This presentation provides and overview of New Albany - Plain Local Schools STEM Expeditions for the 2012-2013 school year. Our trip to Africa!

1. Wildlife Tracking,
Digital Photography and Robotics
South Africa
STEM
EXPEDITIONS

2. What are YOU doing
this summer?
Do you like to travel?
Want to go on Safari?
Want a chance to be internationally certified
as a wildlife tracker?
Would you like to earn High
School and College credit
for your work?

3. Ways to Participate:
 Robotic Applications Class through
the 2012-2013 school year.
 Wildlife Tracking through the
University of Vermont for 1 science
college credit in June and July
 Trip to South Africa for no credit, just
participation (community, parents,
students)
 Entire course including trip to South
Africa.

4. Spend some of your
summer with us!
High School credits may be available during
the 2012-2013 school year in the following:
0.5 HS Science Flex Credit in Wildlife
Tracking
0.5HS Tech Credit in Digital Photography
0.5 Tech Credit Robotics Applications
Option to earn 1 college credit in science

5. Wildlife Tracking
The Art of Tracking may well be the origin of science. After
hundreds of thousands of years, traditional tracking skills may
soon be lost. Yet tracking can be developed into a new science
with far-reaching implications for nature conservation. Apart
from knowledge based on direct observations of animals,
trackers gain a detailed understanding of animal behavior
through the interpretation of tracks and signs. In this way much
information can be obtained that would otherwise remain
unknown, especially on the behavior of rare or nocturnal
animals that are not often seen. Furthermore, tracks and signs
offer information on undisturbed, natural behavior, while direct
observations often influences the animal by the mere presence
of the observer. Tracking is therefore a non-invasive method of
information gathering in which potential stress caused to
animals can be minimized. Tracking is a skill that can benefit
any student seeking a future career in environmental,
biological and ecological fields of study.

6. Wildlife Tracking
South Africa
 Principles of track and sign identification
 The role of tracking in our day-to-day lives
 Introduction to the trailing of the Big Five:
rhino, lion, leopard, elephant, cape
buffalo
 Tracking for scientific purposes
 Track and sign identification:
mammal, bird and reptile tracks
 Determining the age of tracks
 Arial tracking
 Study of animal feeding signs
 Close-up study of animal behavior at the
Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center

8. Wildlife Tracking
for College Credit
 Through the University of Vermont
 Teacher Mike Kessler
 4 week on-line course
 1 credit Science
 On-line after we return
from Africa.
 OPTIONAL

10. Digital Photography
•Develop digital photography expertise while
enhancing artistic expression of your photos.
•Learn how to adjust the camera for your subject
matter and environment.
•Analyze, photograph, and document animal
tracks, wildlife, landscapes and much more.
•Learn how to organize, retouch and present your
photo documentation through the art of
retouching and final presentation software.

11. Digital Photography

12. Robotic Applications
Do you think you
can make this?
http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/258870/#.T-YUX_jMHM4.email

13. Robotic Applications
 Two groups: Experienced Robotics students will mentor beginners.
 Design, build and program Robotic Cars that can be controlled from
anywhere in the world. Use them to document animal behavior.
 Meet after school throughout
the 2012-2013 school year.
 Cars will be tested in Ohio and
South Africa.

14. Introduction to PSD and
DP Robotic Applications
 Robotic Applications is an extension of the
Introduction of Photoshop and Digital
Photography course.
 Students will develop a connection between
robotic engineering and digital photography.
 Robotics Application extension students will
research electrical, mechanical and robot
engineering.
 Students will design, problem solve, and build a
functional robot camera that will explore animal
habitat where no man can go.
 The robot cam is an electromechanical device
that will allow students to capture wildlife habitat
and animal behavior. This will expand student’s
digital photography skills, animal science
studies, and expose students to the world of
robotics and engineering.

