General: Fall in the Field
1. Do you accommodate students with exceptionalities?
Instructors at Fall in the Field have been trained to differentiate their lesson plans to accommodate students with all learning styles and physical abilities. However, we do encourage teachers to notify instructors about any students’ unique needs as soon as possible through our registration process. On our registration form there will be a question addressing this topic. Please be as specific as possible when describing your students. An instructor will be in contact prior to the school visit; this will be a great opportunity to update us on students’ special needs.
Please keep in mind, in certain locations such as the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument students will be hiking in rocky terrain with moderate elevation gains. Locations such as Ashland Pond and Deer Creek Center might be easier to accommodate for students with physical impairments.
2. What if I need to cancel our trip? Will I be reimbursed?
We do not provide reimbursements for last minute cancellations unless it’s an emergency. We do give 50% reimbursements for cancellations made with at least two weeks advance notice. Costs will not be adjusted for student absences on the day of the reservation.
3. What happens if there is inclement weather?
Instructors encourage students to dress appropriately for the weather. That means being prepared for rain, wind, snow, or shine! We will proceed with our programs as long as the weather does not pose an immediate threat or danger to anyone attending Fall in the Field. It is always a good idea to dress with layers and come prepared for all types of weather, and long pants and close-toed shoes are always a must. However, if severe weather is predicted ahead of time we will follow our cancellation policy. Teachers are encouraged to ensure students have rain gear. There is no shelter at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
4. I have a student who is extremely allergic to poison oak. Is there much around the field sites? Do you have Technu available ? Is it common for students to get poison oak?
Unfortunately, poison oak is present at all of our field sites except the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Instructors try to keep students from coming into direct contact with poison oak through education and setting boundaries around the premises where poison oak has been spotted. We will have Technu available at our sites, in case students come into direct contact with poison oak.
5. Is there any financial aid to help teachers pay for costs associated with field trips?
Yes. Oregon Forest Resource Institute (OFRI) provides transportation funds for classrooms that want to participate in forestry-related studies. Please click on the below link to fill out the Online Transportation Reimbursement Form through OFRI’s website.
When asked to briefly describe how this trip will enhance/extend classroom learning, we suggest using the following verbiage, “The field trip will explore interdependence and special adaptations between humans, forest, and the environment.”
The form must be completed prior to your trip.
http://learnforests.org/resource_article/online-reimbursement-form
6. How many chaperones do I need to recruit for my class?
As a general rule we ask that teachers recruit 1 chaperone for every 10 students attending a Fall in the Field program. When recruiting chaperones, please keep in mind that they will be expected to hike trails with moderate elevation gain. In order to ensure students receive the best possible learning experience during Fall in the Field, we kindly ask that pets and younger siblings of the students do not attend the field trip. This is to minimize the likelihood of distractions and safety issues arising during a lesson.
7. As a teacher, what is my role in FITF?
Instructors appreciate when teachers assist with classroom management and directions; however, the instructors will be responsible for implementing Fall in the Field lessons, not the teachers. Teachers play an important role in preparing students for their field experience and with follow up lessons upon their return to the classroom.
Deer Creek Center
8. How much will it cost to attend one night at DCC?
For one night at DCC, with a maximum of 30 students, the base cost would be $380 a night. This year, SOU is charging a 10% processing fee, making the final total per night $418, for the entire class. This cost includes dinner for one night, provided with our Food for Thought program.
The final price is determined by number of participants and the number of nights. Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or further questions.
9. What facilities are available at DCC?
DCC includes access to fully heated, electric bathrooms and showers; there are several stalls and showers available in the separate bathhouses for men and women.
10. What happens if there is inclement weather? Are the yurts heated?
We will adjust our programing to ensure the safety of students. In the event of a thunderstorm, we will move to the indoor classroom at the Deer Creek Center. If severe weather is predicted ahead of time, we will follow our cancellation policy.
The Yurts are heated.
11. I have a student who must participate in the district track meet after school one night during FITF. The parent is willing to come and pick him up and deliver him back to the camp upon completion. Will that be okay?
Parents can pick up and bring their students back to the Deer Creek Center as needed. Instructors will not be able to offer transportation.
12. For programs at DCC, do all participants need to bring their own meals for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner, or is food provided as part of the fee?
Food will not be provided for any meals except for one dinner, which will accompany a food-related lesson about the benefits of buying locally grown food. There is no additional fee for this lesson as it is funded through Ashland Food Co-op’s Community Grant. Students and teachers should bring water, healthy snacks, and hearty lunches.
13. How long are the trips?
Teachers have the option of bringing their classes to DCC for one, two or three nights. Arrival time is 10:00 AM and departure time is 12:00 PM on the day of departure.
14. What do the lessons entail? What sort of activities will be presented?
Depending on the field study theme students will test stream water quality, survey macroinvertebrates, or investigate terrestrial ecosystems. Students will also play games, role play, and actively model systems related to fire ecology, plant adaptations, geology, salmon life cycle, and aquatic adaptations.
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
15. How much will it cost?
The cost for the program is $40 per class. There is a 10% SOU processing fee added to the total cost of each program for a total of $44 per class. Maximum class size is 40 students.
16. What facilities are available at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument?
At the Monument, since we will be out in the woods, we will have access to porta potties for the entire season. We will have a cooler of water, but there is no running water at the trail heads. Students are encouraged to arrive with full water bottles.
17. What kinds of lessons will be taught?
There are two options for field study at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
1. Ecology & Environment
2. Flora & Fauna
18. How long are the trips?
Trips at CSNM are from 8:45-1:30. No overnight programs are available. Please let your trip liaison know if you will arrive later than 8:45 AM or if your departure needs to be earlier than 1:30 PM.
19. For programs at CSNM, do all participants need to bring their own food?
Yes, we will not be providing food for any of the participants. Students, teachers, and chaperones are encouraged to bring water, healthy snacks, and a hearty lunch.
Ashland Pond
20. How much will it cost?
We have a 60 students maximum with $25/half day or $40/full day. There is a 10% SOU processing fee added to the total cost of each program.
21. What facilities are available at Ashland Pond?
At Ashland Pond, we will have access to porta potties for the week. There is no drinking water available at the Ashland Pond site. Students are encouraged to arrive with full water bottles.
22. What do the lessons entail? What sort of activities will be presented?
Students will have a unique opportunity to participate in service learning, natural history walks, and/or citizen science activities. Lessons here will focus on natural history and long-term riparian restoration. Example activities include invasive species removal, nature scavenger hunt, and water quality sampling.
23. How long are the trips?
Trips at Ashland Pond can be either full day (9:00 AM-2:30 PM) or half day (9:00 AM-11:30 AM, or 12:00 PM-2:30 PM) programming. No overnight programs are available at Ashland Pond.
24. For programs at Ashland Pond, do all participants need to bring their own food?
Yes, we will not be providing food for any of the participants. Students, teachers, and chaperones are encouraged to bring full water bottles, healthy snacks, and a hearty lunch.