Finale

Yesterday, a trip was paid to the Blacktail Ponds as we marched to our final mission here at our home away from home. We trudged through the swampy grassland thick with mud and some rich aroma in our quest to discover the final few nests of our adventure. After a few hours of searching and bush-whacking, our heroine Sall-ayyyyyyy stealthily spotted a song sparrow flying away from a nearby shrub, leading her to find a nest full of two-day-old nestlings. After lunch and a quick game of camouflage, ominous thunder crashed in the background as we realized that Jacky's camera was missing. With time running out, we raced across the meadows and willows to find the lost treasure before lightning struck. Worry not, dear readers; we found the camera nestled amongst thick vegetation. No harm had come to Jacky's beloved.

That night, we retreated to the lab to prepare for the next day's challenge - a presentation encompassing all the research we had done in the last week. After heated debate overshadowed by an insufficiency of data, we finally came to a reasonable hypothesis that incorporated our shared beliefs with the gathered vegetation data.

Today, we ventured to Gros Ventre Slide to research pika behavior. We worked in groups of three to observe all the behaviors of the tiny balls of fur, from foraging to running. Unlike the nervous birds, the pikas weren't afraid to approach us; we were actually able to observe them most of the time without the aid of our handy-dandy binoculars.

Final group ninja shots

The day closed after our last supper with the fruits of our labors finally revealed with our research presentation. After tireless work in the lab, we compiled the data from our veg surveys to model possible correlations between nesting shrubs and nest success. We were delighted to find that the presentation had exceeded our expectations. Overall, our ending seems bittersweet - while homesick, we feel reluctance to say goodbye to our new-found friends and leave parts of ourselves behind at Tetons Science School.

 -Written by Suna, Eleanore, Jacky, Sally, Kenney, Charlie, with goodbyes from the entire Earthwatch team


I hope I can come back next year. Good-bye Wyoming!
- Romario

Inexorably I believed I would utterly fail at scientific research, making new friends, and expressing my dispositon. But I triumphed-valiantly!! Goodbye Earthwatch, you are all family to me now!
Love- Kirsten

Thank you to Wyoming, Teton Science School, all my teammates, and all the instructors for introducing me to a new world that I never expected to come across. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of this expedition, and will never forget this experience.
-Sally

Bird tracking

There is never going to be anything like Wyoming again. I loved my time here and I will never forget the friends that I have made along this incredible journey.
-Joshua "Black Bear" Houston

I could never have captured the beauty and true essence of Wyoming without the wonderful people I spent the last 11days with. Thank you so much Benj, David, Kelli, Jenny, and Donna Rose for showing me how fortunate we are to experience and share a connection with nature.
-Adrienne Hino

Two day old hatchlings

Few things compare to the great gifts nature is able to impart, ever so passively.
Walk through life with a humble heart and open ears.
-Charles "Jackie Chan" Miin

I want to thank everyone from Teton Science School, and all the instructors who helped us on the way through this journey. I'm going to miss everyone on this expedition, but as for my peers, I'm expecting a reunion in Los Angeles soon!
- Suna Zekioglu

Pika researching!

I could never articulate how grateful I am for this life-changing experience. My greatest thanks to the Teton Science School and our leaders who let us escape from our busy, Facebook-filled lives and dive into the nature to acknowledge its presence, admire its beauty, and protect its formation. I loved this expedition and will terribly miss each of my team members. Hopefully this isn't the last Goodbye to my teammates or the Grand Tetons. HOORAH!
-Jacky

As my predecessors said before me, I want to thank everyone that I've met in the past twelve days. It was truly memorable. Seriously guys-- there's no words to describe how thankful I am to have met everyone and I really do believe that we've made friendships that will last lifetimes.PS. @ Josh -- make a facebook! ...and SCOOP @ Charles "Charazard" *WOOSH YOU JUST GOT ASSASSINATED* @Romario..you need help with that jollyrancher addiction @ Suna, THANK YOU FOR THE TUTORING LESSONS, @Sally, SALL-AY, @Jacky, I'll get you back for that ice cream scoop, @Kenn-aaay, welcome to the ice cream scoop club, @Adrienne T^T (In the words of Adrienne "sooo sad"), and @Kirsten/Emma one word...CHICKFLICKS! @David Shwaagger, thank you for putting up with me and always checking up on me.
- Eleanore

