A Delaware Christmas

Spending Christmas on the East Coast in Delaware was definitely the remedy after a very long, challenging fall semester in the Tetons.

Seeing my family, my grandparents, and a handle of my closest friends and former co-workers were the exact thing I needed!

Like every Christmas, Phyllis and Ray came over for Christmas Eve dinner. It was a great surprise when mom pulled out salmon as the dinner!!! So exciting! Finally fish! And it tasted delicious! What a great gift to have one of my favorite dishes for dinner! Along with cheesy potatoes, popovers, asparagus, stuffed tomatoes, and the most delicious salad ever!!

Mom Knows the Way to My Heart - Through Seafood!

On Christmas Day, presents were opened mega late, I'd say around 1-2pm! Sleeping in and relaxin was more that needed and deserved! Sean labeled all my gifts with moose on them! How appropriate!?! Even though the gift I wanted and received was finally being home wih my family, I did receive some awesome Nikon Monarch binoculars! Now I can go birding out west!! Exciting!

Sean Labeled All my Presents with Moose!

Dinner again was full of seafood. I guess my mom knew how much I was craving it from being in a land-locked state! So Christmas Day dinner included lobster, shrimp, more asparagus, and glazed carrots! Yummmmm!

Christmas Day Dinner - More Seafood.
In Heaven!

Later that night, it was the annual tradition of visiting the brothers and sister from other mothers, the Patterson's and the Furlong's! Never a dull moment in this household! Never ending drinks and a Christmas Day trip to the movies to see Anchorman 2.

Note about the movie: it was terrible. we were so disappointed! You know how the first movie had so many memorable, stand out quotes...this second one did not. Not only were the jokes not memorable, but they were terrible, badly placed, and totally out of context joy matching the movie. It was not at all thought out and organized; it seemed that the producers just grabbed every single funny actor/actress and comedian, placed then in the movie cold turkey, and let them improv it out. Not worth the money to see.

My Sister Megan and I Sharing a Holiday Drink Together!
With Sean Photobombing...

But anyways, it was great hanging with the brothers and sister!! I missed them all so much! Foxfire family forever!

Would Not Change This For the World!
My Foxfire Family
Est. 1996

Happy Christmas,

TheChristyBel

A Moose Morning

As I was getting ready to prepare for a day of snowshoeing, guess who was outside my cabin...Momma Moose and her baby calf, licking the salt off of Leslie's car!

Morning Moose Kisses!

Enjoy!

Licking the Salt off of Leslie's Car

They do not even care that I was taking photos of them from my cabin porch.

A Salty Breakfast!

I just love it here...especially with these magical beauties visiting my cabin!

PS. To all my East-Coasters, I will be Home in 2 Days! Start grabbing lots of whiskey bottles!

Xoxo,

TheChristyBel

Winter Ecology Wildlife Expedition

This week, the graduates are in their first week of our sixth class, Winter Ecology! I'm pretty excited and interested in this class. In this course, the graduates learn about how to cope and be outside in this frigid weather, get a deeper look into snow science, and get a taste of natural history of animal tracking!

Momma Moose Sleeping Outside Cloudveil

To start off the mornings, and mostly every morning...Of course, there is nothing like waking up and starting your day off with a cow moose waking up next to your cabin!

Inside the National Elk Refuge Overlooking Some Big Horn Sheep

I believe it was Wednesday, we took another Wildlife Expedition tour through the National Elk Refuge. This was really fun. Our teachers, Kevin and Kevin were awesome knowledgeable guides as we talked about bison, elk, moose, and big horn sheep!

As we drove deeper into the refuge, we were able to see a first for me! Big Horn Sheep! It was such a sight! Apparently, right now, is their breeding season. So seeing them right now is pretty common along the rocky ledges of the refuge.  However we were able to see them at the base of the hills grazing on grass.

First Sightings of Big Horn Sheep Through A Scope

Using the spotting scope, I was able to capture some grazing moments for you! Remarkable that my iPhone can take some decent photos by placing it up to the lens of the scope. Eventually I should probably look into an actual camera! (Hope you're reading this Mom and Dad, for next year's Christmas gift! Haha)

So Cool for the Close Up

Heart Exploded!

These animals are so beautiful! Heir horns are not like antlers, where the animal will shed them off every year. Big horn sheep's horns will remain on the animal and will grow as the animal grows! Hence the rings on the horns.

Big Horn Sheep!

Our guide, Kevin, showed us a Big Horn Sheep skull to get a closer look. Very impressive! 

