Our class "ELITE BIO 102" field trip to "Walker Nature center" was a fun way to end the semester. It wasn't exactly the perfect weather that morning. It was quite cold and not everyone was excited about walking between the dried up trees. However, we managed to find different living things that we studied in class. The center was split into two main trails,so we ended up splitting into two unorganized groups that went to each one. The first thing I noticed as i was walking through the trail was that all the berry trees had the spiny green leaves while all the other trees didn't have much leaves left. We talked about evergreen shrubs and how those leaves adapt to the cold weather. The other interesting thing that caught my eye was the Oyster mushrooms that grow on trees in a shelf-like pattern. I liked how when the sunlight hit them they had a little glaze that sparkled on top of the white part. I discovered later that those mushrooms can be used in different types of foods, and they are pretty good. The moss on the bottom of the trunks is something we all see every time we walk in a park, but this time it was more appealing since I actually know what it is after talking about it in class (its nature and the need for water to reproduce.) As we walked further we noticed the presence of some small animals such as birds(woodpeckers) and some squirrels,which are really common in this area, running and flying around to find resources (plants, insects.etc...)

One of the nice supervisors that works there talked to us briefly about the center and told us how they have the area,in front of the main building, designated for specific plants that they put there. She also mentioned how they count the birds that come for food in that area ,and use it for research purposes. We didn't really find any interesting life form in the streams or the lake, beside the ducks. 

Finally, the trip came to an end where we met with the other group of students that went to the MORE interesting trail and got some shots of deer and other exciting living creatures. Dr. Fitzgerald however told us that even though it was cold and not a lot of animals were present. It's better than coming in the summer where all the bugs are hovering around our heads and the leaves cover everything in sight. I guess I can't say I'm sad for not coming on a hot summer morning. because i really don't like bugs.