April 9, 2019 - Andrea Contreras's seventh and eighth grade class at Sierra Foothill Charter School enjoyed their field trip to UC Merced's Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve on Friday, April 5. With the guidance of Reserve Manager, scientist, and SFCS parent Monique Kolster, they learned about the plants and animals supported by the vernal pools, stock ponds, and grasslands. What they learned corresponded well with their classroom studies regarding environmental pressures leading to adaptive traits. Students also enjoyed a picnic lunch and participating in a wildflower scavenger hunt. The costs of this field trip were paid for as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant UC Merced Associate Professor and SFCS parent Carolin Frank received last year. The grant includes a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher involvement program that supports active, long-term, collaborative partnerships between K-12 teachers and university faculty to enhance scientific STEM knowledge and capacity. Dr. Frank and her grad students participated in lab activities at SFCS last year, and collaborations continue.
Pictured at the front of the reserve: Cole Silva, Rya Salonen, Malachi Shelton, William Wall, Conner Eastwood, (kneeling) Eva Smerber, Andrayah Collins, Anna Ramirez, (standing) Nayo Rhoan, Celianna Lee, Patrick Cleary, Estrella Hermosillo, Sayer Harry, Tadd Sexton, Jamie Ardell, Wyatt Brouillette, Gabe Walters, Malaya Shelton, Wyndham Evans, Khalil Neogy, Jaeyanna Bolar, Aidan Pierson, and Mia Nelson.
A UC Merced graduate student whose studies focus on vernal pools talks to students about the plant, animal, and insect life supported by the pools.
Anna Ramirez, Celianna Lee, and Conner Eastwood take a close look at insects and other items pulled from the vernal pool and work on identifying them.
Cattle stock ponds have become another important habitat on the reserve. Monique Kolster talks to students about California Tiger Salamander and Clam Shrimp before wading to the middle of the pond to try to net some for the students to see.
Students take a close look at Tiger Salamander in larva stage and Clam Shrimp that were netted in a cattle stock pond on the reserve. They were returned to the water after the students had a chance to study them.

Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, TK-8 public school. For the 2018-2019 school year, space is currently available in grades TK, 5, 8, and the Home School program. Open enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year is happening now through April 10. For more information, contact the office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: SierraFoothillCharterSchool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.