Over-Night Nature-Study Trips 

 Vaughan MacCaughey 



Honolulu, H. I. 

 For several years the writer has conducted courses, at the 

 Chautauqua Summer Schools, for teachers of nature-study. These 

 courses aim to give as much field work, and first hand contact with 

 natural phenomena, as is possible in the brief six weeks of the 

 session. Four kinds of field trips, classed on the time basis, are 

 utilized in these courses: 



1. Dawn and sunset trips, each about one hour in duration. 



2. Morning and afternoon trips of several hotirs duration. 



3 . All-da\- tramping trips, covering distances of 6 to 1 2 miles. 



4. Ch-er-night camping trips, involving two, or sometimes three 

 days. The present paper deals solely with the fourth type of 

 excursion. The other trips are well known to teachers of nature- 

 study; the over-night trip, to the author's knowledge, is but little 

 used in sxmmier school work. The writer has been much impressed 

 with the distinctively educational values of the over-night trip, 

 and has made a somewhat detailed study of its usefulness. 



Contrary^ to general belief, there are few practical difficulties 

 involved in a two-day outing. The compensations, both in direct 

 nature-study observ^ations, and of other sorts, are large, genuine 

 and unobtainable by means of the briefer trips. The following 

 data applies solely to summer conditions; suitable modifications 

 would be made during the other seasons. 



The Chautauqua Lake region, in which these trips have been 

 made, is especially favorable for field work of this nature. The 

 plan, however, may be easily adapted to any locality. By utilizing 

 local transportation facilities the party can easily get far enough 

 away from congested districts to find a satisfactory' camping place. 



At least one member of the party, preferable a man, should be 

 thoroughly familiar with camping and camp life. He will select 

 the camp site and make arrangements with the land owner for per- 

 mission to camp thereupon overnight. Many farmers are natur- 

 all}'^ suspicious of city picnickers, who are notoriously careless and 

 selfish, and who often set the woods on fire. The leader must 

 explain the purposes of the trip, and asstune responsibility for 

 leaving everything in good order. 



Our parties consisted almost exclusively of women teachers, 

 young and middle-aged, who were actively interested in natvire- 



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