Skull of Big Horn Sheep

You can see in the photo below, how small their brain is compared to the rest of the skull. Also, you can notice that buffer zone near the forehead and top of the skull: hollow cavities in back of thick bone! This is used to absorb tremendous amounts of intense shock when the sheep butt heads with others during intense duels and fights.

Look at the Tiny Brain Cavity!

Even the horns themselves are really fascinating as well! Some can curly cue multiple times and get very large! The one we got to see up close was bigger than my head and could totally be used as a phone...just kidding!

It's the Size of My Head...And Bigger!
Can I Have this to Make into a Phone?

Seeing the big horn sheep was such a treat! Hopefully it won't be my last! Can't wait to tell my students about these wonderful animals! Bring on Winter Practicum!

Bahhhhhh!

TheChristyBel

Wilderness EMT Scenario Victim

For the past month, Teton Science Schools has hosted the NOLS WMI Wilderness EMT course on the Kelly Campus.  So it's been a little busy and full of people.  Not to mention, the course was mostly men as well, so it was really nice seeing lots of handsome faces every day! Haha.

Another wonderful thing was that, Tom, one of my friends I met during Wildrness First Responder, is taking the course! So it was great having him back on campus again!

Tom & I
From WFR to WEMT!

Towards the end of their month, some of the TSS graduates were able to volunteer for the WEMTs in their night mock rescue. Very cool! We had victims that had survived a plane accident that had crashed into the sage flats.

A bunch of the grads had injuries including: diabetes, pregnancy issues, open wounds, spinal injuries, mental instability, dislodged objects, and burns.  I had burns on my chest and body with some respiratory problems.

WEMT Night Rescue Scenario - Burn & Respiratory Victim

It was a very cool experience. However, at times I was hard to be serious since my friend Tom was my rescuer. But he and his teammate did a great job taking care of me.

Being in the safe flats, in the snow, was not fun at all. It was so cold. At first I was pretending to shiver, but as the night progressed during the rescue and as I lay there being worked on in the snow, I began to actually get cold and began to shiver uncontrollably! So cold! But my rescuers did a great job keeping my feet warm, giving hot water bottles, placing me in a sleeping bag, and working fast to evacuate me out.

Look at those burns!

After the rescue, the patients were able to give feedback and thank our rescuers. Very fun and a great experience. Also it was great to listen in on the information as a review from what we learned during WFR. Not to mention a $20 gift certicate to the NOLS store! Boom!

I surivived and I'm fine!

TheChristyBel

A Belief Matrix

Belief Matrix Reflection for Christy Belardo

I viewed this belief matrix as a professional job description.  I filled it out in three main steps: a personal-professional individual level, an educator level, and my overall philosophy and principles.  As a former volunteer coordinator, I had a job description matrix that I used to visualize my staff roles and responsibilities within specific categories.  Whether looking at this matrix from a volunteer coordinator or an educator perspective, I felt that there were categories that overlapped.  Once the personal-professional beliefs were placed, I was able to focus on the educator belief perspective.  By using my knowledge, notes, and reflective journals I had from my classes here at TSS, I was able to pinpoint specific concepts that I felt were important to how I teach.  After completing both my personal-professional and educator beliefs, I was able to construct overall personal philosophies and principles that I feel truly represent myself as an individual in a career that I enjoy.

Reflecting back on my volunteer coordinating days, I filled in categories such as: personal strengths, safety, and professional development.  These categories had very similar qualities that, I believe, can be transferable in any working environment.  I believe that in a professional environment no matter if you are teaching or whatever, you must have skills that enable you to be confident, well-spoken, and positive in any career.  I also believe that bringing a passion, reflective mindset, respect, and an awareness of self and others to any career sets you up to be a collaborative team player.  These three categories were placed in the middle of my matrix, representing qualities of awareness of myself in any professional working environment.

After looking over and reviewing notes from Intro to Field Science, Place-Based Education, and Advanced Instructional Strategies classes, I was able to choose ideas, concepts, and strategies that I felt I incorporate currently or want to incorporate into my teaching.  The bottom and top rows include: educational setting, student management, assessment, curriculum, and instructional strategies. I also reflected on how I taught during my fall teaching practicum in outreach and the personal conversations I had with all of my teachers.  Being able to write down things I learned in class to qualities I observed from other teachers and in myself when teaching was incredibly important in pinpointing my beliefs from an educator’s perspective.  Ideas and concepts that I felt strongly to incorporate in my matrix included: working as a community, building trust with one another, taking ownership in actions, student-based and driven lessons, and incorporating the bigger picture and sense of place.

