On this episode of Sci Tripper, we'll review Don Robinson State Park. Topics include glacial relicts, St. Peter's Sandstone, LaBarque Creek watershed, and more! You'll also hear our exciting new theme song, written and produced by our family and sang by our kid. :) You can also subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcast now!!
Check out my Facebook page for pictures of our trip to Don Robinson State Park! Some of the questions we'll explore: Why do some glacial species exist in Missouri, which has no glaciers? Why do mosses look a lot like aquatic plants? How was St. Peter's Sandstone formed in Missouri? What is a watershed, and why is it so important? What to expect on the trail: Mud, lots of it!! Steep ascents and descents. Some slippery rocks. You can shorten this trail by taking the white connector, but it will still probably take you about two hours to get through it, especially if you're stopping to take in the sandstone canyon. I recommend going clockwise on this trail. Getting there: Don Robinson State Park is about 30-40 minutes from St. Louis County. I-270 S Turn right onto MO-30 W Turn right onto Gravois Rd Turn left onto S Byrnesville Rd Turn left onto Byrnesville Rd Don Robinson State Park, 9275 Byrnesville Rd, Cedar Hill, MO 63016 Recommended research links: Sierra Club LaBarque Creek LaBarque Creek Watershed Report (excellent data here!!) DNR Missouri Aquifers EPA Drinking Water Widget NASA Can Tell Where Our Rain Comes From! MDC Missouri's Icy Past
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Welcome to the inaugural blog and podcast for Sci Tripper! Today, we decided to visit a place that we had never been to before- Millstream Gardens Conservation Area, about 1.5 hours from St. Louis. On this podcast, we'll explore the following questions:
Why are Missouri forests mostly oak and hickory, and not shortleaf pine like they used to be? How did so many trees get uprooted in this conservation area? Why are there rushing waters in certain places on the St. Francis River? What is a lichen? How old are the St. Francois Mountains, and what did they have to do with the formation of Missouri's Old Lead Belt? What to expect on the trail: This is a mostly flat trail (shaded by shortleaf pines, oak, and hickory) until you get near the river overlook. There are many benches on the path. It's about a 1 mile paved hike to the river overlook. It then becomes a gravel path, as well as a rocky trek down a steep hill to the river banks. There are easier access points to the river banks on other trails near the picnic area. We didn't see many birds, but we did spy some hawks and crows. There were restrooms at the trail head. Driving there: Getting to the trail requires driving mostly on highway, until you hit some rural, hilly roads leading to the conservation area (if you're coming from St. Louis). Take 55 South to 67 South. Turn right onto SSR-H. Take a slight right onto SSR-AA. Left onto Thomas Rd. Continue onto SSR-MM. Left onto RT-72. Right onto Prairie Rd. 9534. Tiemann Shut-Ins Hiking Trail I have always wanted to create some sort of product that would mix together my love of nature, science, and travel. One of my heroes is Rick Steves. That man has cracked the code of life. He gets to travel around the world, eat delicious food, learn amazing history, and share these things with other people. I do not have the monetary means to be like Rick Steves, nor do I have the public television connections to pursue his career. (Side note to the universe- wouldn't a Sci Tripper PBS show be awesome??) So, I do the best I can, researching interesting spots around the midwest that I can drive to on weekends. In my job, I am lucky to get to research the ecology and geology of Missouri so that I can write relevant lesson plans for students in St. Louis. This leads me to some great day trip ideas for my family. I have a second grader, and it is critical to me that he gets to learn science through as many first-hand experiences as possible. Most of the time, he'd probably rather be in the basement playing LEGOs or Pokemon, but I hope that someday he looks back on these experiences with appreciation! We talk a lot about scientific connections during our excursions, and more often than not, he has plenty of observations, questions, and excitement.
Lately, I have been more formally pondering the idea for Sci Tripper. What has inspired me to finally take action? Today at work I had a meeting with a MO Prairie Foundation member who had a wealth of knowledge about Missouri's past ecosystems. As he was talking, I realized that it just wasn't right that only my brain got to hear this information. I connected his knowledge to a visit we had just made to Shaw Nature Reserve, where my family got to see prairie land firsthand. And I just felt so much joy for the natural world, which I want to share with others. My vision for this project is that I will create podcasts and accompanying blog posts that connect the road trips my family takes to the knowledge of a science expert, along with practical advice and guidance for ways to interact with road trip sites with a scientific lens. I hope that you enjoy this information! This has been a hobby of mine for a few years now, and I am excited to formalize it a little bit and share what we do with a larger audience. I would love to hear your questions and feedback as I begin to build this out. |
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