News Release

All Campus

Cerro Coso Offers Weekend Field Trips in Natural History Studies

June 2, 2008

Do you want to escape the heat this summer and go somewhere cool, pretty and educational? Cerro Coso Community College is offering the following two Biology field trip classes this summer to study the natural history of the Sequoia and Bristlecone Forests.

The first class is Biology C171 (CRN #50022) - Natural History Studies of the Sequoia Forests.  This 0.50 unit class is scheduled for all day Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29, 2008. Students must register before June 25, 2008. This field course is a study of the Sequoia Forests of the southern Sierra Nevada, the geology, past and present climate, ecology, life cycle of the giant trees, and the flora and fauna associated with the isolated groves. In addition, you'll study many different types of trees and how to distinguish them by their needles, cones, bark, and shape. The class will camp near Redwood Meadow, possibly a "dry camp" (which is free). Field trips and some hiking required. Students in the IWV Campus area will meet in the Albertsons parking lot, located at 927 S. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. Students from other Cerro Coso Community College sites will need to contact the instructor, Janet Westbrook (760) 375-8371 or email her at jwest@ridgenet.net to set up a place to meet. The direct link to register for this class is http://banweb.kccd.edu.

The second class is Biology C161 (CRN #50021) - Natural History Studies of the Bristlecone Forests. This 0.50 unit class is scheduled for all day Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3, 2008. Students must register before July 30, 2008. This field course is a study of the Bristlecone Pine Forest of the White Mountains, the geology, past and present climate, ecology, and the flora and fauna associated with the isolated groves. Saturday the class will visit the Schulman Grove of trees and walk past trees that are well over 4,000 years old. The schedule for

Sunday is to visit the scraggly trees of the Patriarch Grove at the elevation of 11,500 feet. The class may proceed on up to the UC Research Labs at an elevation of 12,500 feet. Students may camp at 7,500 feet at the group camp or stay in a motel in Big Pine. Field trip and hiking at high altitudes required. Students in the IWV Campus area will meet in the Albertsons parking lot, located at 927 S. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. Students from other Cerro Coso Community College sites will need to contact the instructor, Janet Westbrook by email at jwest@ridgenet.net or phone her at (760) 375-8371 to set up a place to meet. The direct link to register for this class is http://banweb.kccd.edu.

A minimum number of registered students per class are required by the Wednesday before the class trip to prevent cancellation, so if you are interested, don't wait to register! Register today. Students must provide their own transportation. Carpooling is highly encouraged! Upon registration, more information will be mailed to you with additional details of the trip. If you should have questions, please contact the instructor, Janet Westbrook.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230