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Campus Biodiversity

Activity

Estimating Plant Diversity with Quadrats

Create a 4×4 foot square (quadrat) outdoors with sticks, tubing, string, etc. Estimate how many different types of plants you observe in that square. Extrapolate how many types of plants live in your yard or community space based on the number of species within that square.

Science Seed

It is impossible to count every species in a habitat, so scientists use quadrats for sampling purposes! These squares of a set size are placed in areas of an ecosystem to help determine plant and animal species in the area. Information from these quadrats is then often used as baseline data to help monitor an area and species over time. Quadrats are even used to measure the health of coral reefs!

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.