Biology class takes field trip to Mtn. View Municipal Golf Course

The Willow Springs High School Biology class attended a First Green program at Mountain View’s Municipal Golf Course on Thursday, May 2. First Green is a program of the GCSAA Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). 

 

The First Green program is a science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) environmental outreach program that uses the golf course as a living laboratory. Students participated in hands-on, outdoor learning including lessons on wildlife habitat, soil science, biology, environmental sustainability, mathematics, water conservation, water quality, career exploration and much more. Students spent time on greens, fairways, and rough attending to and observing their surroundings. 

 

“The kids really enjoyed the interaction and real life application of some things we've learned in class. They had the chance to demonstrate their knowledge, as well as learn some new things. My students were particularly interested in the TDR (time domain reflectometer). They thought it was neat how it mapped out data points on the green in order to best manage irrigation use. They were also interested in a turf grass degree. None of us really knew you could have a degree that could lead to managing something like the Chiefs or Cardinals stadium. This all correlated with ecology topics we covered in class - land management (using warm and cool season grasses), water conservation, monocultures vs. polycultures,” explained Quincy Hatch, Willow Springs High School Biology teacher.