Expedition 2007  Go back

With the South Dakota Discovery Center & Aquarium

Dear Explorers,

You are about undertake an expedition that will test your scientific knowledge, observation skills, ability to work as a team and your common sense. The information and experience you gather on this journey will be of value to you throughout your lifetime.

Attached you will find a list of instructions for your journey. The level of your success will be determined by the quality of your mapping skills, the amount of information you gather, and your teamwork.

You have endeavored to gain as many skills as possible to prepare you for this journey. I commend you for your attentive study. I expect that it will help you immensely during your expedition.

I look forward to your return, especially your report of your adventures.

My best wishes,
The President

Your Instructions:

You are to explore both the shore of the Missouri and the riverland forest that lines it. During your exploration you and your mates must create an accurate map of your journey that includes:

• A compass rose, a key, and a legend.

• At least eight landmarks. Create an appropriate name for each landmark.

• Accurate distances to the landmarks. You must explore at least 2500 feet of territory.

Each explorer on your team must gather the following:

• Two plant specimen. (One drawing and one pressed sample or rubbing.) Each specimen must include a written description that will help another identify this plant from others.

• Two bits of evidence of animal life. ( One drawing and one impression, or rubbing.) Each bit of evidence must include a written description that will help another identify this animal or bit of evidence from another.

Expedition Report

Respectfully Submitted by the Corps of ____________

This ___ day of ____, in the year ____.

The following are enclosed in our expedition binder:

• Eight samples of plant life identified and/or described.

• Eight bits of evidence of animal life identified and/or described.

• Our survey of the islands fowl.

• An accurate map of our expedition route.

You and your mates must take an inventory of the areas fowl. On the tally below record the number of times you observe, with any of your senses, evidence of bird life.

_____ actual siting _____ nest

_____ song _____ feathers

_____ tracks _____ scat

When you can identify evidence of a particular species record that species below.

Written Expedition Findings:

1. What were some of your Corps most enjoyable moments in the expedition?

2. What were some of your Corps most challenging moments in your expedition?

3. What part of the expedition did your Corps feel best prepared for? Explain.

4. For what part of your expedition was your Corps least prepared for? Explain.

5. Were members of the other Corps able to use your map to follow your journey? How could you have improved your map? What was the most useful part of your map?

6. In what ways did your team work best together? How did this help your expedition and improve the quality of your report?

7. Describe any difficulties your team encountered in working together? How did that affect your expedition and the quality of your report?