Baja: Field Methods

Discover the rich marine, island, and mainland ecosystems of Baja. Students in this course stay and study in Bahía de los Ángeles, a UNESCO World Heritage site and biosphere reserve located on the Gulf of California. The dramatic land and seascape of Bahía de los Ángeles includes a remarkable range of marine and desert habitats well suited to a broad range of studies. Students will stay at the Vermilion Sea Field Station, a historic center for marine studies, and at Rancho San Gregorio, a family-owned ranch in the heart of the Vizcaino desert, home to some of the most unique desert plant species on Earth, including the world’s largest cacti (Pachycereus pringlei), elephant trees (Bursera microphylla), and boojums (Fouquieria columnaris).

A key premise of this course is that field methods are not only essential for ecological research, they can serve as the basis for participatory education and for public engagement in science and environmental stewardship. A wide range of diverse investigators — from teachers leading schoolyard ecology to parataxonomists involved in ethnobotanical research — all share a need for reliable information obtained through robust methods to build understanding and to promote informed action. Ecological field techniques — such as point sampling, quadrat studies, and line transects — are fundamental tools that allow investigators of all backgrounds to generate knowledge needed to become better informed environmental citizens. Students in this course will become familiar with a range of sampling methods and contribute to ongoing projects.

Prior to and following the field experience in Baja, students will complete coursework via Canvas, Miami University's learning management system as they apply experiences to their home institutions.

Rancho San Gregorio

Rancho San Gregorio lies at the heart of Vizcaíno Desert and the recently designated Valle de los Cirios Biological Reserve. Two important springs supply the area with the abundant source of water that has been vital for supporting the unique flora and fauna that call this region home. Descendants of the Villavicencio family have been the primary residents of San Gregorio since before the arrival of the Spanish in the late 1600s. Traditional knowledge of local plants for use in medicine, construction, and subsistence has been passed down over the millennia and remains vital to the way of life in San Gregorio today. Westerly winds carrying moisture-laden air from the Pacific support astonishingly rich and diverse vegetation in parts of the Vizcaíno desert. Due to its high degree of isolation, the region also supports numerous endangered species, including the desert pronghorn antelope, Mexican bighorn sheep, cardon cactus, and cirio (boojum) tree. Rancho San Gregorio is located in a small canyon on the western slope of the Peninsular Ranges of Baja California, and its isolation and climate make it a hotspot for desert ecological study.

Bahía de los Ángeles

The small fishing village of Bahía de los Ángeles is located in the San Felipe Desert on the shores of the Gulf of California. In contrast to the sparse desert landscape, the turquoise waters of the Gulf of California are rich with life. Locals depend on the highly productive waters for their livelihood but commercial overfishing has made it increasingly difficult for residents to support themselves and has threatened many species living in the bay.

In recognition of the importance of Bahía de los Ángeles and surrounding areas, UNESCO designated the region a World Heritage Site in 2005: “The diversity of terrestrial and marine life is extraordinary and constitutes a unique ecoregion of high priority for biodiversity conservation.”

In 2007, Mexican President Felipe Calderon established the Bahía de Los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve. The reserve encompasses 957,660 acres of coastal, marine, and island ecosystems that provide habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species including whale sharks, eastern Pacific green sea turtles, fin whales, and killer whales. The area is often referred to as the “Galapagos” of Mexico for the spectacular nature of its scenery and the unique plant and animal species that inhabit the region.

The Vermilion Sea Field Station (VSFS) is a research center overlooking Bahía de Los Ángeles in Baja California. This twelve-room adobe building is one of the first dwellings built during the town’s original settlement in the 1930’s. The VSFS lies within a small fishing village of approximately 700 people, and works with the community to preserve the “Bay of the Angels”.

(Course locations are subject to change.)

In addition to covering the price for five graduate credits of Miami University tuition, field course costs cover all basic expenses, including:

• Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
• Lodging
• Field station fees
• Course activities (optional activities are not included)
• Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
• Park entrance and guide fees

Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as airfare to the course, personal gifts, or ancillary costs, such as passport fees, country entry fees, required course readers, and any additional course texts.

Airfare: To estimate fares applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.

Miami University also requires all international workshop participants to purchase travel health insurance for about $40. (Successful applicants will receive more details in their web-based learning community course workshop.) In some classes an additional textbook is required. In some countries, you may have to pay entrance and departure taxes/fees at the airport.

Because of support from Miami University, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs.

We offer some further ideas on Helping to Fund your Degree and Scholarships for Current Dragonfly Students

The 2-credit follow-on course, Inquiry & Action, puts the Earth Expeditions course ideas and concepts into practice. Students in this course will choose a research topic and construct a multidisciplinary semester-long project of their choice that includes inquiry-driven learning, participatory education, and community-based conservation to experience and promote action in real-world contexts. Students will connect and collaborate with peers and their instructional team throughout the semester working to make a positive difference in their local communities. This class is a required part of the Global Field Program (GFP) master's course sequence. Inquiry & Action is recommended though optional for non-GFP students.

Course cost: $910 (2 credits)

Do you have questions? Go to our Frequently Asked Questions page for some answers.

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