engaging arts and citizen science
arts activated environmental stewardship
DOCUMENT SPRING 2020
OACC’s Document Spring is a program of environmental storytelling that mashes up the arts, citizen science and environmental research. It provides opportunities for students, community members, artists, environmentalists and scientists to come together to celebrate the arrival of spring. Document Spring fosters environmental stewardship through experiential connection: providing guided nature expeditions, classroom and online instruction, exhibitions, orientations, and an annual environmental storytelling and stewardship summit – connecting people and telling the story of change within the Natural World.
Together we make a difference
INTRODUCTION
Document Spring
The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.
Environmental Storytelling
Document Spring embraces our shared connection with the natural world – the individual journey of the research scientist, citizen scientist, photographer, dancer, poet, journalist, painter, and artist.
Facilitation
Document Spring is guided by a panel of expert phenologists, naturalists, and environmental managers whose skills help participants experience spring’s arrival in selected environments. Educational materials, presentations, and classroom instruction are available.
Compilation and Annual Exhibition
Data and artwork are compiled digitally and archived from year to year with an annual exhibition of the year’s expeditions.
2020
Expeditions
Overview
Participants assemble for a brief orientation to the environment from an informed naturalist, receive helpful observation tips, review program expectations and break into smaller groups for a guided nature experience.
Participants reconvene to review and share their observation and experience with each other. Instructions for sharing data and art with the project are made available.
About 2020 Expedition Schedule
Weekday expeditions have been scheduled to provide for student and teacher participation during regular scheduled school days.
Saturday expeditions have been scheduled to provide for opportunities for family and community participation.
All expeditions are open to the public but require advance registration to provide for adequate staffing.
EXPEDITION SCHEDULE | REGISTRATION
iNaturalist DOCUMENT SPRING 2020 The citizen science portion of the program utilizes the iNaturalist app where participants upload observations to its database and the Document Spring 2020 iNaturalist project therein.
The app is free, quite easy to use, fun and helpful in identifying species of plants and animals. Learn more about project protocols, register with iNaturalist and our project, and participate as a citizen-scientist.
iNaturalist ORIENTATION MARCH 19
ATTEND KICK-OFF APRIL 2 ZEITGEIST
2020 VISION - APRIL 2, ZEITGEIST TEATRO
CONVENE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STORYTELLING
APRIL 21, FDL TRIBAL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE
A bull moose in velvet! This skin-like tissue is packed with blood vessels and feeds nutrients to the growing bone antlers atop its head. By late summer the rack will be fully grown and the velvet will slough off.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures
A green frog sits in a pensive pose 🤔. Amphibians and reptiles are known as “ectothermic”, meaning they rely on external sources to regulate their body temperatures. This is why one can often see frogs or turtles “sunning” themselves on logs, rocks, lily pads, or the shoreline of a water bodies.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #frog #frogprince #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #woodfrog #laowa15mm
Leucism is a rare genetic mutation in an animal which can eliminate color in patches or across its entire body. The skin and eyes remain their normal pigment and color. This is a leucistic baby red squirrel outside its natal den in a sugar maple.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #leucistic #leucism #redsquirrel
This time of year many amphibians, including this female wood frog are migrating to ephemeral bodies of water to spawn. Next to her are the jelly-like egg masses which will develop and hatch into tadpoles in a number of days. Taken in my backyard pond!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #frog #frogprince #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #woodfrog
A fishing spider stalks the lake’s edge. These are Minnesota’s largest spiders—its body up to an inch long and with its legs can be several inches across! They will hunt for large insects and small vertebrates. Perched vertically on this lichen covered rock I could see the predator’s single thread trip wires spread out on the surface, alerting it of incoming prey.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #minnesota_captures
Flowering Blue bead lily (Clintonia borealis) near Crescent Lake in the Superior National Forest. The berries may resemble a blueberry, but they are toxic—do not eat!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #minnesota_captures
White tail deer in velvet. Looks like there’s some growing yet to happen!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #velvet #velvetbucks
While fishing this morning a beaver swam right out in front of me, hauled itself out onto the rocky ledge and promptly fell asleep...on his tail. All four limbs rested on its paddle-like tail as if it was a cushion. First time I’ve seen that kind of beaver behavior!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #beaverbehavior
A female blue spotted salamander in a tiny stream side pool. These are the most common salamander in Minnesota. Much of their time is spent in woodlands under leaf litter and woody debris—making them hard to find. This water is much too fast! She will seek a still-watered pond to lay her eggs.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #salamander
A wolf exploring its territory in the Superior National Forest this past fall.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #superiornationalforest #trailcam #trailcamjunkie #trailcamology #gamecam #gamecamera #remotecamera #cameratrap #cameratrapping
There are many challenges to life in the wild. The adaptations of wildlife and their ability to exist and thrive blows my mind. This red fox only has one eye...I didn’t notice until he came closer. Good luck buddy—you’re tough 💪
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures
This mushroom is in the genus Amanita, which contains around 600 species, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms (the “death cap” is one example) found worldwide! People have mistaken a few of the edible species in this genus...which is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning (Source: Wikipedia, Amanita, CC BY-SA 3.0).