Josh and Kirsten enjoying Jackson Hole

This was a really great experience and I made many bonds with the wonderful people on my team and the staff here at the Teton Science School.  I will never forget the memories we all shared here and hopefully we will all keep in contact through Facebook.  I learned a lot about birds and nature while on this trip and I am really going to miss Wyoming.  It is a really beautiful place and pictures will not even begin to express how amazingly beautiful it truly is.
-Kenney Teeples

GO TEAM INTENSE! HOORAH!

Drawing of a varied thrush by Kirsten

The Wyoming Experience

I'll start from the beginning:

Saturday was a good day but the night of sleep before was terrible, we should have at least had a heads up that it was going to be really quiet so that we could have had the sound of a fan to help us to sleep. I loved the hike, I just wished it was more intense to get me going. But everything else was excellent.

Tetons Mountains

Sunday, the research practice was very helpful; I don’t think we should have gone walking just to see the trail cameras and where they were. It was good that they explained it to us though so that we wouldn't be lost on what it is. I thought the career options discussion was a good idea because it made me change my mind on what I want to major in college and think about getting an internship.

Sunset Over the Tetons

Monday, I felt good that day because I knew what I was supposed to do thanks to carefully explained instructions- I also found my first nest on my birthday. The terrain was not difficult at all; I was hoping to get tougher terrain. I enjoyed the winged migration video because it gave me an idea of other species in the world and local and what they go through to survive and we as regular people just see them as birds that have no sense of what they are doing.

Phelps Lake

Tuesday, the bird banding that day was so cool even though I didn't get to let one go. It was still interesting to see. The field research at JACK was what I wanted to go through in terms of challenging my body. I found two new nests that day and other nests that were already pinned or of different species that we were not studying. I enjoyed the career day- it made me more interested into wanting to find a career in science and be more aware of what is needed for the environment to grow healthy.

Sunshine Over the Tetons

Wednesday, the field research at Rafter J was exactly what I wanted with tough terrain and hard nests to find. I found two YWAR’s (yellow warbler's) nests with eggs inside but only one was marked. The Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve was one of the most inspirational trips I've been to. It really spoke to me in a way which can’t be understood just by blindly going through each display. I loved the shops in Jackson Hole except the high prices- I got ripped off for a belt buckle but it was all good.

View of Wyoming from Vogel Butte

Thursday, the trail building that day was great- I really needed to do some hard labor. The barbecue was pretty good, I met a lot of new people from around the world and other parts of the U.S. (plus I had fans that wanted to take pictures with me). I loved the star gazing. It made me feel at peace, I saw and recognized a few constellations, planets, satellites, and shooting stars. I heard many things at night that I would never here in L.A. such as wolves, owls, and the wind blowing through the woods. I wish I could see this every day, now I definitely want to come back to Wyoming.  

Hard Days Work of Trail Building

Friday, the hike was long, tough, and exhilarating; I was hoping to see bears, moose, or deer but there was no luck. I didn’t get as tired as I expected. I also saw hail for the first time. The view of the landscapes on the hike were amazing.

Phelps Lake

 Saturday, I felt dead in the morning and all day during the research; maybe, if we didn’t have to get up so early because the research was done on campus and not far away. But at least we got the rest of the day off to relax. Now I want to learn how to track smell. It is also a good thing that Benj explained the research project to us right now to find out what we are going to do. But today we saw a deer and it didn't even move  when we passed by it.