15. “Real-World
Engineering Challenge”
Building a team of innovative, energetic, and
motivated youth that are curious about careers
in science, technology, design, and engineering.
Student teams will
consist:
Core team
Team 2
Team 3
Each Team will
design, build, and
operate their Robot
Cams.

16. Target Goal

17. Dennis and…

18. NAPLS Staff
Leslie Shea, HS Digital Photography Claire Monk, 8th grade science
and Robotic Applications Teacher MS/HS certified science,
Focus on STEM for Masters degree

19. NAPLS Staff
Rob Hood Andy Moore Sandy Willmore
Technology Support Volunteer Chaperone Wildlife Tracking
Services Coordinator Teacher and Logistics

20. Why South Africa?
•English Speaking country
•Tourism is one of top
industries
•Democracy
•Great cultural and
ecological diversity
•Private hospitals in the
urban centers of South Africa
offer first-world medical care
•Diverse, intact ecosystems
for studying of endangered
animal behavior
•Private facilities

21. The Trip
1. We will fly
2. From Johannesburg
in directly to
we will travel in a tour
Johannesburg.
bus to Moholoholo.
3. Moholoholo Mountain View

22. Moholoholo
Mountain View
http://youtu.be/YS4Yz-j_oyA

23. Moholoholo
Mountain View
Privately owned gated facility
situated on the slopes of the
majestic North Eastern Lowveld
Drakensberg mountain range.
Hidden in a luscious rain forest,
below Mariepskop,
approximately 60km from
Kruger National Park. We will
be served three healthy meals
each day. Students will stay in
chalets with bathrooms, hot
showers, and electricity.

24. Moholoholo
Mountain View

25. Colin Patrick
Colin is a professional Wildlife Tracker
Instructor and Cyber Tracker
Evaluator. He also is an accredited
training provider and assessor with
the Field Guide Association of Sothern
Africa (FGASA). He also works as a
Special Knowledge and Skills
(Dangerous Game) Trainer and
Evaluator. Colin is the Game
Preserve Manager at Moholoholo
Mountain View where he will teach us
track and sign. He will also evaluate
us at the end of our stay by giving
Click here to listen to an interview with each student a Cybertracker
Colin Patrick and Sandy Willmore evaluation test. Colin lives with his

26. Kersey Lawrence
Kirstin “Kersey” Lawrence is a Ph.D. student from
the University of Connecticut where she is also an
instructor of Wildlife Management and
Environmental Science. She is part of team that has
led University students to South Africa over the past
four years. For two years she has been researching
the accuracy of CyberTracker certified guides and
wildlife trackers in regards track ID and trailing. The
trackers identify tracks in front of remote cameras
every morning and the tracks are compared with the
photos on the cameras to determine tracker
accuracy. Kersey is an expert tracker in her own
right and has earned Track and Sign Specialist
Click here to watch an certification in South Africa (the second woman to
interview with Kersey ever do so and the first non-African woman ever!).
in the bush in South Africa. She has earned Tracker Level 2 status and will
be Skyping with our class. We hope to see her in

27. Mike Kessler
Mike is a Wildlife and Forensic Tracking
Instructor with the Rubenstein School of
Environmental and Natural Resources
(Wildlife) and a member of the Department
of Anthropology (Forensic) teacher with
The University of Vermont in Burlington.
He has taught approximately 40 wildlife
tracking courses over the past five
years at The University of Vermont and
hosted related field trips with local high
schools. Past courses include Vermont
Wildlife Trail Analysis, Intro to Wildlife
Tracking, Wildlife Track Analysis and Intro
to Forensic Tracking. Mike will be
instructing the optional four week Wildlife
Tracking course for us through the
University of Vermont. Students who take
the course can earn 1 credit of science.

28. Class Schedule
 October 18, 2012 - Celebration and Information Night at the McCoy
 October 19, 2012 - Interest Form available On-Line.
 November 16, 2012 -Interest Form Deadline
 November 21, 2012 – Applications open.
 December 2012 - Robotics Classes begin
 April 2013 - Weekly evening classes begin.
 June 2-12, 2013 - Trip to South Africa
 June 17-21, 2013 – Work on Final Projects and On-Line Wildlife Tracking Program
starts
 June 21, 2013 - Class officially ends
 July 12, 2013 – On-Line Tracking course with University of Vermont ends.

