Kelley Environmental Education Center - Yawgoog

Related Links - Part I

Astronomy  |  Environmental Science
Fish and Wildlife Management  |  Forestry  |  Geology  |  Mammal Study
Kelley Environmental Education Center - Part II

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Trail Guide

Unofficial

Astronomy

• Astronomy Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 6, 7B and 9A/C/D/E (if chosen) must be completed before coming to camp!
  
  
• American Astronomical Society (AAS)
  The major professional association for astronomers in North America; career information is offered.
  
  
• The Astronomical League
  A federation of amateur astronomers. Find a local astronomy club.
  
  
• Google Sky
  Displays astronomical imagery.
  
  
• Astronomy and Space Tools
  Many Web-based and downloadable (Windows) tools by John Walker, co-author of AutoCAD. Features free home planetarium software (Home Planet) and a free skymap screensaver (Sky). To use many astronomy programs, you will need to know the latitude and longitude of your location. Coordinates can be found for a given street address at MyGeoPosition.com. To see what the skies over Yawgoog look like, you can use the coordinates of Tim O'Neil Field:
  • Latitude:  41 deg 31 min 12 sec North (41 deg 31.200 min)
  • Longitude: 71 deg 46 min 35 sec West (71 deg 46.580 min)

  Note: Before downloading any software from the Internet, please make sure your computer's antivirus software is up-to-date.

• Other Free Home Planetarium Software
  • Celestia (Mac, Windows - Chris Laurel)
  • Stellarium (Mac, Windows - Fabien Chéreau)
  • WinStars (Windows - Franck Richard)
  • More choices, including web-based options, are listed in The Eight Planets site (see below).

  Note: Before downloading any software from the Internet, please make sure your computer's antivirus software is up-to-date.

• Cormack Planetarium
  At the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island.
  
  
• Earthsky Tonight
  Daily preview of what will be visible in the sky tonight.
  
  
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  Space agency of the USA.
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day
  • Jobs with NASA
  • So, you want to be an astronaut...
  
  
• The Eight Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
  A thorough description of the planets with many images. Created by Bill Arnett of the University of Arizona.
  
  
• Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
  This scientific research project collects data from radiotelescopes, searching for artificial signals. You can download the screensaver (Windows/Macintosh) and let your computer process the signals. Processed results are then uploaded back to the SETI project. (University of California - Berkeley)

  Note: Before downloading any software from the Internet, please make sure your computer's antivirus software is up-to-date.

• Sky & Telescope
  A magazine for amateur astronomers that offers a wealth of information on its Web site.
  • Almanac
  • Astrophotography
  • Clubs, Organizations, Planetariums and Observatories
  • Light Pollution
  • Interactive Sky Chart
  • Telescopes and Binoculars
  
  
• US Naval Observatory: Astronomical Applications Department
  Offers almanacs of sunrise/sunset times, moonrise/moonset times, moon phases, eclipses, and more.
  
  
• Views of the Solar System
  Another fact- and image-filled discussion of the solar system by Calvin J. Hamilton.
  
  
• Information on Light Pollution
  • International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
  • International Astronomical Union (IAU)
  
  
• Telescope Types
  Information from the Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS), Scotland.
  
  
• Celestron
  Commercial manufacturer of telescopes, binoculars and other optical equipment.
  • Telescope Basics
  • Binocular Basics

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Environmental Science

• Environmental Science Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 3B2, 3D3, 3E3, 3F1 and 3F3 (if these options are chosen) must be completed before coming to camp!
  
  
• Ecological Society of America (ESA)
  Professional association of ecologists; career information is offered.
  
  
• Endangered species
  (see Fish and Wildlife Management, below)
  
  
• Environmental Government Agencies
  Directory of environmental agencies at the state, provincial and national levels in the USA and Canada.
  
  
• The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide
  Information on how various groups of materials are recycled.
  
  
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  A non-political, non-profit organization that protects endangered ecosystems and endangered species. Has local chapters across the USA. Owns and manages part of the Long and Ell Ponds area.
  
  
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC)
  An interstate non-profit organization concerned with water quality issues.
  
