Field Guides

In some events (such as Forestry), students are allowed commercially published field guides that can be tabbed or annotated. This page contains a few techniques, materials, and methods that you may find useful.

Note that in recent years most events have begun to move away from allowing field guides. As of the 2018 season, Herpetology allows field guides, but only as a replacement for a three-ring binder; teams may not bring both. Some teams may get their field guides hole punched and place them in their binder, or remove pages from the guide and place them along with written notes.

Types of Tabs
There are a few options that students have for what material they choose to tab with.

Post-its/Sticky Notes


One material is the well-known ordinary Post-it or Sticky Note. It is a square of paper with a small strip of adhesive that can be attached to a page.

Pros
 * Easily removable
 * Thin and shapeable; can cut them to preferred sizes
 * Inexpensive (Averages $4.00-$5.00 for one 3x3 cube, 470 sheets)
 * Easily found in stores and online

Cons
 * Adhesive isn't very powerful, so the tab may lose its "stickiness" quickly
 * Must be cut down to size, as the sheets are generally too big for most books

Flags
Flags are similar to sticky notes in that they also have a small strip of adhesive on one side; however, flags are usually smaller and thinner. They may be made of paper or a thin, transparent material.

Pros
 * Minimal if any resizing
 * Can fit multiple on one page
 * Also inexpensive
 * Easily located in stores and online
 * Transparent flags can be used for highlighting

Cons
 * May tear easily, especially paper flags