OVERVIEW
The Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (BFS) is a common-use facility of The Claremont Colleges. Adjacent to the BFS, and contiguous with it in the southeast and southwestern areas, are the North Campus Properties owned by the Claremont University Consortium (CUC), Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College (Robert Redford Conservancy), Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University. The Robert Redford Conservancy houses the BFS’s outdoor classroom (southeastern outdoor classroom), which can be scheduled when submitting a BFS use request. Use of all other facilities at the Conservancy require access permission form Pitzer College or the Director of the Conservancy (Susan Phillips, susan_phillips@pitzer.edu). Field projects and classes conducted on the BFS may also be permitted access to and use of these contiguous land parcels following review and approval of the relevant parties. The safety policies described here consequently apply to all of the contiguous properties.
The BFS is managed by the BFS Director, who reports to the Lead Dean (Melanie Woo, Pomona College) and works with the BFS Faculty Advisory Committee in the development and implementation of use policy. The mission of the BFS is to increase understanding and awareness of southern California’s terrestrial ecosystems through research, education, and outreach.
APPROPRIATE USE & APPROVAL POLICY
Use of the BFS and the North Campus Properties is subject to compliance with the standards established herein. The BFS records > 7,000 user days each year for students from The Claremont Colleges and users must respect and not interfere with the uses and projects of others. All projects must be pre-approved by the Director. To apply to use these facilities for a project, complete the online request form at (https://bfs.pomona.edu/requestforms/index.php). Use of limited facilities (e.g., pHake Lake or the outdoor classroom) is scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain projects may also require approval of the Faculty Advisory Committee. Please do not modify your activities without submitting a new request.
Smoking or open flames in any of the properties are strictly prohibited (see a list of all rules at the end of this document).
ACCESS TO THE BFS
The BFS is normally accessed via the gates at Amherst Avenue along Foothill Blvd, which are equipped with combination locks. The “pedestrain lock” on the small gate next to the larger “vehicle gate” is for class use, and its combination will change at different intervals. Everyone with a current use request will be notified when gate codes have changed. The lock on the vehicle gate across the entrance road is for use by faculty, staff, and outside agencies (such as the Fire Department, Vector Control, etc.); its combination will change as needed. Other points of entry should only be used, particularly in an emergency. Students are not permitted to drive onto the station unless their projects or coursework require the transportation of people with limited mobility or equipment too unwieldy to be carried by hand. Vehicles must stay on the roads and use assigned parking areas.
Parking areas are restricted. Parking is not allowed on native vegetation, on any paved surface within the properties, in front of the Foothill gate, or on any of the cleared unpaved roadways in a manner that blocks the passage of emergency vehicles. All roadways are fire lanes and must be kept clear at all times. Parking at the Redford Conservancy is marked. Other roads or places where parking is permitted is shown on the map below. A fire truck should be able to pass unhindered in all circumstances.
Map of BFS with locations of exit gates (red circles), turnstiles only (green circles), and the evacuation meeting spot on the south side of Mills Ave (blue dot). Parking areas are highlighted in yellow.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
Four exit gates and four turnstiles allow for evacuation of BFS and the North Campus Properties in the event of an emergency such as a fire or other emergency. Gates share the same combination lock code with the Foothill pedestrian gate. The gate and turnstile locations are marked on the site map below and each is accessible by via a paved road (Foothill gate) or path. All users of BFS and the North Campus Properties should familiarize themselves with the locations of these exits. In addition to the pedestrian gate on Foothill Blvd, gates are located at the south end of Lowell Avenue (north of the Conservancy), Abilene Way (at the north end of the BFS ‘neck’) and near the southwest end of the BFS ‘neck’ opening into Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. An emergency call box is located outside the Director’s Office, north of the BFS’s outdoor classroom and in the hallway between the garage and main Conservancy building.
In the event of an emergency such as a fire or extreme weather incident, do the following:
- Without delaying your own egress, do what you can to notify others
- Move quickly away from the danger to the closest accessible exit
- Call 911 and Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000 to inform them of the incident and give your name and College affiliation (or Claremont Colleges contact if you are a visitor) to confirm that you are safe
- Notify relevant campus personnel (e.g. faculty research supervisor, dean of students, faculty advisor) as soon as possible
- Assemble at the common evacuation meeting site on the south side of the Foothill and Mills Avenue junction. Do not leave until instructed by Campus Safety personnel. The BFS Director will come to that location as soon as he aware of the situation.
SIGN-IN POLICY
A log-book for sign-in is kept inside the Foothill pedestrian gate. All visitors using the BFS must sign the log-book, giving their name and the time, as soon as they enter the properties. When departing, all visitors must similarly write down their exit time. Adherence to this policy is critical as it allows the Office of Campus Safety, and other personnel, to check who is present in the properties at any given time. If, during an emergency, you have to leave the properties via a different egress route, notify Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000 as described above.
RULES
The BFS and the Conservancy Directors have worked together to provide a list of rules for use of both properties and includes proper use for other adjacent North Campus properties.
First time users will be provided these rules in an e-mail and be asked to read, familiarize themselves with the site map provided, and sign the last page and return it to the BFS Director. You can return it by using campus mail and sending it to Wallace Meyer in the Pomona Biology office, or by scanning the page after you have signed it and sending it to Wallace_meyer@pomona.edu. Any questions or concerns can also be directed to that e-mail.
Bernard Field Station and Robert Redford Conservancy
Rules for Entry and Use
The Bernard Field Station (BFS) and Robert Redford Conservancy (RRC) together comprise a unique research site and educational facility in a fragile and sensitive environment, where numerous ongoing research projects are underway.
This is not a recreational park or typical extension of the main campuses of the Claremont Colleges. Please respect the facility and the habitat by adhering to the following expectations.
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS: To use the Bernard Field Station (BFS), Conservancy, or North Campus Properties you must have received advance approval from the BFS Director, Conservancy Director, or Pitzer College Facilities. Please refer to the BFS and Conservancy websites for more information on permission for use/entry.
If you are not a student or employee of the Claremont Colleges, you must sign a waiver of liability in order to use the site.
ENTRY & EXIT: Please sign in and out when using the Foothill Gate. Always lock the gate behind you. Inform yourself of the other exit points in case of an emergency. There is a map on the kiosk.
VEHICLE ACCESS: Vehicle access is limited to disability service, facilities, and transportation of heavy equipment and must be arranged in advance. Vehicle access to the Conservancy is via the gate at Lowell Avenue (at Blaisdell) and vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas.
NO SMOKING: Smoking and fires of any kind are prohibited without exception, at all times, on every part of the site.
BIKES are allowed at the site only on the paved roads. Bikes can be locked at the rack at the Foothill Boulevard entry or at bike racks near the Conservancy. Do not lock bikes to gate or fence. They will be removed.
NO RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES (i.e. running, jogging, bicycling, no pets, etc.)
Stay on marked roads and paths whenever possible, and be very careful to step around, not on top of vegetation. Marking flags indicate research projects that should not be disrupted or interfered with.
Pick up after yourself. The site aims to be zero waste and you are responsible for litter and taking back with you any general waste you bring onto the site and into the facility.
Restrooms are available outside in the rear of the Conservancy building. Please be mindful of keeping bathrooms and the general area clean, as there is not daily maintenance at the site.
Act in a way that is thoughtful and considerate so as to have minimal impact on the site and its surroundings.
You are now a steward of this site and facility – please help all visitors to respect the rules and principles stated above.