Dancing in the Rain

- Photos and Blog by Romario

Phelps Lake

On Friday, we took our recreational day with a hike back at the Rockefeller Preserve (where we had perused the visitor center on Wednesday) around Phelps Lake. The day began with a 7:30 breakfast, a relative treat in the midst of a week of 5:00 alarms and dining before dawn. We then headed out for the preserve, where we hiked, greeted midway by a refreshing mid-morning drizzle, until the lake moved into our fields of vision. Phelps Lake was unlike anything I had ever seen before - the antithesis to the familiar Los Angeles River, the water seemed to be perfectly clear, reflecting the turquoise sky without a single imperfection. The day had cleared up at this point, and the waters off in the distance seemed to sparkle when hit by the sunlight.

A view of rock bottom

 We then proceeded to circle the entire lake, taking in different angles of it and hearing tantalizing stories of a nearby bear from the people who crossed our path. Although we never did encounter the elusive bear, we spent time simply appreciating the sights, from a small collection of rocks to sit on near the water's edge where we sketched and journaled to the jumping rock that allowed us to overlook the entirety of the area surrounding the lake. 

The cast of Rocky

We retreated back to Kelly Campus after looping around the area for seven miles; there we were treated to a hailstorm that, while stunning, drew our day to an early close.

- Suna

                                                                                                                                                  

Sights & Sounds

Another blog to come shortly but until then here are some images of the group and our surroundings the last few days. We also have a map of yesterday's hike around Phelps Lake in the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve- click here to see it. Cheers.

Bison grazing on the side of the road near our school

Trail maintenance
Left to right: Josh, Romario, Kenney, Sunah, Eleanore

Nearing the end of our hike around Phelps Lake

Data entry after a long day in the field
Right to left: Kenney, Charles, Eleanore, Josh

Stargazing

Yesterday I dawned in a melancholy dispostion as the London 2012 Olympics were that night and I had only fallacious hope of seeing the opening ceremony. While stargazing the previous night, I was struck by a bout of homesickness which also led to my doleful mood. While staring at the azure firmament, handfuls of sattellites tore through the sky and after seeing a picture of my sister on facebook I broke into sobs. It's funny how at the airport we were just an aggregation of students but as I was weeping I felt completely supported.

So as Olympic day progessed, an inner maelstrom brewed inside me. Phelp's lake was obviously scenic with vermillion and amythyst wildflowers protruding out of sable soil next to green trees but I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. But after coming back to the campus and seeing Kate Middleton's outfit I was relieved. Then, I was handed an un-birthday card with Will and Kate beaming up at me, and I felt close to ecstatic. Finally the cosmos erupted again with guilded stabs of sunlight piercing the clouds and illuminating the Grand Tetons like stained glass. Abruptly raindrops as indurate as diamonds crashed to the earth and the whole team dashed outside with our arms spread apart, all incandescently happy.

-Kirsten

Charles and Kirsten

Phelps Lake (view of Death Canyon)

Thunderstorms- to be continued...

Heavy rain and lightening cut our programs short tonight which also means we didn't have an opportunity to blog about today's activities. We hope to post a couple different times tomorrow so make sure to check back! Until then, here are a couple pictures from the last two days.

The team celebrating our arrival at the summit to embark on
an afternoon of  trailblazing and stewardship

A gorgeous rainbow shining through our camp earlier this evening

Stewardship

"Stewardship is service to the community, both people and the environment, for both the present and the future."
                                                                                                       -Suna, Sally, Eleanore

Following the definitions of stewardship that we formed, the team set out for the Vogel Hill this morning to contribute what we can to this beautiful place called Wyoming. After hiking up the hill, indulging ourselves in the absolute beauty of the Sleeping Indian and the Tetons in the distance, we reached our final destination where we decided to leave our own little trace.

Together, we built a trail approximately 125 yards long. With our pick-axes, shovels, and rakes, we lined up and got to work, ambitiously weeding the tufts of plants and smoothing out the path for the many feet, hooves, paws, and claws that will step the trail.

Though it might take a simple one minute to walk along this path, it took us two hours under the scorching sun to finish it. As our bodies gradually became covered in dirt and sweat, we never lost our smiles and pride that we received from the satisfaction of rooting each and every weed in our path. 

