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