Missouri River are it is 2,300 miles long. The Missouri drainage area is about 529,350 square miles, which is one-sixth of the entire United States. From my research I found out that the flow rate is near 1.2 miles per hour or the average speed. The headwaters are Jefferson, Madison, and the Gallatin rivers. The irrigation of the river is about ten percent. The plants that are near the river are very important because they give nutrients to the river.
Some types of plants that are located there are scouring rush, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth broom, and other types of weeds and plants. Many dams were created all around the Missouri river, which makes it hard for fish and other animals to get across the other side. The dams have created problems for some animals that live in the water. Other problems that do not help the river is the pollution that people cause. People that throwaway trash and chemicals into the river harm it and the animals that live near or in the river.
The camping trip was awesome. The hiking in circles would have been more fun without the backpacks. I would have liked to camp in the wilderness but the maps were not up to date. The night hikes were the best. Between the weird calls and the people screaming all the time. Bittle is really just a teenager like us playing pranks on the girls. The night hikes were relaxing and interesting to see the woods in a different way. Well the backpacks were good for carrying the stuff we needed. But my backpack was broken so it was very difficult to deal with.
ReplyDeleteSetting up camp wasn’t hard we all pitched in to make it work. It didn’t take long for us to be all settled in. The food was all right some people had a problem with the food (Haley) and were complaining. The cave was kind of depressing I thought it was a legitimate cave that you could walk into. But the cave thing was cool even though it was vandalized. The carvings were cool. CARLOS was the highlight of the trip, it was funny to see Jenna and Kayla care so much that they would almost cry to protect him. Carlos also brought his family to comingle with ours but we were not up to chat. We all will miss hanging out with Carlos.
The haunted hayrack ride was fun. The ride was long it was about half an hour. But there was probably only 10 minutes of scaring going on. Half of the time we just rode around, but when something scary did happen it sure did affect Haley. She was so scared of the whole ride. But don’t worry RIVER was there to protect her. The fire was non stop warmth for many people sleeping around the fire was so much better than way off in the distance. This trip was a great experience because everyone got to know each other. Many stories were shared that taught people about the others that people may not have guessed about them. Overall I would go on this camping trip again. Except with a better sleeping bag it was defiantly worth the trouble.
Tony DeVries
The camping trip was so much fun. I must say when we first got there I was dreading hiking but it turned out to not be bad. I secretly think you kept lying about the distance we were hiking. I had a lot of fun when my "group" fell behind and everyone else had to hike up to find that there really wasn't a camp site but yet Alex ran to see if there was. Not going to lie, I was sore. The night hikes were super fun too. I did feel like I was in twilight a little but it was interesting to see all the stars and hear all the different animals.
ReplyDeleteAt the camp site I think we all had a lot of fun. Reading Cosmo, hanging by the fire, chowing down( on more food than we could eat), cutting wood, playing frisbee, and chasing Carlos were probably the best times I've had. I think this was a good trip for everyone because it brought our class closer even though we only have one week left.
It was a good trip and there are so many things I could say but one thing is thank you Mr. Bittle for taking time out of your weekend to go on this trip. It truly was fun and I think you are slowly making me more eco friendly..SLOWLY.
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ReplyDeleteThe research paper that i did was over the Missouri river. The wild life that i found living on there was interesting. The sparse vegetation under the mature cottonwoods consists mostly of scouring rush, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and other invasive grasses and weeds. Depend on the river for nutrients and water.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the research i did their is 7 or more dams in the Missouri river. About 10% of the river is diverted for irritation.Resulted in the loss of wetlands and homogenization of river speed and depth conditions. Research shows that some of the dams affect some of the wild life that lives there.
The river control provides for flood control, hydroelectric power, irrigation water, and recreational facilities. This is so interesting knowing that this river can provide so much of the wild life and help out so many things living around there. So many type of plants that grow on there like annual weeds, short-lived grasses, sedges, and seedling willow and cottonwood. Farther back and higher above the water table, larger willow and cottonwood trees and so much more are every were.
- Genesis
The camping trip to Indian caves was fun to say the least. Our first hike with the backpacks was just nonsense. We walked six miles to this supposed camp site in the middle of nowhere but we never found it and ended up just walking in a huge circle back to the car and stayed at the campsite right next to the parking lot. That night turned out to be somewhat damp and everyone who rolled out their sleeping bag realized it was wet on the outside of it. Along with the skunk that invaded our campsite that night some people realized that they happened to have sleeping bags that didn't keep them warm. I was not one of them.
ReplyDeleteGoing to the caves the next day was sort of a let down. I was hoping for a actual cave but it was just a rock face that was covered in graffiti. After that we just walked back and most of us just crashed and let people sort of do whatever. Fishing was the activity later on and even though fish jumped out of the water a foot away from my lure no one caught anything. Especially since most everyone started playing ultimate frisbee and hackysack in our down time. After which we headed back to camp and made dinner early so we could head up to the front of the park for the haunted hay rack ride. Which wasn't that scary especially because the drivers of our car forgot to turn off the lights so we could see everyone hiding up until halfway when they shut off the lights. The second night people just huddled around the fire except Bittle, Alex, Cole, and Abby. When we awoke we packed up and got ready to go. After we played football and hackysack with a loaf of bread after which I laid in the sun while everyone played ultimate frisbee. Soon after we departed and were on our way home.