After the first week of Advanced Instructional Strategies, I believe I was able to complete my last category.  I think after having time to reflect on what I had learned thus far, allowed me to compile a few guiding principles and personal philosophies that I felt strongly represented a well-rounded vision of myself.  As I look as this matrix for my future, I feel that this matrix is continuously evolving.  As I continue to grow and learn, my belief matrix will shift and grow with me, but this is a great foundation to becoming a more effective, efficient, and professional individual/educator.

Not a Snow Day

So, I woke up today to so many of my friends back home expressing their excitement for the SNOW that arrived over night!  That is so wonderful to hear, but let me tell you something...
I've have snow since well...October! hehe.

I am not going to lie, but I did love all the East Coast Snow Day Posts & Pictures and all the school/work closings...it really makes me miss home!  Glad the winter wonderland is finally there!

Loads of Snow in Front of Cloudveil!

It's been snowing here for the past 3-4 weeks straight. AND....

I STILL HAD SCHOOL!

You Haven't Seen Nothing Yet! hehe.

Love you all East Coast Loves!

PS. COUNTDOWN BEGINS TODAY!

10 DAYS!

L, TheChristyBel

First Time: Cross Country Skiing

On Saturday afternoon, a few of the TSS Grads and I decided to go on a cross-country ski!  Mary Beth and her husband, Eddie, and I had never cross-country skied before, so I asked Hazel and Joe if they would not mind showing us the ropes!  I mean, I am going to have to start teaching my students to cross country ski, so I might as well get a head start on it!

So after lunch, we all went to the resource room, tried some boots on, grabbed the skis, and headed into the snow!  We learned that step-glide technique!  It was like you were skating on the snow!  It was so cool.  Not going to lie, I was hooked as I connected my first ski to my boot...and then maybe after my first fall! haha!

My Cross-Country Skiiing Bunnies!

We decided to travel along the Teton Crest Trail and around the Kelly Campus.  The trails around here are pretty easy to intermediate and it was great to get back on them since I was not hiking at all during the fall on campus.  Plus, testing out the skis on our turf was pretty comfortable as well.

Snowing in the Tetons!

The weather was pretty perfect, although the temperatures are still in the single digits to below freezing, there was little to no wind when we were trekking along.

Group Selfie!

I am so glad I got to travel with some other beginners!  Not that I care if I fall in public, but it was nice to learn with some friends!  Hazel and Joe were excellent teachers!  We all laughed, smiled, and cheered when we fell and got back up.  Great positive attitudes!

Falling Action!

 

Video Credit to Eddie Cox

 

Video Credit to Eddie Cox

Posing for some group shots on our great afternoon adventure!

This sort of resembles the Captain Morgan ad....weird.

XC Skiing!

Great TSS Grad Family Outing!

She's Doing It!

It's really surprising me that I am enjoying most of the winter sports and activities out here.  I guess not being able to do them, really inspires me to try them and want to keep up with them.   I really did enjoy my first time cross-country skiing and am really tempted to eventually get my own set of xc skis as well!

Eventually!  Luckily I get to borrow TSS' for the whole year!

Shredding the Gnar!
TheChristyBel

Returning To Class & The JC Ropes Course

So, we are back from break and in class-mode for three weeks until we are released for the holidays!  Boom!  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by thus far!  It really is mind-blowing how much we have already learned and how many opportunities we have been given!

On our first day back, we had a fall teaching practicum rendezvous!  The faculty and graduates were also given 'Secret Snowflakes,' similar to 'Secret Santa.'  So on the first day during our teaching rendezvous, I received my gift from mine.  A very beautiful mug with hot tea in it and it also had a strainer for loose tea! So awesome!  I am not sure who my snowflake is...but I am very excited for the person I have.  I hope they like the gifts I have in store for them!

A Gift From My Secret Snowflake!

During the rendezvous day, the graduates and faculty did a bunch of team building activities in the snow.  Some activities included: moving the bird nest, the balancing on a ramp, everyone on the tarp, and so much more.  We also got to use the lower ropes course as well!

Besides getting back into the swing of things and class, the Snow Season has officially arrived!  There is about a foot of snow that has accumulated across campus.  So the insulated boots, wool socks, a shovel, hat, and a PAIR OF SUNGLASSES are very crucial right now.  But let me tell you, those white peaks on the Tetons are ever, so beautiful to look at. 