Upon completion, the crew took a walk down the newborn road, an experience way more exhilarating than skipping down a red carpet. After finally realizing the back-breaking labor behind a simple trail, we also discovered the incredible feeling of accomplishment that comes with stewardship.

On this very day, our stewardship wasn't just a contribution to today's society that will walk down the trail, nor to the animals that will now have safer homes. It was also a gift to the future generations that will be able to join hands with nature and become one with the pristine environment. Just as Laurance S. Rockefeller had desired, our stewardship today will help people to step away from modern life, its complexities, and its pressures to undergo a spiritual and physical renewal.

It is doubtful that generations far in the future will know and appreciate that ten teenagers created the short yet endless portion of the Vogel Hill path.  However, as we all learned today, stewardship isn't taking joy from what we get- it's from what we give.

-Sally Na

The crew chopping, picking, shoveling, and raking away

                                                  

Wild Inspiration

Ansel Adams

On this day, a visit to the Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve was paid and in this great testament to natural conservation, a simple circular room with light filtering in through earthly glass exists for the sole intention of exposing visitors to the breathtaking sounds of the wild, beautiful world. From howls in the night to birds fluttering across the land to tempestuous turmoil in the heavens.

I sat in this room for what felt like eons, reveling in the outdoor medley and considered how our priorities have been inexplicably rearranged, we as human beings are confused: we delegate all of our time to furthering the life we were born to, pursuing run-of-the-mill human expectations, whilst the areas of our origins are only passing thoughts in the recesses of our consciousness, damned to be fleeting experiences that are seldom truly valued.

"Nature quiets the mind by engaging with an intelligence larger than our own." -Terry Tempest Williams

From Nature, all people should take away the majesty of the expanse, the serenity of that which soothes the mind, and quells the thoughts; she which speaks volumes without ever saying a word. We as human beings have forsaken our beginnings in order to bring about our end; the great Earth encompasses the things to suit every mans need, not every mans greed as the exalted Mohandas Gandhi crucially divulged. Therefore, let it be understood that human aspirations should not be the current stance of wealth and grandeur but rather a desire to emulate the actions of our sentient animal brethren in their pursuit of equilibrium.

All life is intertwined.


                                                                                             -Charles Miin

Birds, Bands, and Bites

After dragging our feet to breakfast at 5:30 in the morning with heavy eyelids, we managed to finish our luxurious continental breakfast and pack our handy-dandy Hoorahs. After breakfast we loaded the cars and drove to the Conservation Research Center in Jackson Hole to watch some bird banders at work. At the site, all of us were stunned as the sight of the small, vibrant birds completely exceeded our expectations. As Jenny, the master of bird banding, led us to the bird nets that seemed almost impossible to see with the human eye, we shrieked with joy as we discovered the chickadees, wrens, robins, and cedar waxwings caught in the fragile nets. We were even more thrilled soon after, as we were given the lucky opportunity to release the banded birds into freedom once again.

Charles releases a swainson's thrush
after measurements and banding 

Sally releasing a bullock oriole
(not the customary orange one!)

Suna releases a cedar waxwing

Afterwards, we all headed to KARNS meadow to continue searching for some nests. With our fashionable rubber boots, we trudged through the creeks and waist high grass fields to look for the nests and monitor the surrounding vegetation. Once again, Romario saved the day by discovering some nests with fledglings and eggs still inside, an awe-striking sight. We were also able to approach a nest with the mother still sitting on it, guarding it from the strange teens that would not stop staring and taking pictures.

Banding, inspecting, and measuring a bullock oriole

Though our day seemed full of excitement and joy, one of us faced a terrifying, life-threatening moment in the field when an angry mother American Robin began to dive-bomb towards him upon realizing that her territory had been intruded. Luckily, Kenney was kept from harm, saved by his agility and some fortune.
Before leaving KARNS, all of us enjoyed another game of Camouflage, this time led by Jackie. The game ended with a few misfortunes as David ran frantically out of the bush with a glorious battle wound left on his lip by a yellowjacket and some others walked off with their own scars left by the bees.

