More on Soundscape

Basically the efforts of the listening center results in a few different graphics once I run the data through the 'R' program. I find that the bar graph is the most understandable. The listening center, I analyze 8 days for every site, and each day is split into 10 seconds for every 2 minutes. This comes down to 2 hours worth of data that I listen to. Every sound I hear has a code that I enter, like 2.4 is a truck, 9.1 is a domestic dog or 23 for thunder. When I run the results through the AMT program I can chose any code that I want highlighted on the graph. Right now I have run the program to highlight all vehicle sounds as compared to all audible noises. The nice thing about the resulting graph is that is is easy to compare different seasons at one site or to compare the same seasons at the same site. The graphs that I have included are for the same site but at different seasons. You can see that traffic is audible for a higher percentage of time than in the summer, I am going to assume that the lack of foliage in winter is what has resulted in this difference. 

As you can guess being able to run this graph for almost any possible noise, man made and natural, can be both interesting and informative. The information in these graphs and in the other soundscape data can allow parks to establish base line acoustical data and allow them to make informed management decisions. Some parks like Zion have soundscape management plans, the Grand Canyon used the information to help develop air tour management plans and Yellowstone used soundscape information in their winter use plan. I encourage you to visit the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies website if you are interested in more information about soundscape.

Parades

Chelsea (right) and I at the Homestead Days Parade

I have been able to participate in two different parades since I have started working at Homestead National Monument. I got to ride in the Beatrice Rural Fire truck with fellow SCA intern Chelsea Schrage,  in the Homestead Days Parade. The truck was just part of Homestead National Monument's entry in the Homestead Days Parade. The monument's entry also included homesteading decendents carrying  flags of the 30 homesteading flags and a group of AmeriCorps (NCCC) group dress in period clothing carrying flags celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act. The parade was a great way to remind the community that there is a National Park Service site in their backyards!

The monument has participated in many parade this season in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas. I had the opportunity to march in the Diller, Nebraska parade with Chelsea and some volunteers.  The Diller parade was a part of the 'Party on the Plains' community picnic.

Diller NE parade

The monument is schedule to participate in many more parades this season in southeast Nebraska, including the Wilber Czech Festival parade. Keep an eye open if you are at any parades in southeast Nebraska because there is a good chance that someone will be in it representing the monument!

The Freeman School

Freeman School

The Freeman school is part of Homestead National Monument and is open to visitors 1-4pm all summer or any other time by request.

The school opened in 1872 and remained in operation until 1967. While the main purpose of the building was to be a school, it also served many other purposes such a a meeting place for the First Trinity Church, polling station for Blakely Township and a meeting area for clubs and organizations. The school was donated to the National Park Service in 1970 and it was restored to look like it would have in the late 1800's.

In many homesteading communities a school was built before permanent housing. Homesteader felt that education was important, plus school buildings could be used for many community gatherings.

 The school offers the chance to see 'virgin' prairie, since the land served a a playground for the school children it was never plowed. Another interesting fact associated with the Freeman school is a court case started by Daniel Freeman in 1899. Mr. Freeman was upset when he found out that the teacher at the school was reading from the bible to the school children. He asked the teacher to stop but she refused. The court case went all the way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which sided with Daniel Freeman in 1902. The Nebraska Constitution stated "No sectarian instruction shall be allowed in any school or institution supported in whole or in part by funds set apart for educational purposes."

There is also some debate as to who the school may be named after, Daniel or Thomas Freeman. The two men were unrelated but both prominent in the school district. Thomas Freeman was also paid $100.15 for the brick he provided to build the school.

The school is very interesting and offers events like a spelling bee that takes place in September. You can find more information on the school and the monument at the monuments website.

The beginning of another journey

Paper Plate Award from FLCC's chapter of The
Wildlife Society- Most likely to be caught in
Nebraska

For anybody that knows me, you know that I am always up for an adventure. For those that do not know me, I spent the fall 2008 semester studying in Cyprus and traveling around Europe, including a stop in Egypt. I also spent a week in Costa Rica in 2003. I have been to Ontario, Canada a few times too. I have also traveled around the United States, with family, school and for work. I have been to many National Park Service sites including the Statue of Liberty, FDR's house, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Great Basin, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, Mount Rushmore and Homestead National Monument.

I have decided to start this blog to share my current adventure.  I am currently interning with the Student Conservation Association (SCA, AmeriCorps) at Homestead National Monument of America in Beatrice, Nebraska. My post will be mostly about my current experience, but I may add in some post about interesting things I have done or places I have been in the past.