1. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants.

2. Wear sunscreen and a hat . Even if the day is cool and cloudy, take along plenty of water to drink and drink it, even if the day is not hot.

3. Take along insect repellent in case its needed. Check for ticks after coming out of the field. Avoid wearing perfumed products (i.e., cosmetics, shampoos, etc.) as these can attract unwanted insects.
4. Become familiar with poison ivy/poison oak and avoid it.
5. Be aware at all times. Do not put hands into areas that do not have good visibility. Be especially careful moving through areas of heavy brush. A stick can be used to check for hidden hazards in front of you.
6. Do as much of the study as possible on established trails. Disturb the area as little as possible while conducting the study.
7. Be sure to record in the notebook the date, time and weather conditions for each visit to the study site (On-site weather data can be supplemented with information from the newspaper or a local newscast. Be sure to include temperature, cloud cover, winds and precipitation). In addition to performing the primary research, also take detailed notes about anything else of potential interest (such as animal tracks, strange behavior of animals, odd odors, unusual color of water, etc.) Such observations may prove useful in the future.
8. Leave an itinerary with an adult each time the field area is visited. It would be best to visit the field area with at least one other person (preferably an adult).
9. Permission must be obtained from landowners before entering a property and/or collecting specimens.

Maps/Photos

Maps/photos will be needed to plot the exact location of the study area. USGS quadrangle maps and aerial photos are useful for this purpose. Obtain maps/photos that show the greatest detail. Miller Blueprint is a good source of both maps and aerial photos (They can be obtained through the Science Academy for approximately two dollars each). It will be necessary to plot exact positions of transect lines or data collection sites on these maps and photos.

Helpful Hints

1. Make multiple Xerox copies of any maps and aerial photos . Plot transect locations on these copies, using the original as a reference to ensure accurate plotting. When the final project is due, transfer all necessary information to the original photos and maps.
2. The following number will access weather information: 476-7744. The newspaper, local newscasts, weather radios and web sites are other sources for weather information.