29. South Africa Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and
orientation, first walk in game
preserve.
Day 2: Survival in the bush: see
what it is like on a grassroots level
for living in the African bush.
Day 3: Bush walk tour and
awareness skills, Dissection of
Impala or Warthog, Predator Baiting
Station, Tracking Africa's Wildlife
Lessons in the Bush.

30. South Africa Trip Itinerary
Day 4: Kruger National Park Safari -
This park has the most diverse game
viewing experience in Africa with 336
trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114
reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
Day 5: Tracking & Trailing South
African Style, Bushman First Aid
Day 6: Tracking ID training, Shelter
building, overnight in the Bush!

31. South Africa Trip Itinerary
 Day 7: Moholoholo Rehab
Center. We will learn how the
rehab center works to care for
injured and poisoned
wildlife. Students will be on a
special tour and will get up
close and personal with some
animals. Day 8: We
will take a photography trip
along the magnificent
Panorama Route which is best
known for its cultural heritage
and dramatic landscapes. We
will also stop at Harrie’s
Pancake House for lunch.

32. South Africa Trip Itinerary
Day 9: All students are tested on their
Wildlife Tracking skill by going through a
full day test and evaluation in the bush.
Students can earn international
certification through CyberTracker
depending on their score. In the
evening we will take our final Night Drive
through the bush.
Day 10: Depart for Eastgate
Hoedspruit Airport to fly to
Johannesburg and then home.

33. Personal Safety
Hoedspruit – doctors,
dentists, pharmacies.
Johannesburg – one
hour flight. Top
medical hospitals
and facilities.
Dr. Inga Jolly – trip
doctor
Sandy Willmore -
Wilderness First Aid

34. International Safety
 Participate in SMART Traveler Enrollment program with the US State
Department. By enrolling, our embassy and consulates will know about
our trip and they can keep us up to date with important safety and
security announcements as needed. It will also help our friends and
family get in touch with us in an emergency.
 Though any type of emergency is unlikely, it is possible that an
emergency could occur before or during our trip. For this reason we
strongly advise all participants to purchase travel insurance that would
cover your investment if for some reason you could not go on the trip or
needed medical assistance during the trip.
 If at any time our government advises us to not travel to South Africa, the
trip will be postponed or cancel. Travel advisories are posted and
updated daily via the Internet. Travel advisories are posted and updated
daily via this web site:
www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1008.html

36. Course Fee and
Coverage
This course costs $4,995. There will be fund raising
opportunities and scholarships available. All students will work
together as a class to help promote and fundraise through
established activities to help bring down the costs of
participation.
• Round trip flight to South Africa.
• Overnight stay in Johannesburg upon arrival.
• All ground transportation and guides.
• All meals and lodging at Moholoholo Mountain View
• Fee for Cyber tracker Test evaluation
• Staff, Instructors, and Guest Speakers
• Safari to Kruger National Park and Moholoholo Rehab
Center

38. Additional Costs
Participants will be expected to supply their own personal gear such as
camera, journal, small backpack, flash drives.
All students must be current on their vaccinations. Vaccination for Typhoid
and medication for malaria are recommended.
Students will purchase their own lunch while on Safari at Kruger National
Park and at Harrie’s Pancake House during the Panoramic Route tour.
Students can bring funds for souvenirs.
Purchase of 1 credit hour of Science from the University of Connecticut is
separate and optional. Course fee is $697.50

39. Interest Form
and Website
Check out the course website for more information
and a course interest form.
www.napls.us/nature/programs/stem-expeditions
Applications are due December 16that midnight.
Questions? Contact Sandy Willmore at
Willmore.1@napls.us

40. See you there…