Welcome to the GPS Nature Quest Online Resources 

 

 

When you find a good resource, please add it below:

 

Great Dismal Swamp State Park

2294 US 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976

 

Phone:

252.771.6593

252.771.6582

 

Email: dismal.swamp@ncmail.net

 

 

South Mills, NC (Camden County)

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/disw/main.php

 

Additional link:

http://www.albemarle-nc.com/camden/attractions/DismalSwampStatePark/

 

 

Flora and Fauna

 

• North Carolina State University. Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs.

 

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/native/index-native.html

 

 

• North Carolina State University. Plant Fact Sheets

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/

 

 

• eNature: America's Wildlife Resources

http://enature.com/home/

 

Excellent animal resource.

 

• A Walk in the Woods: University of Illinois Extension

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/01.html

• North Carolina Division of Forest Resources

• Nature Notebook: University of Illinois Extension

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/naturenotes.html

 

• Wetlands of the Coastal Plain -- by Dirk Frankenberg

 

• Hansen, Robert S. (1996). Trees + Me=Forestry. University Park, Pa.: The Pennsylvania State University.

 

 

 

Animals

 

• Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den

 

• Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

• eNature: America's Wildlife Resource

 

Animals by Species:

 

 

• Black Bear Working with Wildlife #10. North Carolina State College of Natural Resources.  

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/pdf/www/www10.pdf

 

 

• Secret Lives of Animals: White-Tailed Deer. National Science Foundation, Kids Corner. September 25, 2006.

http://nsf.gov/news/special_reports/animals/deer.jsp

 

 

North Carolina Wildlife Resources

 

 

• Wildlife Resources. North Carolina State College of Natural Resources. 

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/wildlifepubs.htm

 

Additional wildlife publications.

 

 

• NC State Wildlife: Learn About Wildlife by Species

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/wildlife/animals/index.html

 

•  Kids Page: North Carolina Wildlife Federation Animal Tracks.

http://www.ncwildlifefederation.org/

• Learn about NC Birds. Partners in Flight

 

http://faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pif/Bird%20Profiles/bird_profiles.htm

Acorn Naturalists Online Store

 

http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Animal-Tracking-Techniques-C8.aspx?gclid=CP7DmpylnJQCFQWlQAodQhcbuQ

 

Acorn Naturalists is an online store which offers an outstanding supply of outdoor naturalist materials to purchase for classroom use.

 

 

 

Photo Sharing

 

Ovi Photo Sharing -- share.ovi.com/mymedia

Ovi is a photo sharing site. Membership is free.

 

share.ovi.com/mymedia

 

Username:  Indiana_Jones

Password:  gpsquest

 

Click on My Media

You can add photos to our site or right click any photo entered and save image to your computer.

 

 

Geocaching

 

• GPS, USGS Maps, and Compass -- http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/gps.html

 

This is the Department of Interior and Department of Geological Survey webpage about geocaching and gps. Links for educational resources are provided.

 

 

• Dr. Christie's GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators -- http://www.alicechristie.org/geocaching/steps.html

 

• Geocaching.com -- http://www.geocaching.com/

****Website cited during the GPS Nature Quest workshop.****

 

This is the official geocaching site. Links to geocaches all over the world.

 

 

• Geocaching - Wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

 

Wikipedia's article provides the history and a good overview of geocaching. In addition, Wikipedia's article also provides links to other references.

 

• Geocaching FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) -- http://www.geocaching.com/faq/

 

The geocache.com site provides this FAQ.

 

 

• TerraCaching -- http://www.terracaching.com/

 

Another geocaching site. To become a member, two other members must sponsor you.

 

 

Global Positioning System: GPS

 

• How GPS Receivers Work -- http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm

****Website cited during the GPS Nature Quest workshop.****

 

 How GPS Receivers Work, written by Marshall Brain and Tom Harris, explains how GPS receivers work.  "How Stuff Works," created by North Carolinian Marshall Brain, is one of the most incredible sites on the Internet.

 

 

 

• GPS - Wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

 

Wikipedia provides an excellent overview and explanation of the Global Positioning System or GPS.

 

 

• GPS by Garmin -- http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

 

Garmin's site also provides a good explanation of GPS and how it works. Garmin also sells GPS equipment.

 

 

Social Bookmarking/ Groups

 

• Deborah Goodman's Geocaching Diigo Bookmarks

 

http://www.diigo.com/list/dgoodman_1958/geocaching

 

Deborah Goodman is one of the NC Department of Public Instruction Teacher's on Loan technology facilitator.  She is constantly updating her geocaching bookmarks and she is the owner and administrator for the Geocaching for Educators Diigo Group.  Diigo is a free social bookmarking site.  Diigo also allows users to annotate a site and highlight the webpage.

