2008 Woodie Awards
Get Out: JSU Field Schools offers exciting opportunities for students
Jessica Summe
Issue date: 3/17/06 Section: Features
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Gregg is speaking of the many activities and excursions held by the JSU Field School at Little River Canyon National Preserve and other locations in Northeast Alabama. Some of the Field School's most popular activities are coming up in April and May.
"We call it the "Death Hike" because it's our most strenuous hike, but it's only about 4 miles total," said Gregg about the Deep Canyon Hike at Little River Canyon scheduled for April 1.
"People are disappointed when they hear about how far they've actually gone, but few people ever go down into the canyon. There are only a few trails that lead down to the bottom, and this one goes upstream for three or four hours. It's beautiful."
Gregg said another popular hike is the Bilingual Spanish-English Hike set for April 22.
"I have about ten words in Spanish," said Gregg. "Lodo is mud, so that comes in handy on hikes." He laughed. "We decided we wanted to offer bilingual hikes so more people can benefit from the program, and they have been very successful."
Renee Morrison, coordinator for the JSU Field Schools, also had a few suggestions of activities students might like.
"The Stars of the Pharaohs Space Safari is our best one," said Morrison about the monthly planetarium show.
The Field School just held a Space Safari on March 11. It was called St. Patty's Comic Serpents, and Morrison said 67 people attended, as well as several real-life snakes brought in by the Field School.
"The 13-foot long boa [constrictor] was crabby and didn't come," said Gregg.
"If she's in a good humor, we might bring her to the Stars of the Pharaohs," added Morrison.
Morrison is very excited about the Earth Day Longleaf Festival that will be at on Fort McClellan on April 22.
"We're expecting about 3,000 people," said Morrison. "It's an arts and entertainment festival we're hoping will grow every year. It's be great if more students could come--last year we had more people from Atlanta and Birmingham attend than people from around here."
The Longleaf Festival will have many activities and shows, with live music throughout the day.
"Every family, every attendee, will receive a little passport," said Morrison, opening one up. "All the activities will be listed, and after they finish each one, they'll get a little stamp in their passport. After they fill out the entire thing, they can show it to the gate and get a cool environmental poster. And the festival will lead right into Music at McClellan."
Music at McClellan is an outdoor concert series held in May and June, and is preformed by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
The first concert is set for May 27 at 8 p.m., and is titled "Salute to America".
May is also when another of Morrison's favorite events occurs. The Paddling Tour of Terrapin Creek is scheduled for May 6, and students will cover 8 miles of the creek in either canoe or kayak.
"We want students to come to these excursions, that's why we set the prices so low," said Morrison. The cost for kayaks on the trip is $35, and $25 for canoe. The Bilingual Hike and the Space Safari are both $5, while the Deep Canyon Hike is $15. The Earth Day Longleaf Festival is free, but a $5 donation is requested at the gate.
Another $5 activity is the Nature Journaling Hike, a gentle hike through Dugger Mountain Wilderness that introduces students to nature journaling.
The hike is hosted by artist Sarah Landrum, Dr. Mijitaba Hamissou of the Biology Department, and Dr. Pitt Harding of the English Department.
Gregg said there's often more demand than spaces available on excursions, so students should register early to make sure there's room for them on the hikes and other activities.
Students can register by calling (256) 782-5697 and using their VISA or MasterCard or can stop by the Field School office at 246 Martin Hall.
Payment is full is required to secure a slot, but refunds can be made as long as the student cancels a week in advance. If an event is canceled due to weather, students will not get their money back, but instead will be credited that amount towards another activity.
For more information on the JSU Field Schools and activities, booklets are available in the biology wing of Martin Hall, on the second floor.