I was so exited because we went on a field trip last week to King Gillette Ranch! King Gillette Ranch is a state park located in the Santa Monica Mountains. My class found out that we were going on a field trip the day before, so we had to turn in permission slips the next day or you couldn't go. Luckily, everybody brought their permission slips back except for a kid who was sick. We also found out that we were going to have Out Door Ed there. Out Door Ed is
a program where you go away for a week in fifth grade and explore nature.
When we arrived, King Gillette Ranch looked pretty, with green grass in the front and in the back it looked like the woods with a couple of hiking trails. Our tour guide, Nick, was really nice. He took us to a cool spot where he brought a container filled with Chumash tools and instruments. We sat in a circle and he passed the Chumash tools around. Some of the tools were: a piece of bark and a sharp rock tied together to become a hammer (not like the ones we use today); a fishing net; a replica of a canoe the Chumash built that were the size of your hand; instruments like maracas; and a special instrument called a bull roar. A bull roar is an instrument that you wrap around your fingers and as you circle your arm, it makes a sound like an airplane taking off.
Then, we went on a hike and Nick stopped to show us bark and leaves. Later, it was time for lunch. After our picnic lunch, Nick took us over to a creek to see some birds and a giant tree. Lastly, he took us up outdoor stairs that led to a cool base. We saw Nick trying to catch a lizard and up there we also saw signs that an owl lived up there. We found little sculls, possibly of mice or rats or little birds that the owl ate. Finally, we took a group photo with all the third grade classes and our tour guides.
These following photos were taken by my teacher, Mrs. Yollis, are are being used with her permission.
 |
| This is our tour guide Nick's badge that showed he was part of the Park staff. |
 |
| In this photo, Nick's was showing us a demonstration of how the Chumash would stand over a creek and catch fish with a net. |
 |
| This is a replica of a Tomol, which was a canoe that the Chumash built and used to get around to places like the Channel Islands. |
 |
| This is a weapon the Chumash used to kill the animals they hunted. |
 |
| The Chumash would put beads inside this tree branch and turn it upside down. It had a calm sound, like rain falling. |
 |
| This is the bull roar I described in my post. |
 |
| This is my class and I hiking up a trail. |
 |
| This is a photo of a great blue heron. We even saw it swoop down. |
 |
| Here's a picture of my class with State Senator Fran Pavley. She was visiting King Gillette Ranch because she helped the Ranch become a State Park. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Sammy,
ReplyDeleteThis is the second King Gillette Ranch field trip report I’ve read and it only reinforces how good an experience all of you had when there. I think it’s amazing everyone was able to return permission slips with such short notice.
One of the interesting skills of native people in any land is their ability to use what they find in their environment to create the tools they need. There is something written by a man named Plato who lived about 2400 years ago…
“Necessity, who is the mother of invention.”
Plato, The Republic
Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)
What he was telling us all that long ago was, when there is a need, we find ways of fulfilling the need. The Chumash needed ways to do tasks more efficiently. Somewhere, some when, a person had an idea.
The hike also looks interesting. A favourite photographic study for me is animals but they are sometimes hard to find.
By what you described when you came to an area where an owl lived, you found remnants of owl pellets. Because owls can’t digest certain parts of the animals they eat, they regurgitate pellets that might contain fur, bits of bones, claws and other things. They are a good way for ornithologists (people who study birds) to see what owls are eating.
Keep blogging. ☺
@RossMannell
Teacher, NSW, Australia
Dear Sammy,
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was really fun! My favorite part is when we got to see the bugs and seeing the Nissan commercial. My favorite bug was one that had red furry wings. The owl pellets were very interesting. The reason that it was interesting was because there were rodent bones in them.☺
What was your least favorite part?
What was your favorite part?
Sincerely,
Aidan
Hi Sammy
ReplyDeleteThat field trip sounded awesome. It is such a shame that one of your classmates couldn’t go with you guys. I wonder how hard it was to hunt animals with that weapon, it would be pretty hard for me. How cool to see a blue heron that swooped down. I like the sound of that bull horn. What was your favourite tool that the man showed you? I think I would have liked the one with the seeds in it.
From Simon