GIS, GPS and Mapping Studies

Camp Internet provides a challenging online and in-the-field curriculum tool for high school classrooms through its GIS/GPS and Mapping projects that span subject standards in science, math and history.

Camp Outposts - as we call our participating classrooms - will be equipped with the hardware and software needed to take on challenging learning projects at their school or out in their community. Through GIS and GPS (Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning System) technologies, students can measure and track, map and display data they have collected and turn that information into a visual map display.

Just completed GIS map of north SB County Oak Trees . A student lead GPS tree mapping project.


For the Oak Tree project students used GPS units to gather the latitude and longitude of Oak Trees, then took measurements of heights, canopy, thickness, general condition.

This information was entered into a MS Access database and then converted into the GIS map.


Subjects that can be incorporated into a GIS learning project are:
geography, geology, botany, zoology, water, soil quality testing, anthropology, agriculture, ecology, meteorology, urban traffic patterns, school technology holdings and school safety, community demographics, local history.

The GIS/GPS tools Camp Internet provides to its Classrooms include :

· Access to an Internet Map Server (IMS) that is an online map imagery system
click here to explore the GIS Internet Map Server

· A hand held GPS (one is provided per subscribing classroom)

click here for a photo diary of teacher and gps in the field

· An online GIS portal with a library of GIS, GPS and mapping resources


· GIS software on CD ROM for use on the student's school computer to create maps locally

· Teacher materials providing a breadth of information about GIS applications for classrooms
click here to explore some classroom map reading lesson examples

click here to explore some classroom activities

· Guidance on how to build a local access database for each data collection project, and how to upload this database to the Camp Internet IMS team to become an online map visible to all Internet viewers.

· Opportunities to collaborate with or compare data between fellow Camp Outposts

Teacher with GPS unit and computer, in the field doing Oak Tree measurements

The Camp Internet GIS studies assist teachers in delivering standards-based subjects using an exciting new technology that brings information to life in a colorful, visually and data rich format.

Map Project Examples

This Lewis and Clark Map is an example of how an active map can be used to compliment a history lesson.

These work-in-progress examples of GIS for classroom use include maps of several of the Channel Islands, and are being built as a work in progress through cooperation with several of the Trail Guide Partners who contribute information resources to Camp Internet :

Santa Cruz Island GIS, in process

Anacapa Island GIS, in process

San Miguel Island GIS, in process

Santa Barbara GIS, in process

http://www.rain.org/gis is the main GIS study unit Portal.

MERA - the Marine Educators Regional Alliance.

A major part of GIS and GPS studies involves learning to gather and organize data. Whether it involves measuring and GPS reading of each tree in the school year or a more complex project, students and teachers learn to work together to identify a topic, gather data and get that data into a database or spreadsheet format.

Beyond that Camp Internet involves students in special data gathering throughout the year. Data gathered is used for GIS and database creation.

Examples are on the main Camp Internet homepage under the "Interactive Field Report Form" area. Special projects for Astronomy, Gardening, Weather and GPS provide a tool for many different projects depending on a classrooms main area of focus.



Camp Internet provides classrooms with a customized MAIN PORTAL to GIS studies, maps of the schools participating, maps of the Trial Guide Partners participating, and develops program and classroom resources all year long to build an ever-expanding library of learning resources. Your students will become responsible data gathers, experienced map makers, and will publish their work online to contribute to the body of knowledge that represents the combined efforts of the Camp Internet classrooms across the United States.

For Teachers

The Camp program suggests forming teaching teams that cross disciplines and that result in student-built maps that can cover multiple data layers. For example, the science department could have a class divide into teams - one will be collecting information on the trees on the school ground and neighborhood, another will measure water and soil quality in the neighborhood, still another will monitor the presence of wild animals and insects - birds and butterflies for example. Over in the history department, another map could be created that notes the location of historic buildings, important historical events, and the boundaries of the city over the last 100 years. In the math department, students could track the traffic patterns around the school, count the computers on campus and develop a user per computer per bandwidth ratio map, or collect pollution emission data to create a map noting air or water quality problem areas.

Camp will also connect your classroom to learners at other schools, allowing them to share data across geographic boundaries and to develop comparative studies. Schools in the same watershed can compare their water quality; schools in different watersheds can compare the source and direction their water travels - and compare what it is used for - agriculture? industry ? residential ? commercial? In order to build these maps, it is guaranteed that students will gain skills in interagency data gathering (learning who holds what data at your city and county levels), in how to organize the data they gather so it can be communicated in a meaningful way, how to turn that data into a visual map, and, how to interpret that data as part of their research process.

Students around the world are using GIS and GPS data to build maps that help them learn about the world they live in. Some schools have also been instrumental in helping their local community come to understand environmental challenges and to help them seek solutions. Still others are serving their local community by developing historical resources that lead to improvements in city planning and enhancement of local community pride. These are just a few of the possible potential outcomes of student data gathering.

What would you like YOUR students to use GIS and GPS technologies to accomplish? Whatever your choice, Camp Internet will help you gain the tools and expertise to develop empowering learning projects with your students.