Bamberger Ranch – Field Trip

The 5^th grade students at Bowden Academy in San Antonio are preparing for two sets of 3-day/2-night field trips to the Bamberger Ranch Preserve.  The first group will be at the ranch from December 5^th – 7^th and the second group will be there from December 12^th – 14^th.  Five volunteers will be needed on Day One of each field trip (i.e., December 5^th and 12^th) to lead nature hikes and to assist with sweep netting & pinning insects.

On Day One, the students arrive around 11 am, unpack, and eat their sack lunches.  At 1 pm, students receive a quick lesson on watersheds and then volunteers help guide them from the Center to the patio of Madrone Lake where they see the rain machine demonstration.  Then the students are divided into groups and volunteers lead them on a nature hike followed by insect collection and pinning. These environmental education activities are scheduled to end by 4 pm.

The summary of Day One volunteer opportunities is as follows.

December 5^th – Arrive by 12:45 pm at the Margaret Bamberger Research & Education Center parking lot and end by 4 pm – Need 5 volunteers.

December 12^th – Arrive by 12:45 pm at the Margaret Bamberger Research & Education Center parking lot and end by 4 pm – Need 5 volunteers.

In addition, volunteers are needed each day to help with meals and provide hands-on lessons in water conservation.  Lunches consist of build-your-own sandwiches/hot dogs and dinners include helping ranch staff prepare a simple entrée, salad, and bread.  After each meal, a subset of students helps with loading the dishwasher and there is a water conservation discussion.  If time permits, you may include a generic discussion on composting.  Asking the students about their activities on the ranch is encouraged as a means of reinforcing the day’s lessons.  Volunteers are welcome to stay after dinner for the raptor demonstration/discussion should there be one.

The summary of meal preparation volunteer opportunities is as follows.

December 12^th – Dinner – Arrive by 4:30 pm – Meal served by 5:30 pm – Need 1 to 2 volunteers.

December 13^th – Lunch – Arrive by 11:45 am – Meal served around noon – Need at least 1 volunteer.

December 13^th – Dinner – Arrive by 4:30 pm – Meal served by 5:30 pm – Need 1 to 2 volunteers.

December 14^th – Lunch – Arrive by 11:30 am – Meal served around 11:45 am – Need at least 1volunteer.