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #minnesota_captures #fungusamongus
Snowshoe hare have transformed to their summer pelage of mostly brown. Only the tips of this ones feet and ears are still white. Also, the ticks are out...check out that engorged wood tick on its face—yikes!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures
While letting our kittens play in the yard (on harnesses and leashes of course!) they discovered this mouse family tucked down in the long grass. I counted 6 babies all tangled up in a bundle, waiting for their mother to return. I carefully tucked them back in after a few quick shots.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #babymouse #mouse
Harrya is a fungal genus in the family Boletaceae. Growing out of the side of this rocky outcropping laden with moss, high up on the side of Marshall mountain, I am continually amazed where I see fungus establishing itself.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #minnesota_captures #fungusamongus
It's funny how when you get better at photography people tell you to stop taking pictures of the flowers in your backyard. It's cliche, it's too simple, it's too common. Well here's my challenge to any established photographer out there: go back to the flowers. Use all your skills and your trained eye to recapture the flowers. Showcase your local nature like you never could before.
I'm going to challenge yabeautifulphoto temptheworld a_fergusonphoto (if you have time) and christian.larsen.nyc
_______________________________
#photogflowerchallenge #photojournalism #photography #spring #bloom #blossom #flowers #toad #birds #nature #backyard #naturephotography #stilllife #art #artphotography #documentspring
This blue spotted salamander was found under a log in a deciduous forest. They eat a variety of insects, earthworms, spiders and snails. This time of year they will breed in temporary woodland ponds.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #bluespottedsalamander #salamander #jaycookestatepark #jaycooke
The Mimosa trees are blooming again. #SWAUtrivia :: that's what our annual banquet is named after, dating back to the early 1920s. The Mimosa trees would bloom every spring and the end of the year picnic/banquet was hosted in center campus under the Mimosa trees. #swauphotos #documentspring #spring #mimosaflower
Today marked the first day of “Document Spring” a citizen science and photography project in collaboration with the Oldenburg House, Jay Cooke State Park, and Boulder Lake ELC. I am honored to be the lead photographer for this project. Today on our nature safari we found a spot where a barred owl met an unfortunate fate.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #minnstagramers #minnesota_features #savethebwca #friendsbwcaw #minnesota_captures #northwoods #documentspring #spring #citizenscience #inaturalist #barredowl #feather #feather_perfection #ethicalowlphoto #ethicalowlphotos #blowininthewind #boulderlakeenvironmentallearningcenter #oacc
Seasonal ponds are host to a variety of life that make up the base of the food chain. This time of year many amphibians, including this wood frog are migrating to these bodies of water to spawn. I have been hearing their calls for the past few weeks oldenburghouse
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#landscapephotography #capturemn #oacc #documentspring #captureminnesota #onlyinmn #onlyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #exploremn #exploreminnesota #northwoods #northernmn #mnproud #amphibians #amphibiansofinstagram #frog #frogprince #minnesotaexposure #minnesota_captures #woodfrog