I had a great time on this camping trip. Even though I was getting tired by the end of the trip from all the hiking, I thought it was a great experience for me. When we first began our hike, of course my sleeping bag fell off of my backpack. I had to carry it on the top of my backpack. Also somehow I went to go turn my camera on and the batteries must of fell out during the hike. I only have like 3 pictures of before the hike. It still blows my mind how that happened. I didn’t think the hike was that hard but I was finally glad when we got back to camp. But I was also looking forward to sleeping actually in the forest. I have never done it and I wish I could have experienced it. Once we got back we set up camp and ate dinner. I definitely got too much food because I could barely finish it. I just wanted to dump it out but I stuck it out and finished it. The funniest thing on the first night was when Jenna was running down from the camp and she face planted into the ground. I kind of felt bad but at the same time it was hilarious. After that we sat by the fire for a little and then Carlos showed up. He was the cutest skunk ever! Jenna and I loved him.
ReplyDeleteThen after that we went on our night hike. I didn’t really like it because I kept thinking there was animals that were going to attack us. Also Jenna tripped and decided to take me down with her. I have a bruise on my shin from that. Thanks Jenna. But I did like it when we messed with our neighbors with me and Jenna making the weird noises. After that we went back and sat by the fire again. Of course Carlos showed up again and I think he stayed with us for the rest of the night. I was so cold that night. I should have put more layers on.The next morning we went to the Indian caves and that is where Jenna and I met our next child Pedro and margarita. They were wonderful catapillars. I wish we would have kept them. Then after we got back we just layed around and read cosmo for a little bit. Alex was a jerk and kept putting his feet in my mouth! After that we went down to the boat ramp and tried to fish. It was not successful at all. But I did like walking on the sand, it felt cool. Later we started dinner and it wasn’t very good so I didn’t have that much.
On the last night we went to go on a haunted hayrack ride. I didn’t think it was that scary, but it was fun to get away from our camp site. Then when we got back we sat by the fire and went on another night hike back at the boat ramp. It was pretty fun. Then we just sat by the fire again and had some smores. That night I was very warm. I didn’t want to get out in the morning. Then we had to clean up and I was glad but sad at the same time. I wanted to shower so bad but overall I had an amazing time.
The camping trip was quite the experience. I have never been legitimately camping like that before so it was pretty interesting for me. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting but it was cool to experience something different than the everyday routine. There were at lot of highlights of the trip that I enjoyed and also a few lows where I definitely struggled.
ReplyDeleteSome things I really enjoyed on the trip were first of all the views and scenery. It was hilly and really pretty and was definitely a change of what you normally see in Nebraska. The stars were also really pretty at night which I never see at my house. Something I didn’t think I would enjoy but actually loved was the night hikes. I thought it would be terrifying and kind of lame but it ended up being one of my favorite parts and I’m glad we did that twice.
There weren’t too many lows but I was definitely not expecting so many hills and I didn’t realize how tired I would be from hiking the first day. One of the only things I really didn’t like was how cold it was at night but it was much better sleeping by the fire. I should have definitely brought a few more hats for the bald head! The bugs were also quite annoying but what can you do.
I’m really glad I went and had an experience like nothing I’ve ever done. It was a real good trip but I was definitely excited to be back home!
Jami
Oh the camping trip… it was an experience that I’m really glad that we got to go through. There were many parts I loved and enjoyed about the trip and some parts I wish didn’t happen. Overall though it was such a good time, so I’m glad I went.
ReplyDeleteFirst the not so great moments: the first hike, right when we got there we started hiking and the size of my backpack and the amount of hills that there were, you could say I struggled a bit. Once we eventually made it to where we were setting up camp, I was content though. Also the coldness at night and all that was rough, the second night when we moved by the fire I thought I was going to wake up with Carlos and the family or other creatures right next to me, which spooked me a little bit. Also the bees and mosquitos were not super awesome..
Anyway time for the fun moments of the trip. I really enjoyed the night hikes, I thought that they were so fun because its cool how much your eyes can adjust with the moonlight and when your walking you can’t see exactly where your going so you just have to go with it, so its not scary. I was really scared for the food we were going to eat but it was just fine, and cooking rice and beans for everyone on the second night was fun. I also enjoyed the day on Friday, it was good to see the Indian Caves and also it was just a chill day where we just hung out at camp, did some crafts and then hung out by the Missouri River which was a super beautiful scene!! I’m really going to miss Carlos, he was the most beautiful skunk ever and that first night when we saw him I was freaking out that we were going to get sprayed, but turns out Carlos was a very friendly and chill skunk, so that was a plus. Woohoo camping!
