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: Education for a healthy world: Inspired by information or relationships?; The current educational system promotes, and develops paradigms that are inherently unhealthy for the natural world and for humans. Even the current environmental education programs are not successful because they try to solve environmental problems using the same paradigms that created environmentally destructive behaviors in the first place. The problem is, information alone will not inspire people to change their paradigms. People need to have a direct relationship with the landscape so a paradigm shift is motivated by a sense of care rather than obligation.

: Educational and Meaningful Time Outdoors: Cultivating Environmentl Stewardship in Local Youth; Environmental problems are exponentially growing more common, entering the transnational and global arenas of resource management, conservation, and policymaking. Carbon Dioxide emissions, along with emissions from other damaging gases, are contributing to alarming rises in global temperature. In 2018, the United Nations declared that Carbon emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 in order to avoid a 1.5˚C increase in global temperature relative to pre-industrial levels (IPCC, 2018). Soil erosion and desertification are compromising the security of food systems and the livelihood of many farmworkers. In fact, climate change exacerbates soil erosion which contributes to more surface runoff, poorer vegetation coverage, and overall land degradation (JDP, 2013). Overconsumption and waste are resulting in significant resource strain and depletion. With food resources alone, the United States is predicted to waste around 30% to 40% of the food supply (USDA). Overall, these instances contribute to a whopping fifteen out of twenty-four existing ecosystem types facing immense environmental threats and subsequent degradation (MA, 2005). These issues, while easily dismissed as isolated problems, are interrelated and exert disproportionate impacts on different geographic areas, demographics, and communities. Every living being on the planet, especially the human species, will inevitably be impacted by climate change and environmental issues. Ample existing scholarship declares that environmental stewardship may serve as a feasible solution for climate change. Environmental stewardship is a broad term but can be simplified as actions aimed at environmental protection taken at any scope ranging from individual and local to governmental and global (Bennett et al, 2018, p. 597). This research investigates the relationship between spending meaningful and educational time in nature and resulting environmental stewardship. A brief discussion of environmental stewardship is presented, following with a detailed overview of the research design. It is concluded that, despite the difficulty scaling this research outward, there may be a positive correlation between hands-on environmental learning and resulting environmental stewardship. It is concluded that further replication and investigation is necessary.

: Effect of Survey Response Format on Participant Response; Poster presented at 7th Annual Natural & Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fort Lewis College.

: Effect of Survey Response Format on Participant Response; Self-report scales are used in abundance across several different professional areas. It is important to understand how wording, anchors, and formats can affect final results. In addition, short forms of scales are important for use in busy clinical and medical settings. Our experiment tested two different short anxiety scale formats in order to determine if responses would vary, and whether they would correlate with longer anxiety scale versions. For this study, we chose a Likert 10-point scale and a Visual Analogue scale represented by a line with beginning and end anchors. Our results did not support our hypothesis that we would find a difference in anxiety scores between the two scale formats. However, we did find order interaction effects such that when people responded to the number, they scored higher if they saw that version first before the line version. Finally, both short scales correlated with a longer version. Although both scale types can be used in gathering data, we did find that the Likert scale was easier to score and left less possibility of researcher error.

: Effects of Phytostabilization Soil Ammendment Application Techniques; Eolian and hydrologic dispersal of mine tailings is highly destructive to the health of surrounding ecosystems, watersheds, and subsequent local populations. The objective of the study was to examine cost effective methods to reclaim these increasingly common mining wastes in a manner which moves through productive stages while building towards a state of climax or historic ecological communities. Using soils collected from mine tailings local to the Silverton area, organic matter and mycorrhizal fungi were added to soils by incorporation and topdressing methods to determine the overall utility of each. Subsequent germination/survivorship, height, and dry mass measurements were made. Height of barley plants exposed to organic matter and mycorrhizae was greater (P<0.01) than those not exposed. Likewise height of Birdsfoot trefoil plants exposed to organic matter and mycorrhizae was also greater (P<0.05). Resulting growth provides valuable forage for wildlife and adds much needed organic matter to developing soil communities.