  
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  Enforces many environmental regulations at the federal level and provides much public information.
  • Air Pollution
  • Brownfields
  • Career Information
  • Climate Change / Global Warming
  • Endangered Species
  • Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
  • Terms and Acronyms
  • Oil Spills
  • Ozone
  • Pollution Prevention
  • Recycling
  • Water Pollution
  • Watersheds
  
  
• Water Environment Federation (WEF)
  A professional organization focused on the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment, particularly in regard to wastewater treatment; career information is offered.

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Fish and Wildlife Management

• Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 5A, 5B, 6C and 7D (if these options are chosen) must be completed before coming to camp!
  
  
• Birding Resources
  (see Bird Study)
  
  
• Mammal Resources
  (see Mammal Study)
  
  
• Reptile / Amphibian Resources
  (see Reptile and Amphibian Study)
  
  
• American Fisheries Society (AFS)
  A professional association that seeks to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems.
  
  
• Aquarium Resources
  Tips on creating and maintaining an aquarium.
  • FINS: Fish Information Service
  • Fish Link Central
  
  
• State Fish and Wildlife Agencies / Endangered Species Programs
  
  • Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP)
    • Endangered Species
    
    
  • Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (MADFG)
    • Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
    
    
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
    • Division of Fish and Wildlife
      • Endangered and Nongame Species Program
    
    
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
    • Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources
      • Endangered Species Program
    
    
  • Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)
    • Division of Fish and Wildlife
    • Natural Heritage Program (endangered species)
    
    
  • Other States
  
  
• Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA)
  An organization of public agencies charged with the protection and management of North America's fish and wildlife resources.
  
  
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  A non-political, non-profit organization that protects endangered ecosystems and endangered species. Has local chapters across the USA. Owns and manages part of the Long and Ell Ponds area.
  
  
• US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS)
  A federal agency primarily concerned with fish and game.
  • Career Information
  • Endangered Species Program
  
  
• The Wildlife Society
  A professional association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education.
  
  
• Google Search Engine (opens new window)
  Google is probably the most popular search engine. Use it to search for the keywords mentioned in the requirements.

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Forestry

• Forestry Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 5B and 5C (if chosen) must be completed before coming to camp! If a visit with a forester is chosen for requirement 7, that must be completed before camp as well. Be sure to know what your community's water source is for requirement 3B.
  
  
• What Tree is That?
  An online tree identification tool provided by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
  
  
• American Forest and Paper Association
  A political action committee that represents the forest products industry; offers information on various paper and wood products.
  
  
• Environmental Government Agencies
  Directory of environmental agencies at the state, provincial and national levels in the USA and Canada.
  
  
• National Invasive Species Information Center
  Information from the US Department of Agriculture.
  
  
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  A non-political, non-profit organization that protects endangered ecosystems and endangered species. Has local chapters across the USA. Owns and manages part of the Long and Ell Ponds area.
  
  
• Society of American Foresters (SAF)
  The national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States; career information is offered.
  
  
• US Department of Agriculture: Forest Service
  Operates National Forests (not to be confused with National Parks); career information is offered. Also offers information about the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), which has infested many of Yawgoog's eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis).
  
  
• University of Rhode Island
  The University's College of the Environment and Life Sciences is requesting help in finding hemlock trees that are resistant to adelgids.

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Geology

• Geology Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 4A, 5B5B, 5C5A, 5C5C, and 5D5A (if these options are chosen) must be completed before coming to camp!
  
  
• Geological Society of America (GSA)
  A professional society that promotes the geosciences; career information is offered.
  
  
• American Planning Association (APA)
  A professional society of land use planners. Offers career information.
  
  
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  A professional association for the field of civil engineering. Offers career information.
  
  
• US Geological Survey (USGS)
  A federal agency that provides many services related to the earth sciences.
  • Career Information
  • Fossils, Rocks, and Time
  • National Geologic Map Database
  • Topographic Map Symbols (also as PDF)
  
  
• EarthCache
  An Earthcache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. Earthcaches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude).
  