I had an amazing time on the camping trip. I had never been camping so I was not sure what to expect. When we first started hiking I it was all going good, but then my sleeping bag started to roll off and I had to hold it the rest of the time. Also I got a pretty bad blister when we started out so that was not so good. We walked a lot the first day so I was really glad when we finally made it to our campsite. Me and Haley made dinner the first night, and it was pretty bomb. We ended up making way too much soup the first day so we had to big spoon it. That night we went on our first night hike which I thought was a lot of fun. I had a little trouble walking and tripped, taking Kayla down with me. Also Kayla and I did our scary voices to freak out the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteCarlos joined us that night for supper the first night, he personally really enjoys dog food. Although some people in the group didn’t really enjoy his presence Kayla and I loved him. I am still trying to convince my mom to let me get a skunk. Sleeping the first night was not fun for me. I was freezing the whole night because my sleeping bag wasn’t very warm. The next morning we went to the caves. I was hoping we would actually get to go into them, but they were still pretty cool to see. After lunch we walked to the boat ramp and tried fishing. We never caught anything but it was pretty fun there. Walking on the sand was interesting because it would suck you in.
The last night we were there we got to go on a haunted hayrack ride. On the ride we met a cute kid named river, who was braver then Haley. The hay rack ride wasn’t very scary but it was a lot of fun. When we got back to the campsite we sat around the fire and had smores. After awhile we decided to go on another night hike, but this time we went on the road so we could see the stars. We went back to the boat ramp so we could talk to owls. Overall the trip was a lot of fun and I would most def. go on this trip again.
In my opinion the camping trip to Indian Caves State Park was a total success. I thought that the trip was very fun and exciting and also a great way to bond with the class. I feel as if we would have done the trip earlier in the term our class a whole would be much closer, but at least we have a week to discuss our crazy camping stories. Some of my favorite parts were definitely the campfire stories, carlos, and our interesting way of being transported to the haunted hay rack ride.
ReplyDeleteWhen we arrived Thursday afternoon we gathered up all of our gear and filled up the water bottles before we headed on our almost pointless three mile hike not to mention it was a complete circle back to the car. Nonetheless we got to enjoy the nature and take in some rather breathtaking sites. After unloading our packs we set up camp and made dinner. The night progressed when carlos made an unexpected appearance which in my opinion had to be one of the highlights of the trip. Then we went on our night hike which consisted mainly of trying to scare people including our apparently thirst deprived neighbors.
On Friday I woke up to the majority of the group huddled around the campfire complaining of the cold and then enjoyed a rather mediocre bowl of oatmeal. After breakfast we headed down the road a ways to view the caves which in essence was just a giant rock wall but I guess it’s all the same thing. Then we headed to the sketchy boat ramp to go fishing, I was just keeping my eyes pealed for someone dumping off a body. Fishing was not as big of a hit as Frisbee and hackeysack in my opinion. As I’m being rushed to finish this I thought overall the camping trip was by far the most fun field trip I have ever been on, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The camping trip was successful!!
ReplyDeleteOn the first day on the hike i really didnt mind the backpacks since mine was really light and easy to carry. the walking was not enjoyable but i got some exercise so thats a plus! I loved being in the back because i could go at my own pace plus carry a walky talkie. The dinner was an epic fail due to the fact that kaitlin didnt cook the noodles all the way and had to much water, but we had to suck it up and eat it anyway. luckily there was bread there so that kinda helped. When Carlos came i was quite ecstatic but i didnt want him to spray us. He was welcomed at the camp just if he kept his distance. And for the night hike, well that was pretty crazy singe i was literally being draged by Haley. I didnt appreicate when the fellow classmates would scare us. But other ways it was really cool to have my eyes adjusted to the dark. i didnt know they were capable of doing that. I loved it on the way back when Kayla and Jenna made their strange calls to the neighbors. Made my night!! I didn't expect it to be freezing at night i was curled up in a ball.
For the second day visiting indian caves was pretty interesting viewing the cave. how the drew thoes drawings. it was kinda messed up that people tagged. fishing was not that much fun but getting sucked into the quicksand was a highlight for sure! i didnt even knew that existed. I was so thrilled that we got to go on the hayrack ride, so glad i mentioned it to Bittle. Enjoyed the ride up there listening to childrens music was a classic. Sitting in the back of the hayrack ride really made it more enjoyable since the scarers would get up close to us and try to attack. The second night hike wasnt nearly as fun since we just listened to bird noises the whole time. That night was not very good since i only got an hour to sleep since the fire went out and someone next to me was making noises in their sleep. and also the fact that i had an exorism nightmare made me not want to sleep so i jumped in the sleeping bag with kaitlin for safety and warmth.
All in all the trip was really enjoyabe and i for sure want to go on one again! I want to go camping fourth term that would be fun! but next time if i ever camp around this time i would bundle up more on clothes and have a descent sleeing bag. Thanks so much for this experience!!