: Effects of Rapid Rehydration on Exercise Induced Dehydration: A Comparison Between Water and Gatorade; The purpose of this experiment was to identify which fluid, water or Gatorade G3, would promote the best rehydration after a bout of moderate exercise. Participants (n=6; four male and two female) were subjected to initial testing of urine specific gravity (USG), urine color (Ucol), Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to measure body water content (L), and weight (lb.). Subjects then completed a trial of moderate treadmill running to promote up to 2% loss of body weight. The subjects then consumed 150% of body weight loss (in mL) to promote rehydration in a rapid timeframe (one hour). After consuming the fluid, the same tests were done to record any changes in USG, Ucol, BIA or weight. This test was repeated once more using the alternate fluid from the first trial. Using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, results showed significant (p<.05) results in pre and post measurement of USG only. The pre test data (M=1.0148±.00857) showed slightly higher USG than the post test data (M=1.008±.00680). The results of this study show that consuming either fluid will help decrease USG, resulting in better hydration. These results also suggest that although Gatorade markets better rehydration than water alone, there is no significant difference in any area tested other than USG. Furthermore, there is no significant difference between water or Gatorade, simply between pre and post test measures. This reiterates that consuming either fluid after exercise helps promote rehydration.

: Effects of Restoration Fire Treatments on Avian Communities in Warm/Dry Mixed Conifer Forests, Southwest Colorado; Warm/dry mixed conifer forests are dominated by fire-tolerant ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and mesic species such as white fir (Abies concolor), and aspen (Populus tremuloides). Fire suppression over the last century has caused an increase in tree density a shift towards more mesic species composition that has moved the forest away from its historical make-up (Korb et al., 2012). Change in forest structure away from historical conditions increases the potential for future wildfires to be on a larger scale (compared to pre-1880 fires) that may result in novel ecosystems (Grissino-Mayer et al., 2004; Korb et al., 2012). Warm/dry mixed conifer forests host a large community of avian species that depend on variety of forest structure for survival. We used birds as indicator species because they are conspicuous, mobile, and easily identifiable, and therefore have been widely recognized as valuable indicators of environmental condition (Brock & Webb, 1984). Hypothesis: The control stands will contain indicator species that are seed specialists and foliage insectivores (Garcia, 2011; Russel et al., 2009). Burn only and thin/burn stands will see an increase in cavity dwellers such as woodpeckers (Hutto, 2008; Horton & Mannan, 1988). Aerial foragers and ground foragers will increase in burn only stands (Horton & Mannan, 1988). To quantify differences in avian richness and abundance among three forest restoration treatments (control, burn only, and thin/burn) seven years post-treatment in warm/dry mixed conifer across summer months. To quantify differences in avian communities and identify indicator avian species associated with each forest restoration treatment.

: Effects of Sodium Nitrite on Xenopus Tadpoles; Chemical preservatives are used in preserving meats. Preservative use has been linked to a number of health problems. To study the developmental effects of one preservative chemical, sodium nitrite, Xenopus tadpoles were selected as a model organism, because of their sensitivity to toxicity and ability to thrive in captivity. I hypothesized that tadpoles exposed to sodium nitrite would show decreased average weight, increased mortality rate, and decreased developmental progress compared to control tadpoles. Fifty Xenopus tadpoles were exposed to sodium nitrite at a concentration of 5mg/L; an additional 50 tadpoles were used as a control. The experiment was conducted for six weeks; 25% of the water volume was filtered three times weekly, and a heater was used to ensure optimal water conditions. Average weight, mortality rate, and limb bud development was then compared between the experimental and control groups. Comparing the average weights of the two groups using a Student's t-test revealed a p-value of .00916, demonstrating a statistical difference between the groups. It was also found that only 26% of the experimental tadpoles died compared to 40% of the control tadpoles. Limb bud development was also found to be more advanced in the experimental rather than control tadpoles. These results did not support my original hypothesis that predicted sodium nitrite would have a detrimental effect on tadpole survival and development. However, additional research found that sodium nitrite must be converted within organisms into dimethylntrosamine in order to have toxic effects; this chemical conversion of may have been blocked by the presence of vitamin C and K3 in the tadpole food given to both groups. Results also indicate that sodium nitrite has the potential to serve as a promoter of growth and development in some organisms. Future research on the different effects of various preservatives on organisms will help further elucidate their potential impact on cellular growth and development.

