Oak Forest HS Students Study Natural Succession in Nature

Oak Forest High School Juniors Nikita Gajjar and Camryn Dusold lead their classmates on a hike through the Indiana Dunes on a breezy autumn day. The Oak Forest High School AP Biology students took a break from their classroom studies just for one day as they hiked the Indiana dunes and studied plant life, primary succession, and performed water quality testing in a field study setting.

These students went to the Indiana Dunes on a field trip with their AP Biology teachers Mrs. Amy Bertrand and Mrs. Dawn Sasek. During the trip, students hiked from the lake to the Paul H. Douglas Environmental Education Center and were able to see a real life example of primary succession, as well as learn about various plant life. They also performed water quality testing on one of the ponds in the forest preserve.

Nikita Gajjar said, “My favorite part of the trip was hiking around the dunes.” OFHS Junior Elizabeth Tecaxco-Zaca said, “This trip was so much fun. We got to learn so much and see some things in nature. When we got there, we saw Lake Michigan and it was so beautiful!” She really enjoyed the beauty of the trip and took many pictures of nature and its surroundings.

The class observed the ecosystem first hand and noticed how non-native plants can be harmful to the plants around them. Junior Ariel Torres said, “It was interesting to notice that non-native plants can mess up the ecosystem.” According to Bertrand, “Those non-native plants are brought in by people innocuously, like on their shoes, and are from different places in the country and sometimes the world.”

Junior Lauren Paclar said, “I learned that it takes a long time to build up a natural habitat. This was one of the last untouched areas and it is important to save those.” Tecaxco-Zaca said, “More classes should incorporate hands-on adventures. We learn more that way than by just reading the book. A lot of people learn by touching things.”

Sasek and Bertrand wanted students to have a visual view of primary succession and plants that students could see at each stage. As a result, they walked the succession front pioneer species to the climax of the succession, which was the black oak forest.

Students also tested pond water in the forest to see if it was acidic, basic, or neutral. According to Gajjar, “It was acidic--we had a testing kit.”