 

Example:  Geocaching and GPS in Education - http://tinyurl.com/6xeh8n

 

 

• Brian C. Smith's Geocaching Diigo Bookmarks, Instructional Technology Rochester, NY

http://www.diigo.com/user/Briancsmith/geocaching

 

 

• Geocaching for Educators Diigo Group --also hosted and maintained by Deborah Goodman, NC Department of Public Instruction Teacher On Loan

 

  http://groups.diigo.com/groups/geocaching_for_educators

 

Free social bookmarking site.  Diigo groups are also free to join. Groups are formed around particular interests. Members in a group share bookmarks about the area of interest.  Members receive notices of new bookmarked sites through an email account.  

 

 

 

GPS and Geocache Lessons, Projects and Activities

 

 

• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - Geocaching

  http://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/ncgeocache/

 

The NC Department of Public Instruction is a great resource for teachers.

 

• GPS Activities - All Activities Sorted by Grade Level

  http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/pages/teacher_resources/gps_activities/displayall_grade_level.asp

   

 

Catawba school district in western NC has created an excellent gps resource and created lessons using the gps for grades 2-4.

 

 

•  The Science Spot: GPS and GIS Lesson Plans and Links

 

 

•  Map-It A GMT3 Map Generator

 

http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/mapit/

Enter latitude and longitude coordinates and create a simple map.

• USGS Science Resources for Primary Grades (K-6), USGS Education

http://education.usgs.gov/common/primary.htm

Excellent USGS educational resources.

 

Blogs

 

•  Geocaching in Elementary School -- Langwitches.org

 

Langwitches.org is an exceptional educational blog site.  This particular entry discusses educational geocaching.

 

 

• GPS and Geocaching with Elementary Students - Anna Baralt

http://elementarygeocaching.blogspot.com/

 

Anna Baralt is an elementary technology facilitator. This is her professional teaching blog about geocaching.

 

 

 WebQuest

 

• Oh the places you'll go -- Webquest

http://members.cox.net/inskeep/GeoQuest/introduction.htm

 

Great way to introduce students to geocaching.

 

 

Stories from the Field -- Geocaching with Students

 

 

• Cool Caches-RM246

http://www.todayscacher.com/2004/dec/caches2.asp

 

Classroom teachers using gps technolgy with their students.

 

 

EarthCaching

 

Tech Chicks - Episode 30 Podcast

Thanks to the Tech Chicks for the following links:

 

• GSA EarthCache -- http://www.geosociety.org/earthcache/

 

According to the Tech Chicks,

 

An EarthCache is an educational form of a virtual cache. The reward for these caches is learning more about the planet on which we live -

its landscapes, its geology or the minerals and fossils that are found there. Very cool for authentic earth science topics.

 

• EarthCache Site for Teachers -- http://www.geosociety.org/Earthcache_Lessons/

 

 

Podcasts

 

Podcacher -- http://www.podcacher.com/

Podcacher is a weekly podcast show about geocaching. 

 

Wikis

 

 

Organizations

 

North Carolina Geocachers Organization

http://ncgeocachers.org//

 

 

GPS Games

 

Shutterspot-- http://shutterspot.gpsgames.org/cgi-bin/sh.pl

 

According to the website:

 

Every picture tells a story...

 

Shutterspot is a game in which some players take photographs and

other players are challenged to find the exact spot where the photographer

stood when the camera shutter clicked. That's the "Shutterspot".

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

Geocaching Log Sheets- Downloads Available

http://www.techblazer.com/geocaching-log-sheets/

 

 

OziExplorer- GPS Mapping Software

http://www.oziexplorer.com/

 

Directions for Using OziExplorer-

Created by Jane Daum, Jones County High School, June 26, 2003

 

GPS to Oziexplorer

1.    Attach the download cable to the GPS unit.

2.    Open OziExplorer by going to Start/Programs/OziExplorer/OziExplorer.

3.    On the menu bar, click on Map and select Blank Map (Auto Scale).

4.    Click on Magellan and select Get Waypoints from GPS. The waypoints will be displayed in the bottom, left-hand corner of the screen as they are received.

5.    After verifying that the waypoints have transferred, click on the Save File Icon; select Export to ESRI Shape File/Waypoints to Points. Select the appropriate location for the new shape file in the Export Shape File window. Click on Save. In the Shape File Import/Export Options window, set Datum to NAD 83 and Position Format to Lat/Long, to correspond with the GPS unit. Click on OK to close the window and create the shape file of GPS points.

Oziexplorer to ArcView

1.    Open ArcView by going to Start/ESRI/ArcView 3.3/ArcView 3.3. In the window that appears, select Create a New Project/With a New View. Click OK.

2.    Click Yes to Add New Data to the View. In the Add Theme window, Chose Data Source Type/Feature Data Source. Select the appropriate shape file saved in OziExplorer. The GPS waypoints will be added to the ArcView project as a Point Theme.