Safety and Supervision
You will have clear guidelines regarding where you can go alone or with a buddy. Staff are available for support and assistance 24 hours a day. Despite many students being experienced and competent travelers, the BELL staff expects all students to stay with the group at all times and provide notice if they need to separate from the group for any reason.
Communication During the Program
To contact us in an emergency, parents may call the BELL: Eastern Sierras On-Site Director at 401-556-7919. This number will also be shared during the Pre-Departure Orientation Session. At certain times during the program, students and/or staff may experience lapses in cell phone service. Staff will be checking the program phone often to return missed phone calls or text messages as soon as they are able.
Cell Phone Policy
We try to stay tuned in to each other and to our natural surroundings throughout the program, so we ask that the use of mobile devices (for phone calls, texting, social media etc.) be limited to free time in the evening. Letting go of the frequent connection to our phones helps us form a community and adjust to a new environment more quickly.
Swimming
BELL: Eastern Sierras does not include any swimming, however students will be spending some time near bodies of water. For example, students will not be permitted to swim during their visit to Mono Lake.
Fellow Students
You are encouraged to come to BELL with an open mind to meeting new people with diverse and varied perspectives. Each student accepted to BELL brings with them their own experiences and the cohort comes together to create a fascinating community.
Housing
For most of the program, you will be sleeping in dorm spaces where you will be housed with other BELL students. Your dorm host and location of several days of lessons when not on a field trip will be the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) in Mammoth Lakes, California. You will have access to shared private bathrooms with private showers. Only on the night prior to departure will you stay at a hotel in Reno, Nevada.
While you will not be staying overnight at field tip locations the group will be traveling in a few other key areas for day trips, including the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Yosemite National Park and Tuolumne Meadows.
Dietary and Medical Conditions
We will work with the staff to make accommodations for dietary restrictions and food allergies if we are notified in advance. You must communicate significant food allergies that require meal accommodations (e.g. gluten, shellfish, soy, eggs, milk) on the Medical Authorization and Health History Form and the BELL Dietary Support Form by April 12. Please also indicate any dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan diets, to allow us to plan accordingly.
Itinerary
Students receive a detailed schedule upon arrival. Students must attend all days of the program in order to qualify for the individualized program evaluation from BELL staff. In addition to three meals per day, some free time, and transportation to and from site visits, this schedule provides an idea of what the program will entail. Note that this schedule is subject to change.
Day 1: Arrival Day
Welcome dinner, group transportation to SNARL; catch up on sleep
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Day 2:
Lessons; BELL Orientation; evening leadership workshop
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Day 3
Field Trip Day: Mono Lakes Field Trip
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Day 4
Geology and climate of California; Leadership workshop
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Day 5
Field Trip: Tuolumne Meadows Field Trip
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Day 6
Lessons: Hydrology, Stream Chemistry; Leadership workshop
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Day 7
Field Trip: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
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Day 8
Lessons: Tree ring exercise; Climate change in the West; Leadership workshop
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Day 9
Lessons: Action Plan preparation and presentations; travel to Reno
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Day 10: Departure Day
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Curfew
Our days are busy, requiring the students’ energy and attention throughout the day. Although we require students to be in their rooms by curfew at 10 p.m., we respect the students’ ability to choose when to go to sleep.
This is an example of a typical day at BELL
Breakfast |
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. |
Morning Field Trip or Lesson |
9 a.m. to Noon |
Lunch/Free Time |
Noon to 2 p.m. |
Afternoon Field Trip, Lab or Lesson |
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
Free Time and/or Supper Prep |
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Supper |
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
Evening Labs and Discussions |
7 p.m to 9 p.m. |
Free Time |
9 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
Curfew |
10 p.m. |
Personal Health and Medical Emergencies
The BELL: Eastern Sierras program is a physically taxing program involving significant exertion in the outdoors. For your safety and comfort during the program, we expect participants to fully disclose any and all pre-existing medical conditions on required medical forms.
In a medical emergency, you will be transported to a nearby hospital. All of our activities take place within 2 hours of a hospital. For minor issues, we have a well-equipped first aid kit and staff trained in Wilderness First Aid.
Prescription Medications
You are responsible for safely storing and taking your own prescription medication. Students who are not accustomed to managing their own medication should work with their families to determine the best approach to do so during the program. All students who are taking prescription medications should bring prescribed medication in its original container and a copy of their prescription (which can be an electronic copy). Having a copy of the original prescription will enable us to replace medication if needed. Students with life-saving asthma and anaphylaxis medications (e.g., inhalers and epi-pens) must keep them on their person at all times.
BELL Action Plans
With support from instructors and peers at BELL, you will create an Action Plan to apply your new leadership knowledge to an issue in your home community. Creating an Action Plan is an opportunity for you to reflect critically on what you’ve learned and to delve deeper into issues that you find particularly compelling. There are many types of Action Plans, but what is most important is that you identify a project that: addresses a need, interests you and seems feasible given your personal circumstances. While you do not need to prepare anything prior to arriving at BELL, you may want to think about some issues related to your community and come to BELL with some ideas for Action Plan topics. At BELL, you will participate in Action Plan workshops that guide you through a step by step approach to developing your project.
Photos
Students are encouraged to upload photos to a shared Google folder once the program begins. Students will gain access to this folder closer to the program start date.
Class Attendance
Students are required to attend class. Absence or inactivity within your course may result in a dismissal from the program. Students dismissed for reasons of absence or inactivity will not be refunded.