Jacky, Sally, and Charles trying their best to measure tree height

In the evening, we paired up and presented information on various possible outdoors careers in the science field. While all presentations were clearly impressive and informative, our young chemistry prodigy Suna also gave a detailed, passionate lecture on the secrets of Analytical Chemistry.

Josh says, "Hello, Wyoming!"

As the long day came to an end, we all retreated back to our cabins with the same heavy eyelids that we came to breakfast with. However, though our minds and bodies were exhausted, we all went to bed eagerly anticipating the packed, upcoming day.

-Sally, Jacky, and Suna

So, how did we end up here?!

Check out the following link to find out how a group of high school students from the LA area ended up participating in real scientific research and spending two weeks together in the mountains and prairies of northwestern Wyoming: http://www.earthwatch.org/scap

The group during our Sunday evening walk

The Research has Begun!

After a brisk walk down the road parallel to the baronial Tetons and a view of pronghorn antelopes, bison and longhorn cattle, we were prepared for our first day in the field the next day; or so we thought. My roommate had woken me up at dawn earlier than the others to rustle their shoulders so they could wake up as well, but we all slumbered five minutes past breakfast!

After a long day's hike, everyone takes a break under the shade of the trees 

What a breathtaking view!!
Photos courtesy of Adrienne.

We set forth on our journey groggy and reticent after rising with the sun. Lugubrious layers of cumulus clouds spread like wet clay clumps rent open with stabs of sienna sunlight as we headed to the meadow. Dubious of extricating new nests from the labyrinth of willows, we were surprised to find one among a plethora of dead nests, given that it was the first nest that we did unearth. 

Charles checking out a new bird nest.
Photo courtesy of Eleanore.

Jacky, Suna, and Adrienne party as they forge through the bushwack

Despite the sweltering sunlight,  overbearing backpacks, and nests we couldn't uncover we had a productive and satisfactory day. Simply splendiferous!

- Kirsten
P.S. Happy 17th Birthday Romario!!!

Earthwatchers watch in awe at the beauty of the pond at the Conservation Research Center

Romario, David, and Josh take measurements after finding a nest

Nests can only be found by those who have keen eyes...thankfully, most of us do

While playing our second game of Camouflage, the "prey" (Jackie) outsmarted the "predator" (Josh) in the most simple and deliberate  fashion. He had no idea...
Photos courtesy of Adrienne.

DAY 2!

After a somewhat improved night's rest, we began our second full day in Wyoming with a scrumptious breakfast of french toast, sausages, and fruit. Despite the brief time we've been here, many of us were stunned with our brand new, very irritating souvenirs from Kelly Campus's thriving mosquitoes. After learning our lesson the hard way, we covered ourselves in heavy layers of DEET, which for the most part, kept the bugs away.

Our first activity of the day was in the lab, where we met Jenny, our program director, who gave us a detailed presentation outlining the goals of our research. She further explained what, how, and why we were studying the birds in Jackson Hole. Soon after, Donna-Rose assisted us in gearing up with binoculars, whistles, GPS's, walkie-talkies, and guides to the birds, flora and fauna we expect to encounter in the field. After a short hike with a deer in the fields behind the Teton Science Schools, we reached some picnic tables, where we started our training for nest hunting. Jenny and Donna-Rose introduced us to real bird nests and elaborated on a bird's perspective of nest-making.

Suna, Sally, Adrienne, and Jackie scoping things out

Next, they gave us our first taste of the hardships of nest-hunting. Finding the fake nest and bird they had hidden earlier that morning seemed nearly impossible to most of us, except to Romario, who was successful in finding both treasures. After learning more about documenting our findings on nest cards and becoming more comfortable using our binoculars, we retired to the lab for refuge from the incoming thunderstorms, which we heard were rapidly approaching from behind the Tetons. During our time indoors, we discovered the extensive Murie Collection and the campus library...

