School Programs have begun!

 And now it is time for bears to hibernate, tourists to return home, and Kiddos to see education programs!  To kick off the school season we had a fun packed day with the K-2nd graders from Girdwood Elementary.  We started off the day with a puppet show.  Sarah and Scott were the puppeters and did a great job!

Afterwards we divided into two groups.  Kelly and I did a porcupine presentation and a Caribou presentation; while Sarah and Scott took the other nuggets (little kids) on a hay ride.  -more to discuss about the hayride later.....

One thing the nuggets are going to be learning about is earthquakes.  Since we are at the center of where the 1964 earthquake happened we were in a good spot to show kids the effects from the earthquake.

Sarah and Scott were on the hayride.  Well the ride part lasted the first 10 minutes until the wagon broke down!  Here they were using tractors on both ends to fix it. 

 The kids were having a blast; especially since the Wood bison were surrounding the hayride thinking there was going to be food for them.  Talk about up close and personal with the bison....

They finalyy threw some pumpkins to the bison so thay couyld get back to work and fix the wagon.
We got about 6 pallets of pumpkins donated since they froze before the seller could actually sell them.  I think they were put to good use. 









Meanwhile back to the earthquake lessons....We have an old Portage cabin on property that is one of the last cabins remaining from the old Portage town site.  We keep a sign near it so that tourists can see the difference the earthquake made.  The ground sank 10feet during the earthquake!

Every year the cabin seems to fall apart a bit more...

Kelly then went back to the barn where we did our porcupine presentation and Kelly did a Caribou presentation. 

















One of the last things we did before the nuggets hopped back on the bus was let all the teachers do a bottle feeding.  It turned out to be a gorgeous day for a field trip!  We ended their field trip by making these two musk ox calves very happy and full from their bottles. 

Well it's back to work and guess what....snow is here!!!!!!!  We have already had about 4 inches total.  The snow is actually sticking and I think it is here to stay for the next 5 months......oh boy I don't know if I am ready to give up warm weather already!
Goodnight Lower 48,
ErIn

time to move

Well as I said in my previous post...it was time to start moving out of the summer cabin and back over to the wildlife center.  Since I now have two pet chickens; I wanted to get them introduced to their new neighbors.  Luckily, my good friend and co-worker Sarah was able to help me move.
After the fact that I asked her to hold Boca and Tofu for me on the ride over to the center; did she mention that she wasn't a big fan of chickens!

 Tofu is meeting her new neighbors.  I hope the old ladies don't pick on the newbies.  My chickens should start laying eggs in about 2 more months.  I can't wait till I can have fresh eggs in the mornings.  Of course I know that I will only get 3 or 4 eggs a week; if they are good layers. 

 My chickens are so cute!  They are called Barred Rock Chickens. 

 Saturday was such a gorgeous day!  We had Bald Eagles hanging around the center left and right. 
On the right their is a pair of mature Bald Eagles.  A juvenile Bald Eagle is on the left.  

 I also spotted a second juvenile eagle later in the day. 
Bald Eagles, along with other species of birds, mate for life. 
Another fun fact about bald eagles:  of the mating pairs the females are usually the bigger of the two.

In our two Great Horned Owls that we have at the center; the female, Snappy, is the larger of the two. 

 I had a bit of spare time on Saturday to drive to Turnagain Flats.  Turnagain Flats is an area about 15 minutes south of the center in the Kenai Peninsula.  Every winter one side of the road is designated for snow machiners; while the other side is designated for cross country skiers.

I plan on learning cross country skiing this winter.  I would even like to groom a path at the center when the snow returns. 

 The snow is already about a third of the way down the mountains.  Soon enough the snow will be on the ground!

 In one of the most recent work days I had to make a run to Girdwood for some groceries.  I also made a pit stop at the potable water fill up.  Just across the street the volunteer fire department was testing their hoses.









Kara, another co-worker, came along and we re-filled some water jugs for the bunkhouse.  Well, I guess I should say that she did all the work since I was busy taking blog pictures of the fire trucks....Thanks again Kara! 

Sadly, the last 3 interns will be leaving over the next week or so; and then it's just the winter crew left!  Man the summer went by fast!

 I changed the settings on my camera to make the colors really pop!  I wanted so badly to run under neath the hoses....but I remembered I wasn't in Texas weather anymore. 

Before winter really hits I wanted to clear out our garden.  I pulled all the cabbages, broccoli, lettuce, and cauliflower to feed out to the animals.  Along with the musk ox; the elk were big fans of their special treats.



Tomorrow I have to make an early run to town for some tulips so I better head to bed.

Goodnight lower 48,
ErIn