  
• Environmental Government Agencies
  Directory of environmental agencies at the state, provincial and national levels in the USA and Canada; includes geological survey offices.
  
  
• Surface and Sedimentary Processes Resources
  • Topographic Map of Yawgoog Area
    (The Story of the Yawgoog Trails)
    
    
  • Topographic Map: Voluntown Quadrangle
    The entire 1:24,000-scale quadrangle, which includes the Yawgoog area, can be downloaded. Image editing software can be used to crop and print the map. The map is a zipped TIF file.
    (Rhode Island Geographic Information System - RIGIS)
    
    
  • Microsoft Research Maps
    Free topographic maps and aerial photographs of any location in the USA, in various scales and sizes.
  
  
• Energy Resources
  • US Department of Energy (DOE) - Office of Fossil Energy
    Oversees the exploration for and use of coal, oil and natural gas.
    
    
  • American Petroleum Institute (API)
    A trade association that represents the oil and natural gas industry. Offers career information.
    
    
  • Petroleum Glossary
    Short plain-English descriptions of terms used in the petroleum industry. Maintained by Somerton Energy Limited, Australia.
    
    
  • American Coal Foundation (ACF)
    A trade-sponsored, non-profit organization that offers educational information about the coal industry.
  
  
• Mineral Resources
  • Rocks For Kids
    Information about rocks and minerals by Elfi and Nick Berndl of GMB Services, Ontario, Canada.
    
    
  • American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
    An association of mineral and rock collecting clubs. Through the links to its regional affiliates, you can find contact information for clubs in your area. These clubs can help you locate and identify mineral and rock specimens for your collection.
    
    
  • Apple Valley Minerals, Ltd.
    Mr. Sal Avella, Proprietor
    7 Homestead Ave
    Smithfield RI  02917-3206
    Telephone: 401-231-0602
    (No Web site or e-mail address.)
    A local shop that sells mineral and rock samples and may help you identify specimens you find on your own.
    The Mineralogical Record has a biographical sketch of Mr. Avella.
    
    
  • Rhode Island Mineral Hunters (RIMH)
    A non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation and study of minerals, crystals, fossils, and all aspects of the Earth Sciences. The club has monthly meetings.
    
    
  • Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
    Maintains state highways in Rhode Island.
    
    
  • Highway Departments in Other States
    A directory maintained by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
    
    
  • National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
    A trade association.
    
    
  • BeyondRoads.com
    More information about asphalt from the Asphalt Education Partnership (AEP), a trade-sponsored organization.
    
    
  • Cement & Concrete Basics
    Information from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a trade group and political action committee.
  
  
• Earth History Resources
  • Endangered Species Program
    US Fish and Wildlife Service.
    
    
  • The Fossil Record
    A brief discussion of fossils and the environments in which organisms are found. Created by Pamela J. W. Gore of DeKalb College, Georgia.
    
    
  • Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
    A museum with a fossil collection at Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island.
    
    
  • Find Other Museums
    • American Association of Museums (AAM)
    • Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)
    
    
  • Geology Programs at Selected Local Universities
    • Brown University: Department of Geological Sciences
      Providence, Rhode Island
    • Northeastern University: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
      Boston, Massachusetts
    • University of Connecticut: Department of Geology and Geophysics
      Storrs, Connecticut
    • University of Rhode Island: Geosciences Department
      Kingston, Rhode Island
    • Yale University: Geology and Geophysics Department
      New Haven, Connecticut

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Mammal Study

• Mammal Study Merit Badge Requirements
  Boy Scouts of America^®
  Note: Requirements 4A, 4B, 4E (if these options are chosen) must be completed before coming to camp!
  
  
• American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)
  A professional association that promotes the study of mammals; career information is offered (PDF).
  
  
• Mammal Species of the World
  A directory of thousands of species of mammals. Useful in classification.
  (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History)
  
  
• Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
  Located in Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island.
  
  
• Find Other Museums
  • American Association of Museums (AAM)
  • Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)
  
  
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  A non-political, non-profit organization that protects endangered ecosystems and endangered species. Has local chapters across the USA. Owns and manages part of the Long and Ell Ponds area.