Fieldtrips

I got to hangout with a bunch of seventh graders for three days of fieldtrips. On Wednesday, we went to Richardson Nature Center.
http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/outdoor_ed/center_richardson.cfm
Among the activities there, we were introduced to the three resident raptors. There was an American Kestrel, a Red-Tailed Hawk and a Barred Owl. All were injured or otherwise unable to return to the wild. The kids were also instructed on how to set up a tarp and start a fire to survive in the Minnesota winter. In this, they had varied success. The three groups with me ranged from the “hill people,” who tried to accomplish this on an incline and used all their matches trying to light sticks, to the meticulous group who thought they were doing poorly who lit a nice fire with one match.
Note* the hill people would have frozen to death.

On Thursday we went to the Wildlife Science Center.
http://www.wildlifesciencecenter.org/
Bob the guy who did the program was excellent. Among the interesting things to see at the center are 42 captive wolves. These are unable to be released into the wild for various reasons. Originally the center was a Federal research facility. In its “great wisdom,” the government decided to close it down and destroy/kill the wolves. Some staff converted it into a private research/educational facility. This was a much better idea!
Note* Look into the yellow eyes of a wolf, and you will never be the same.

Friday we visited the Minnesota History Museum.
http://www.mnhs.org/exhibits/index.htm
This was a bit challenging since I had to keep track of a small group of students in a very busy museum!
Note* How will I ever go back to detention???