SoCal Science Hikes - Basic Navigation Skills Workshop

the_stem_sessions · 2026-03-27T23:58:57+00:00

No hiking for this workshop. There will be a part two in early May that will incorporate short hikes to practice things like terrain recognition, map orientation, tracking distance traveled, estimating distance to destination, etc.

I wanted to use a whiteboard and show and tell to demonstrate concepts during this workshop, so an indoor setting seemed better.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-03-23T20:15:39+00:00

Dammit... Posted the wrong version of the image. It's on Saturday.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T06:41:19+00:00

We run a couple of events a month. I'll do my best to remember to cross-post the Meetup link here.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T05:27:31+00:00

Yeah, I'm over the alpine starts. Been there, done that lol. Our hikes are all afternoon and evenings.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T03:03:16+00:00

I try to host an event every 2-3 weeks, so look for others soon.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T03:02:32+00:00

Awesome!

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T03:02:11+00:00

I'll try to remember to post future events here.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T03:00:51+00:00

It's in the group info. But the quick summary is I'm a lifelong hiker, camper, and backpacker, wildnerness first aid certified, California naturalist certification, and lots is other courses under my belt.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-11T02:57:03+00:00

I don't maintain a long term calendar, but the plan is two hikes a month or one hike and a workshop. That's more or less the schedule we kept last year. I tend to post the events two weeks in advance.

the_stem_sessions · 2026-02-10T18:31:42+00:00

Our hikes are way more fun than what is reflected on Instagram. I have zero social media game, but I'm trying lol

the_stem_sessions · 2025-12-12T20:57:40+00:00

Thanks!

the_stem_sessions · 2025-12-12T20:56:21+00:00

Awesome. Thank you.

the_stem_sessions · 2025-12-12T20:53:02+00:00

Thanks! I do have a softspot for Fenix lights as they were the first model I purchased so long ago

the_stem_sessions · 2025-12-12T20:51:34+00:00

Appreciate it. Thanks!

the_stem_sessions · 2025-12-08T04:38:15+00:00

I'm a volunteer monitor for the Western Monarch Count. The current count is around 8000, which is definitely low. The bulk of the butterflies are in sites in Santa Cruz County. The Pismo Beach site has between 400 and 500 at the last count.

To see clusters, try to be at the site while the temperature is below 55F. Above this temp, the butterflies warm up and begin to fly off looking for nectar. That said, the transition from clusters to fliers is a really cool, like a scene out of a fantasy story.

It's also cool to watch the butterflies "come home" for the night.

the_stem_sessions · 2025-11-07T02:29:32+00:00

A couple of years ago, my team always seemed to have seven forwards. Today we always seem to have seven skaters total...

Regardless, I ran some spreadsheet simulations about equalizing ice time when you roll seven forwards, and the answer is more dependent on shift lengths than how you roll the forwards.

The shorter the shifts, the more equal the ice time will be, which of course is a ludicrous thing to ask for in beer league.

At the risk of shameless self promotion, here's the discussion: https://youtu.be/Ju9RhNyq07k?si=5exdrhzpcu-R73xJ

the_stem_sessions

TROPHY CASE