TRiO Math/Science Upward Bound

Summer 2004 

The theme of Summer 2004 was "Digging Deep: every layer has a story."

After a few days of team-building exercises and map training, with compass and GPS preparation for fieldwork, the students split into research groups and began their journey.

The Paleontology and Geology groups headed straight for Fort Peck, Montana, where they spent two-weeks acting as paleontologists and geologists.  The group was led by instructors JP Cavigelli and Scott Patterson, both experts in their fields.  Also accompanying us was paleontologist Ralph Nichols, who is associated with the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman.

During the day, the paleontology students ventured off to the badlands to look at fossils on the Bureau of Land Management’s land.  Patt Dunn, a local rancher, also welcomed us onto his land again where the students were able to work on a Triceratops dig site.  We removed a jaw and a small portion of the skull ourselves!

While the paleontologists were busy bone hunting, the geologists explored the many layers of Earth in northeastern Montana. By the end of their exploration, the students could describe what the Fort Peck environment looked like many, many years ago.

A third group traveled to Yellowstone National Park. While in Yellowstone, a group of students were taught how to "interpret" the kind of organisms found in thermal features.  Through hands-on activities, the group learned what causes each kind of thermal feature and how to assess its outflow in terms of temperature and chemical signature.

Also in Yellowstone, another group of students focused on wildfire management. Joined with another Upward Bound from The University of Idaho, these students learned about fire behavior, measured forest fuel plots in the park, and visited burned areas.  They also learned about fireproofing areas surrounding structures.

Not all of the students this year traveled. Students interested in engineering chose to stay on campus and participate in a bridge building research project.  This project focused on the engineering behind large structures made with popsicle sticks.  The students were divided into teams where they designed, built and tested their structures. They compiled data during their challenges and then applied statistical formulas to find the mean, median, mode, standard deviations, and probabilities to make predictions.  The final challenge was to see which teams’ bridge held the most weight, with the winner holding 900 pounds.

• Birch Creek orientation retreat, with workshops and a low ropes course
• Virginia City play and barbeque
• Crystal Park and Elkhorn Hot Springs in the Pioneer Mountains
• Butte 4th ofJuly parade and campus tour at Montana Tech
• Orienteering contest at Mineopa and Twin Lakes
• Rock-climbing and picnic at Barrett's

  
  And what would an Upward Bound Program be without lots and lots of college preparation?  Our college readiness series included the following sessions:
  

   
   
   

•  Financial Aid and You
• Library Research and the Hidden Internet
• College Admissions
• SAT Night
• Scholarship Search
• Intro to College (Bridge Scholars Panel)
• College Research
• Campus tours:  UM Western, Montana Tech, BSU, and MSU
• Writing Strategies
• Learning Strategies