Charles and Josh learning together.

- Adrienne, Eleanore, Sally, and Suna

The Great Journey

On the first day of the expedition, an audible "wow" was issued by all ten Earthwatch students as the  splendiferous panorama of the Grand Tetons was fully revealed outside the airplane door. We spent the afternoon- a conglomeration of different characters and dispositions - learning our strengths and how to work as a team body.

Contrary to the superb first afternoon, many of the students as urbanites had an atrocious first night due to the absence of noise. The Jackson Hole night, without humming air conditioner units and bustling freeways, contrasted with our usual evening expectations. The nighttime ambiance was also pitch black, and the sky clear of light pollution.

The group at our first overlook.

 The second day dawned devoid of all city distractions as we donned our hats and sunglasses for a hike. On our hike, our team leader, true to his boho-chic aesthetic with a flower power shirt, taught us scientific names of all the flora and fauna as well as the inner shell of moose-excrement. He also gave a survey of the four major communities in the area - the aspen forests, where we learned about their unique protection from infection; the conifer forests, which offered the shade we desired from the intense Wyoming sun; the sagebrush, where we learned the dangers of consuming the leaves that serve as valuable sustenance for the animals in the area; and the riparian area, where we honed our stream-crossing skills.

- Kirsten and Suna

The picture above is of the Populus gradidentata, or the Aspen tree, which is coated in a chalky yeast powder that is both antifungal and antibacterial. Beneath the outer layer, the bark is a chartreuse green, giving a nod toward the chlorophyll present in the bark even in the winter. Photo credit Kirsten.

Photo credit Romario.

As soon as I arrived at Jackson Hole, Wyoming I felt strangely like I hadn't left L.A. yet. On the van ride to the Tetons Science School, I then started to notice a difference but the difference was much more like a shift into a habitat that I am much more familiar with than any other. The agricultural landscape in Jackson Hole is very similar to those in El Salvador, its all very green and wet.

The sun does not completely set until approximately 10:00 p.m. My first night sleeping here was a nightmare. I got about 3 hours of sleep, but I found out why, and the reasons for this are: not drinking enough water, too much silence (L.A. folks are always surrounded by and used to noise), and I'm not in my own bed in my room; but the first night is always the hardest night and I'll get use to it.

The second day was better, we went hiking through rough terrains and streams, observed the sounds of the Grand Tetons National Park, and learned the names and habitats of different trees and wildlife.

I'm looking forward to all the new things and expeditions we'll be doing these next 10 days.

                                                                                                       - Romario

Human knot untangling.

Our first creek crossing was quite the adventure!

I would like to capitalize on one of the aspects of the short adventurous hike my fellow students and I set out on on our first true day at the Teton Science School. The ten of us along with our charming friend David and our woodland veteran Benj toured Grand Teton National Park strolling past fields of sagebrush, through idyllic meadows, and across perilous depressions. Now most of this occurred on the trail that had been set by hikers past and as a result, the views and the history along were captivating. However, somewhere along the way, our gracious guide Benj decided to stray off the path in search of true wildlife and to do so, our limits were tested as the dense vegetation sought to make our plight as difficult as possible. Yet, as we are tenacious Earthwatch fellows and aspiring scientists, no obstacle would stop us from inspecting moose beds and searching for nests in the lofty arms of towering Aspens. I will concede to the fact that some obstacles were extra-demanding, even for our troop, but the overarching mentality of going out of our way to help one another through precarious situations involving the like of violent twigs and pernicious voids in the soft earth was ever present. The reason I really heaped on this little, perhaps less significant part of our day in most eyes has much to do with the words of Robert Frost which immediately came to mind as soon as foot left trail because even after I have long left this great beacon of Mother Nature, I will remember that somewhere eons ago, two roads diverged in the wood, we took the one not traveled by and that has made all the difference.
                                                                                  
                                                                                                      - Charles