The Snow Season Has Arrived on the Kelly Campus!

On Wednesday, December 4th, I think theChristyBel had reached her all-time low...in TEMPERATURE, of course.  When we woke up that morning, the temperature reached, well dropped, to an astounding -17 degrees!!!! Can you even believe that!  Let's not even talk about how the wind chill was -29 degrees!  Holy moly!!! But the thing is, when you go outside in it, it really is not that cold.  Well when you dress properly, it definitely does not feel that cold.

On Wednesday, December 4th, TheChristyBel Reached an All-Time Low...In TEMPERATURES!

So this past week and into next week, we are in the Advanced Instructional Strategies course.  This great has been great because it emphasizes strategies that are used in teaching to highlight how we teach to different audiences, different types of learners, and how each lesson can be the most effective by specific and complementing instructional strategies.

Hanging Out in a fort...Under the Boards in Class.

Well, that is all I have for now, but tune in next time for some fun out in that white fluffy stuff!  'Cause, I am going Cross Country Skiing tomorrow!! First Timer Here!

TheChristyBel

Happy Birthday, Lana!

Happy Birthday to one of my bestest and dearest friends, Lana!

Can't wait to come home and celebrate your birthday with you!

Xoxo love you!

 

One of the Bestest Friends a Girl Could Ask For!

Through Thick & Thin, Dance, Guard, and 5K's!

One of My Other Halves!

Outreach Dinner

So tonight, the Fall Outreach Team celebrated our last night together as a team by having a dinner at our Team Coach, Kate's House!

We decided to make sushi, spring rolls, jalapeno poppers, wontons, and curry!  Kate was an excellent host and we all pitched in to create the delicious food!  Here are a look at the beautiful creations!

Tempeh & Salmon Sushi!

Spring Rolls!

My family would be so proud of my sushi and spring roll making skills! 

Enjoy!
TheChristyBel

A Fall Teaching Practicum Synthesis

Every educator continually has a variety of ideas, concepts, and challenges that they have going into a teaching season (field or in-classroom) in which they must encounter, work through, learn from, and to accept.  Coming into the fall teaching practicum with already four years of field educating under my belt, I felt comfortable with the challenge of being given the opportunity to teach in the field and on an outreach level.  Some challenges I knew going into this semester on striving to be an even more effective educator than I already was included being more time conscious during my lessons, making sure I had enough tricks in my bag for when attention was being lost or a brain break was needed, and making sure I was addressing my students in a personable, professional manner.

Confidently, I have a passion and foundation on working with and teaching my students, and there will always be techniques, traits, and tips to make me a better educator, but that working with a whole new group of colleagues and relying on them in so many ways was something I did not really take into a main focus of mine.  After completing my first practicum, there was one thing that I did not take into consideration when viewing what I wanted to get the most out of, until the practicum was over; that was community.  Going into this program, I thought I understood the idea of community; basically, going to class, working, teaching, and living together in a beautiful place.  However, after these three-months with my cohort, my idea of community has changed; it is much more than just teaching and working together. 

For my fall synthesis, I wanted to visually present my idea of community through drawing.  Its shows that my current community revolves around my fellow graduates in the place that we live, go to class, recreate, and teach in.  Of courses, teaching in the has only allowed me to embrace my inner creativity and allow me to use my talents and passions, to let me grow and learn from experiences and mistakes, but has taught me to step out of a comfort zone and embrace the unknown with others around me.  Whether that means teaching age groups and topics I am unfamiliar with to getting to know and working with individuals professionally and personally in a variety of settings.  Something I know I continually see as a challenge for myself, is to allow others in, allow others to support me, and allow myself to continue to grow with a group and not just me as an individual.

The 2013 TSS Graduate Cohort of the GYE - Black & White

I believe this idea of community, is just the start to my experience with TSS and helping me grow to be a better educator and community member, and I am continually learning and striving for this every day.  I believe that learning about your new community and cohort is realizing that it is not just one element (yourself) that makes this place and community special, unique, and successful, but it’s realizing that you need everyone in this community and rely on one another and support one another to have a successful and diverse community. 

Community is relying and supporting one another, which compared to the community we teach about in many of our lessons, is similar to how the local fauna live and thrive together in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  The one beautiful thing about the TSS graduate cohort is that all strive and continue our desire to learn, absorb new techniques, and we share the same passion to be outside.  Throughout this practicum and as we move forward, I believe we continue to learn from each other, accept and give advice, gain new knowledge, and create bonds with each other.  Demonstrated in my drawing as everyone is represented as a local fauna in the GYE.  Each animal was chosen for each individual based on what I have learned about each person.

