The Georgia Botanical Society

Dedicated to the study and preservation of Georgia's wild, native,
rare and endangered wildflowers and plant life

2007 Field Trip Schedule

All field trips are open to all folks interested in Georgia's native plants. Trips usually start at 10:00 am on Saturdays. Directions to the meeting site are published monthly in our newsletter, BotSoc News. Simply show up at the meeting site to join the trip. All field trips are tentative and subject to change. Before heading out to a BotSoc trip, it's a good idea to check with the contact person listed for that field trip, or the field trip chair (Mike Christison, mikepaddler@netscape.net ). We rarely cancel a trip, but they do change occasionally.

Newcomers are encouraged to ask questions and not be intimidated when some of our leaders become involved in esoteric discussions like whether that protrusion at the end of a leaf is a spine or a bristle. "What is it; how can you tell; does it have a use?" are always in order. We've heard more dumb answers than dumb questions! Many of our members simply enjoy seeing beautiful plants in natural settings, some go well beyond that. We accomodate all levels of interest enthusiastically!

GUIDELINES AND RULES:

Please be aware that these are field trips, and being outdoors, there is some risk involved. An indication fo the physical nature of the trip is included in each issue of BotSoc News so that you may determine if the trip is appropriate for your abilities. Most trips involve easy to moderate walking at a leisurely pace suitable for virtually anyone who goes outdoors. Trips marked "exploration" can mean strenuous, long, cross-counry travel in difficult terrain, and that we don't know what we're going to find. Canoe trips expect that all attending can swim and have at least novice ability at canoeing (these are NOT the time to learn!) and that personal floatation devices will be worn when on the water. Summer trips can be blisteringly hot and insects can be miserable. Trips in the mountains usually involve some strenuous stretches of trail. If you have any question about the physical nature of the trip, ask the trip leader at the site before heading out. All participants in BotSoc field trips are expected to sign a liability waiver as a condition of attending.

We do have a few rules for those attending:

• NO PLANT COLLECTING
• NO PICKING OF PLANTS
• NO "SCOPING OUT"
• STAY ON THE TRAILS
• DON'T TRAMPLE VEGETATION!

it is our policy to visit private property only with the permission of the owner.

Some field trips require a liability waiver. Please click here for a PDF file of the field trip sign-up sheet and liability waiver (updated 09/21/06).

Field Trip Writing is for YOU!

Writing field trip reports can be a challenging, fun and rewarding process - if you approach it with the right attitude. Challenging because you learn new ways of stringing plant names together; rewarding because it forces you to listen more carefully while on a field trip; and fun because it is an "easy" way to contribute to the Botanical Society. It has become even easier since the field trip report writing guidelines have been recently revised. Please click here for guidelines and helpful tips.

You may be saying, "I don't know enough to write a field trip report". Not true. If you can verbally tell someone about a field trip you have attended...then you can write a trip report! You don't have to be a polished or published writer. As Carol Howel Gomez (the current Field Trip Report Editor) told me..."An editor's job is to make YOU look good!"

There are a number of reasons why we need field trip reports: to record what has been seen, to report any interesting discoveries, and to expose BotSoc members to the great botanical treasures of Georgia. Having different (and new) people writing the reports sheds a fresh light on places that we've visited.

When I first was coerced (and that was how it happened) into writing up a field trip, it was a very scary thing indeed. I didn't know very many botanical names and what I heard seldom resembled the way it should be spelled. I ended up doing 'phonetical spelling'. I've since developed a routine that works for me even though I still do "phonetical Latin."

Here are a few hints if you would like to give field trip report writing a try. The main thing to have (besides, of course, paper and pen) is a positive attitude. You won't be able to include every plant in your article, so if you miss writing one or even several down, no big deal. If you are really worried you will miss too much or want someone to double check with, have a friend take notes also. Be sure to record the date, the trip leader's name, trip location, and the number of people present. You might also want to write down some of the names of the other people on the trip. This not only helps you learn names; it helps to jog your memory when writing.

Then, as you hike, stroll, meander or huff and puff (depending on the field trip and whether Tom Patrick is leading it or not), jot down the plants being seen. Include any interesting facts that are mentioned about plants, animals, geography, and the past history and use of the area. Anything that interests you will add interest to the article. If a funny incident occurs, jot down the main points because there is no guarantee you'll remember it later.

Write the trip report sooner, rather than later because it is MUCH harder to do two months after the fact. Don't worry about perfection; just start writing the story of your adventure, stringing some of the interesting plant names in, preferably in the order they were seen. Flesh out the story with the odd piece of humor, observation or interesting fact that you gathered during the trip. If you can't decide how to get started, just look back at previous issues of the newsletter and see whose style you likewn style. You can always contact your favorite field trip report writer for tips.

The length of the report can be short and concise or semi-long. Pilgrimage reports should be no more than 300 to 500 words long. They need to be shorter because so many are created at the same time. Regular trip reports should be no longer than 500 to 700 words.

Anita Reaves, Membership Chair

770-827-5186

members@gabotsoc.org

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