: Effects of Sudden Aspen Decline on Large Mammalian Activity in Southwestern Colorado, USA; Sudden aspen decline (SAD) is when aspen experience branch dieback, crown loss, and rapid mortality due to increased temperatures and reduced moisture availability. Aspen forests provide key habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. We conducted a study to quantify species richness and abundance of large mammals among different SAD levels based on recent crown loss (RCL): low SAD (0-25% RCL), moderate SAD (25.1-50% RCL) and high SAD (50.1-100% RCL) and in coppice harvest treatments on the San Juan National Forest, southwestern Colorado (N=7/SAD level/coppice harvest). We used motion-sensor cameras and scat counts to quantify large mammalian richness and abundance throughout the summer. Native large mammalian communities were significantly different between low SAD and harvest stands and between moderate and high SAD and harvest stands. Deer abundance was significantly greater in high SAD stands. Deer utilized high SAD stands at night more often than during the morning or afternoon. Elk abundance was significantly greater in moderate SAD stands than other SAD levels or harvest stands with the highest abundance in June when snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) provides food resources early in the growing season. There were no differences in bear abundance amongst SAD levels; however, no bears were recorded in harvest stands. Cows were significantly greater in high SAD and harvest stands than other SAD levels. Our results provide land managers information on how changes in aspen forest structure due to SAD or coppice harvest treatments alter both native and non-native large mammalian activity.

: Effects of an Olympic Lifting Program Compared to a Resistance Lifting Program on 40 Yard Dash Times; Football athletes have always been taught that the benchmark in speed for their sport is the 40 yard dash. Having a fast 40 yard dash can be the difference between a player getting drafted and never seeing the professional ranks. The purpose of this study was to document the effects of two different weight lifting plans on 40 yard dash times and compare them to each other to see if one program is better in enhancing performance than the other. Thirteen subjects were tested over a 12 week period: 6 of them in a Resistance Program and 7 in an Olympic Program. Each subject was from age 24 - 36. Each subject was tested at three times in their 40 yard dashes: before the weight training program (week 0), at the mid way point (week 6), and at the conclusion of the programs (week 12). Each testing scenario (pre, mid, and post) consisted of two trials and the faster of the two was taken for the study. A two way ANOVA with replication was used to analyze the data. The results showed that there was no significant data between groups but showed significance between pre and post tests in both groups. So we reject our alternative hypothesis and accept the null because there was no statistical difference between the groups. This means that each program showed improved 40 yard dash times but when compared to each other there was no real difference in their effects. This can have meaning to strength coaches, football coaches and any performance enhancing coach because implementing Olympic lifts into a regimen is not as beneficial to improving speed. Although a lifting program does improve speed, adding complex explosive lifts does not mean increased performance. They may in fact turn to working on running form instead of extra hours in the weight room.

: Electric Field Harvesting; The growing number of battery dependent small power consuming portable electronic devices warrants research of harvesting energy as a mode of augmenting or in some cases replacing batteries. There are several sources of electric fields that can provide this energy, some occurring naturally. Many of these sources have been thoroughly examined. The fair-weather electric field of the Earth is an electric field that is created by thunderstorms and the interaction of the ionosphere with the solar winds and is continually present all over the earth because of charge generation in the Earth-Ionosphere cavity. Large storms produce very large electric fields, which are more evident because of the phenomena of lightning. Also, electromagnetic radiation from power lines can be harvested as an alternating current signal. The goal of this project is to create a working prototype that can harvest energy from these electric fields. Louis Vleminqc created a novel approach to turning high voltage and low current sources into useful power with a spark gap based relaxation oscillator. This circuit along with power regulating chips LTC3588-1 and LTC4071 has the potential to safely charge lithium ion batteries through the harvesting of electric fields. We built, tested, and modeled the spark gap based relaxation oscillator and built and tested the power regulating and lithium ion battery charging circuit. Attempts were made to harvest the potential energy of electric fields but the mountainous terrain of Durango makes this difficult.

: Electronic Waste: Technology and the Natural World; E-waste consists of obsolete computers, servers, televisions, cell phones, and every other piece of corporate electronic equipment deemed past its prime. Americans, who number about 300 million, own over two billion pieces of high-tech consumer electronics: computers, cell phones, televisions, printers, fax machines, microwaves, personal data devices, and entertainment systems among them. With growth being the main concern and the repercussions of our consumption on the back burner, what does this mean for the rest of the world? How does the excessive use of toxic materials effect our environment?

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