When teaching with other graduates, I have learned a multitude of things about teamwork and community balance: from respecting personal needs to demonstrating professional collaboration.  I have learned to be flexible, adaptable to weather, scheduling, and limited resources issues and concerns, but to also have fun and be willing to be creative, enthusiastic, and engaging with one another and our students we teach.

I understand, now, and will continue to be mindful as I experience the rest of my journey here with TSS, is that working together and getting to know the fellow graduates, has helped me be a better and more effective educator.  Throughout this practicum, learning to adjust and adapt to many different pulls of world, in a different ecosystem, is like the Rocky Mountain flora and fauna community, we all must rely and live together in a natural balance. 

The 2013 TSS Graduate Cohort of the GYE - Color

Enjoy,
TheChristyBel

A Vail Thanksgiving

So, as you all know, I decided to go to Vail, Colorado for the Thanksgiving Holiday Break with one of my fellow grads from TSS, Mandy.  We had a blast in this ski-town!  Mandy was able to ski her heart out all week.  I did partake in skiing a few times during the seven days we were in Vail, but I was also able to do some sight-seeing, relaxing at the library, and enjoy being a tourist.

The town of Vail is really pretty.  In the downtown area, there are a lot of resorts and hotels intermingled at the foot of the slopes, not to mention many top brand boutiques and shops.  I could not help but take photos of the buildings!  Also, this town is pretty on the pricey side.  Vail is a top ski town and attracts many top skiers and international folk, and well, people that have a lot of money.  Phil was telling me that an average family of four pay on average $22,000, I believe per week on a vacation here.  I was shocked!  I guess after thinking about it, that includes ski passes, lessons, equipment rentals, hotel rooms, food, and the list I bet goes on!  But other than the top prices, the quality of life, scene, and recreation is top-notch and worth every penny.

Not only was this an apartment complex, but there was a skating rink!

I love the cobbly-stoned walkway streets!

Very pretty

Interesting Art!

Skating Rink!

I loved this nature-scape gate!  Want!

Another skating rink!

Thanksgiving was definitely different from my family Thanksgiving events.  Mostly because mine are spent with my family and relatives, where as this Vail Thanksgiving was a family of wonderful friends.  A huge potluck was held at Mandy's boyfriend's house, where everyone pitched in a brought a dish to share.  By the peak of the festivities, Mandy had counted about 30 people eating dinner with all of us!  It was crazy!  Very fun!

Mandy's 'Happy Chicken Egg' Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mandy decided to help prepare chocolate chip cookies and vegan gravy.  By the time it was my turn to prepare something, everyone was already bringing a dish, so I helped Mandy prep her food and pitched it for dinner supplies and ingredients for the boys in the main foods they were preparing for the dinner.

Thanksgiving Morning: Nothing Like Having Some Lox & Shmear!

Thanksgiving morning, Mandy and the crew decided to go skiing, so I went to one of the cafe's in town and had some a coastal fixing of salmon and shmear!  I am so missing oceanic food...haha. Cannot wait to go home for some sushi and fish! haha.

Traditional Knitting on Thanksgiving

When we all got back to the house to start preparing for the festivities, I pulled out my knitting and continued to finish a scarf on the new circular needles I purchased.  Tried on the new basket weave stitching, and let me tell you, I finished it and it looks awesome!

Shot-Ski!

That night I partook in my first 'shot-ski!'  This was an intense shot!  Basically, there are seven shot glasses on a ski and you all have to take the shot all at the same time!  So crazy!

Lots of Food!

The food was really delicious!  There was so much food!  We definitely had a lot of food left over as well.  The menu consisted of: a roasted turkey, a bar-be-que chicken, a fried chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, lots of awesome salad, sweet potato marshmallow dish, green beans, asparagus, corn bread, rolls, and gravys.  Delicious!

And Turkey!

So for a Thanksgiving away from home, was pretty awesome.  Although I did miss being at home, doing the traditional dinner with my family, trying something new was a great change for me.  I had a blast with a huge group of awesome people!

East Coast Represent: Dewey Beach in Bart & Yetti's Bar, Vail CO!

Thanksgiving in Vail was awesome!
Only three more weeks of class then I get to come home for the holidays!  Pretty Excited!

Stepping Foot on the East Coast in 19 days!
TheChristyBel