California Nature Study Class and What It Did 



E. E. Balcomb. 



Professor of Nature Study Areata Normal School 



California has many advantages for Nature Study. Trips may 

 be taken and outdoor work undertaken at all seasons of the year. 

 There are no "shut-in" months. The State Normal School at 

 beautiful Areata is no exception. The new State Normal School 

 building is situated dn a hill which Nature seems to have fashioned 

 especially for the purpose. Standing in the entrance to the new 

 building one gets a magnificent view that is seldom equaled any- 

 where in the world. The eye rests upon the surf, the whitecaps, 

 and then wanders out, out and out on the almost limitless rolling 

 waters of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes a great vessel with all 

 its white sails bellied by the breeze and painted against the azure 

 blue sky may be sighted. At another time, it is an ocean steamer, 

 proudly plowing Pacific's placid waters. Glancing to the South 

 one surveys the Bay, while to the East are the foothills of the 

 mountains covered with the world-famous Redwoods. In fact, 

 not many years ago the very site of the Normal School itself was 

 the home of giants of world renown. 



The class was composed of girls graduated from high schools, 

 and now preparing to teach — all Juniors except one. They took 

 a great interest in the work from the first day. Their joy was the 

 keenest however, when they were on a field trip. 



One day, they took their butterfly nets, trowels, knives and 

 other instruments for gathering specimens, together with an ample 

 lunch, and started on a long anticipated trip. They went thru 

 the forest and rested a little while in the Redwood Park of the 

 local city. One bird was discovered in the Park, but birds are 

 rare in the Redwoods, and their stretches strangely silent of 

 winged singers' songs. 



Leaving the Park, entering the public road, and climbing a 

 famous hill, gave them a magnificent panoramic view of the Bay, 

 the City and the famous dairy flats, extending to the Pacific 

 Ocean. 



They ate their lunch in an open field. The picture shows 

 a small part of the Class doing justice to this very necessary and 

 pleasant part of a long Nature Study Trip. While eating, they 

 added half a dozen more birds to their list. After following tlie 



271 



