Patio Talk 1: The Mini “Dinosaurs” of Zion

 

Topic: Lizards

Tangibles: Lizards

Intangibles: Childhood memory, beauty, respecting wildlife

Universal Concept: Knowledge, respect

Theme: Learning general facts about lizards and meet three common

     lizards that live in Zion National Park.

Length: 20-30 minutes

Site: Back patio

Goal: To have the visitors learn interesting facts about lizards and to

 teach them that they have to respect the wildlife.

Objectives:

• Visitors will know general facts about lizards.

• Visitors will get to know three species that live in Zion.

• Visitors will learn ten great and amazing facts about lizards.

Material: Plastic lizard, lizard photos

 

Pre-Introduction: Get to know the people by asking them where they are from.

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Introduction:

Show the visitors the Map & Guide and explain the shuttle system in a few words. Also ask about who is doing the Junior Ranger book, and let them know that the patio talk will fulfill the requirement of the ranger-led program. Last, I will introduce myself.

 

Content:

Starting off with a little story why I call them mini dinosaurs. Then I’ll talk about general facts about lizards including their breeding and living behavior, what they do when a predator approaches them, how long they have been living, and how many species exist.

Next I will introduce three common lizards from Zion. All three of them have a name (Bully, Spike, Stripy), and with the help of a little story I will tell the most interesting facts about the three species.

I will end the patio talk with the 10 coolest facts about lizards.

 

Conclusion:

The visitors should walk away with a bigger knowledge of lizards and the safety message that wildlife should not be, approach, touched, or fed.

 

References:

• Jones and Lovich, Lizards of the American Southwest, 2009

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Patio Talk 2: Survive Zion and Let Zion Survive

 

Topic: Backpacking and Survival in Zion National Park

Tangibles: Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, other things for camping,

Zion wilderness, Zion National Park

Intangibles: Backpacking experience, the beauty of the backcountry,

   ethics about LNT, respect

Universal Concept: Beauty, fun, respect, knowledge

Theme: Learn how to survive in Zion and how to let Zion survive.

Length: 30 – 35 minutes.

Site: Back patio.

Goal: That the visitor learn about the backcountry of Zion and how to

survive there, and how to treat the nature with respect when following

the seven LNT principles.

Objectives:

• The visitors will know what to bring on a backcountry trip and what you could eat.

• The visitors will know where to hike in the Zion Wilderness area.

• The visitors get to know the seven LNT principles.

Materials: Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sunscreen, water, pictures of other camping material.

Introduction: Greeting and ask people what language they are speaking. Intoducing myself and the junior ranger book. Introducing the Zion backcountry and explaining what backpacking is.

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Content and Methods:

Asking who went backpacking before, and what they brought with them. Afterwards I will show what to bring and back it in my backpack.

I will make a transaction from backing a cooking stove, to what could be eating on a regular backpacking day.

I will explain where to backpack in Zion and the information listed in the wilderness guide.

This information will be followed by the seven principles of LNT, and I will end my main patio talk with two cool facts, which are what you can do with baking soda in the wilderness, and how to make a backpack out of jeans.

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Conclusion:

I will end in referring to the wilderness desk and that they have to get a permit if they are interested in hiking in the backcountry of Zion. And that they should keep  the LNT principle in mind to survive Zion and to let Zion survive.

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References:

• Camping & Wilderness Survival by Paul Tawrell.

• Leave no Trace by Will Harmon.