Course Overview:
​In An Introduction to Ecology: The Science of the Biosphere, get ready to learn about ecology - the science of how all organisms interact with each other and their natural environment! Because ecology requires an understanding of multiple fields, students will first learn about how the basic astronomy of the solar system leads to weather patterns on Earth. Then, Echelon Catapult instructors will teach your children about how these weather patterns affect the occurrence of biomes and the biodiversity of living creatures. Next, students will learn about the interactions between these organisms and their ecological roles, or niches in their community. Finally, Echelon Catapult instructors will explain how living organisms affect their physical environment and how nutrients are cycled in an ecosystem. And as a bonus, all students get to complete their own hands-on composting experiment!
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Course Schedule:
All meetings will take place on Zoom.
  • Friday, November 20 2020, 5:30-6:30pm PST: Onboarding, Chapter 0, and Beginning the Experiment
  • Saturday, November 21 2020, 2-3pm: Chapter 1
  • Sunday, November 22 2020, 2-3pm: Chapter 2
  • Tuesday, November 24 2020, 6-7pm: Optional Office Hours*
  • Saturday, November 28 2020, 2-3pm: Chapter 3
  • Saturday November 28 2020, 7-8pm: Optional Movie Night†
  • Sunday, November 29 2020, 2-3pm: Chapter 4
  • Tuesday, December 1 2020, 6-7pm: Optional Office Hours*
  • Saturday, December 5 2020, 2-3pm: Chapter 5
  • Sunday, December 6 2020, 2-3pm: Review and Concluding the Experiment
*NOTE: All EC Biology Courses have optional office hours where students can come to ask questions about their experiment or attempt to satiate their curiosity about biology!

†NOTE: On 11/28, there will be an Optional Movie Night! All students who attend will get to watch a funny and educational documentary called “DON’T PANIC”. This movie applies the
concepts of population ecology to the world population. Students will learn about whether or not overpopulation is a threat, or even a reality.
​Registration: Registration currently closed​
Price: $20
Recommended Grade Level: 5th - 10th grade

Lead Instructors: Charles Sander, Lauren Jones, Norah Zhou
Teacher Assistants: Reese Mellor, Makena Gatlin, Evan Bird, Divya Rao, Victoria Cao