---

Who: Shadow Ridge H.S., DRI, UNLV, Nevada Power, National Science Foundation

What: Tule Springs/Shadow Ridge High School Geoscience Summit

Where: Shadow Ridge High School (See directions below)

When: All day, Friday, May 13, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tours of Tule Springs "Big Dig" site are noon to 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Why: To increase science achievement of high school students and promote a greater appreciation for "science in our own backyard."

How: Meet at Shadow Ridge H.S. auditorium between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Arrive by noon or between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. for Tule Springs "Big Dig" tours.

Visuals: Displays of artifacts and mammoth tooth fossils. Interviews with teachers, students, scientists and members of the 1962-1963 historic "Big Dig." Tours of the Tule Springs National Register of Historic Places site. Presentations by high school students and faculty. Evening lecture.

Background: The Shadow Ridge/Tule Springs Geoscience Education Project is a National Science Foundation-funded collaboration among Desert Research Institute, UNLV, Nevada Power Co. and Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas. Its purpose is to create an innovative earth-science curriculum. As part of the course of study, the project incorporates authentic research at the Tule Springs archaeological and paleontological site, which is less than 300 feet from the school. The program resulted in initiation of the first earth science honors class in the Clark County School District and involves about 165 students each semester. This course is an ongoing offering for ninth grade students at Shadow Ridge High School.

NOTE: News media are invited to attend any or all events.  The "Big Dig" site tour requires a 15-minute walk from the high school to trench "K," excavated by the 1962-63 expedition.  Dirt road access is available for TV ENG crews. We recommend using an SUV rather than van.

Schedule of Activities

7:05 to 7:30 a.m.   
Welcome
Mr. Tom Barberini, Principal, Shadow Ridge H.S.
Ms. Eileen Wynkoop, Nevada Power Co.

Introduction
Dr. Paul E. Buck, DRI
Mr. Joe Lancaster, Dean of Students, Shadow Ridge H.S.
Dr. Steve Rowland, UNLV Dept. of Geoscience
"Earth Science at Shadow Ridge High School," Mr. John Teran, teacher Shadow Ridge H.S.

7:20 to 8:23 a.m.   
Stratigraphy-The Deposits at Tule Springs
"History of the Big Dig: 1962-1963," Dr. Robert Orlins, member of the 1962 Expedition.
"Geological Past of Tule Springs," Mr. Teran's earth science students.
"Geology of the Las Vegas Formation," Kathleen Springer, San Bernardino (Calif.) County Museum.

8:28 to 9:53 a.m.   
Paleontology-The Record of Ice Age Life at Tule Springs
Introduction
Dr. Steve Rowland, UNLV
"Mammoths, their Rise and Extinction," Mr. Teran's earth science students.
"Determining Age of Death of Mammoths from their Teeth," Mr. Teran's earth science students.
"Comparison of Mammoth Teeth from Gilcrease Ranch, Nev. and Hot Springs, S.D. Mr. Teran's earth science students.
"Ice Age Fossils of the Las Vegas Formation," Eric Scott, San Bernardino (Calif.) County Museum
 
9:58 to Noon
Archaeology-Who Killed the Mammoths of Tule Springs?
Introduction
Dr. Paul Buck, DRI
"Memories of The Big Dig," Dr. Charles Rozaire, member of the 1962-63
expedition.
"Prehistory of the Tule Springs area"; Dr. Heidi Roberts, HRA, Inc.
"Ice Age Extinction at Tule Springs: Climate Change or People?" Dr. Paul Buck, DRI.
Student achievement awards, Mr. John Teran.          

Noon to 1:20 pm   
Tours of Tule Spring site (15 minute walk from school) "Big Dig" Trench "K":
Orlins, Rozaire, Scott, Springer, Buck, Rowland, Roberts, et al.

3:00 to 5:00 p.m.   
Guided tours to  "Big Dig" trench "K" Tule Springs Site.

7:00 to 8:00 p.m.   
"The meaning of Tule Springs for Pleistocene Extinctions," Dr. Paul Buck.

Shadow Ridge High School
5050 Brent Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89131
702-799-6699 ext. 4100

Driving Directions to Shadow Ridge High School:  From downtown Las Vegas, take highway 95 north toward Tonopah. Take the exit for I-215 east (The Beltway) a few miles until Decatur. Turn left (north) on Decatur and go past the water treatment plant until Brent Lane. Left on Brent Lane, and the high school is at 5050 Brent. Park anywhere you can. Go in the main entrance and the auditorium is the first set of doors on the right.