Kids Club Spring Break Camp - The Murie Center
During Kids Club Spring Break Camp we went to the Murie Center in Moose to explore the Snake River and learn about the Murie legacy. The snowy weather allowed us to practice our animal tracking skills, and we followed fresh coyote tracks along the banks of the Snake River.
We observed several moose north of town these two weeks, and even got a hot cocoa treat in Kelly, WY. The weather was so beautiful we decided to play on the Kelly School playground after our hot cocoa treat! The Spring snowstorm over Spring Break allowed us to go sledding at Snow King!
We observed several moose north of town these two weeks, and even got a hot cocoa treat in Kelly, WY. The weather was so beautiful we decided to play on the Kelly School playground after our hot cocoa treat! The Spring snowstorm over Spring Break allowed us to go sledding at Snow King!
Kids Club at Colter Elementary - Wednesday Adventures
On Wednesday March 3, our Kids Club After School Program members learned about trumpeter swans from Drew Reed, Executive Director of the Wyoming Wetlands Society. He discussed with us how they manage the swan ponds, and how recovery programs have helped the local trumpeter swan populations grow. Drew even let us touch a swan's neck, and we got a close up view of their massive wings and large webbed feet. We observed Canada geese, and several mallards occupying the same pond with the swans. Thanks Drew! What an amazing experience!
Next week we're headed to the Visitor Center to complete the Jr Blue Goose Ranger program!
Next week we're headed to the Visitor Center to complete the Jr Blue Goose Ranger program!
Colter Kids Club - Junior Blue Goose Ranger program at the JH Visitor Center
On Wednesday March 10, the Colter Kids Club went to the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center on North Cache Street to participate in the Jr Blue Goose Ranger program. After completing a booklet with great puzzles that led kids on a hunt for answers about local wildlife, they were each awarded with beautiful Jr Blue Goose patch. Mark, a volunteer with Wyoming Game & Fish Department was a wonderful help and guide for all the participants.
No School Birding Day with kids in Grades 2nd-5th - February 15th, 2010
On Monday February 15th, I partnered with the Kids Club Program to offer a birding field day for kids in 2nd through 5th grade. In the morning, we created raptor masks and decorated life sized raptors, with wingspans cut from large rolls of paper. During lunch we watched Raptor Force, an exciting movie examining how raptors fly and their acrobatic skills. After lunch we were joined by a biologist from Craighead Beringia South who discussed our unique local raven population. We finished off our day driving north of town for a bird count, identifying ravens, trumpeter swans & even a couple of Barrow's Goldeneyes. On the last stop on our safari we saw a bull moose bedded down in the sagebrush, with bare spots on his head from his recently dropped antlers. All participants recorded their observations in the field, and our data was entered into the Cornell Great Backyard Birdcount website.
No School Day - Elk Refuge & Taggert Lake, March 12, 2010
On Friday March 12 participants in the Kids Club No School Field Day met some elk, ate lunch outside, and hiked to a frozen lake! We started our day with an elk refuge wagon ride, and then headed north to Grand Teton National Park to explore the Taggert Lake trail.
More photos can be found in the Nature Ambassador - Kids Club Field Notes link in the upper right.
More photos can be found in the Nature Ambassador - Kids Club Field Notes link in the upper right.
Kids Club at Jackson Elementary School - March 2010
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons this past month we've been exploring the trail among the willows behind Jackson Elementary School. Although the older trail seems rarely used by humans, our Kids Club participants have been finding evidence of deer, moose, and coyotes, and hearing our favorite songbirds.
We uncovered various animal tracks and wildlife scat, and occasionally spot wildlife across the meadows. Finding moose and deer hair stuck to branches is an exciting find on our schoolyard safari.
More birds have returned to this area. We saw nearly a dozen red-winged blackbirds and heard several black-capped chickadees.
We uncovered various animal tracks and wildlife scat, and occasionally spot wildlife across the meadows. Finding moose and deer hair stuck to branches is an exciting find on our schoolyard safari.
More birds have returned to this area. We saw nearly a dozen red-winged blackbirds and heard several black-capped chickadees.
Tracking a Moose with Kindergarteners at Jackson Elementary
On Thursday afternoon, February 25, we decided to hike among the willows behind Jackson Elementary School. With our trusty land lenses, we immediately found several piles of ungulate scat in the area.
After we found several piles of moose scat, we noticed evidence of moose browse on the willow branches, and moose beds beneath the willows. Many kids enjoyed sitting in the large moose beds, seeing how big their nap spots are!
As we wandered down the trail finding animals tracks and hearing birds sing, we found our moose!
From a safe distance we observed the cow moose eating willow branches and enjoying the sunny afternoon.
The kids were proud of their tracking skills, and told everyone back at school about their discovery!
After we found several piles of moose scat, we noticed evidence of moose browse on the willow branches, and moose beds beneath the willows. Many kids enjoyed sitting in the large moose beds, seeing how big their nap spots are!
As we wandered down the trail finding animals tracks and hearing birds sing, we found our moose!
From a safe distance we observed the cow moose eating willow branches and enjoying the sunny afternoon.
The kids were proud of their tracking skills, and told everyone back at school about their discovery!
