2019 Preconference Fieldtrips
For information on sessions, please click on the links below.
| Keynote Speakers | Field Trips |
| Short Presentations | Networking Sessions |
| Hands-on Workshops | Education Share Fair Roundtables |
The 2019 LDC is pleased to offer three preconference field trips on March 21, Thursday.
Registration fees includes snacks, drinks and transportation. Please wear comfortable field clothes and bring sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) based on your needs.
1. Ordway-Swisher Biological Station:
OSBS will provide interpretive and informational tours about the Station. These tours provide an opportunity to understand the facilities mission and focus and see some of Florida’s unique habitats and wildlife. They are limited to 25 visitors and involve a slow and relaxing ride through OSBS in a tour wagon along with stops at unique spots for a short walks to discuss points of interest such as research, habitat management, birding, and local flora. Cost $15
Meeting time: Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 1 pm
Meeting location: Hilton lobby
Duration of the trip: 4 hours. (Be back by 5 pm)
2. Montbrook Fossil Site – late Miocene vertebrate fossil locality in Levy County, FL
Participants will visit the Montbrook Fossil Site, a newly discovered, late Miocene (~5 million-year-old) vertebrate fossil locality in Levy County, FL, which is believed to preserve an ancient river environment. In the three and a half years the Florida Museum has been working the site, more than 60,000 fossil specimens of over 100 different species have been collected. Most commonly, fossils from animals such as turtles, gomphotheres, fish, and alligators are found, but fossils from saber-toothed cats, horses, birds, and rhinoceroses have also been collected. Cost $15
Meeting time: Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 12:45 pm
Meeting location: Hilton lobby
Duration of the trip: 4 hours and 15 minutes. (Be back by 5 pm)
3. Florida’s Natural Area Teaching Laboratory – Gainesville, Florida- BioBlitz
We will explore the flora and fauna at the Natural teaching area behind the Florida Museum through a BioBlitz. Essentially, collect, identify and discuss the relations of the organisms collected. There will be content experts for different biodiversity areas to help with identifications etc. We will also utilize the iNaturalist app. Lastly we will discuss ways to implement this type of activity within teaching curriculums and lesson plans to increase student engagement and understanding of the natural sciences. There is no cost for the BioBlitz.
Meeting time: Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 2 pm
Meeting location: Lobby of Florida Museum (3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611, a short walk from the hotel)
Duration of the trip: 3 hours. (Be back by 5 pm)
Note: To enhance your experience, we would recommend bringing a tablet or smartphone with a camera and the iNaturalist App downloaded (https://www.inaturalist.org/)
Other Interesting Things to Do in Gainesville