Sleighing the National Elk Refuge

Good Morning,

In preparation for our Winter Teaching Practicum, the Graduate Cohort explored the National Elk Refuge and the National Wildlife Art Museum.  These are two places that graduate students, as field instructors, can take students during program time.

This Morning's Hippie TV of the Tetons
Look at that moon!

Going to the National Elk Refuge was a really fun experience.  We met our tour guide at the entrance to the refuge, stock-piled into our SLEIGH, and off we went onto the refuge to meet the elk!

The Draft-Horses Taking Us to the Elk on the Refuge

The National Elk Refuge is very interesting.  The refuge was established in 1912 in order to provide winter habitat and preserve the Jackson Hole elk herd.  It was one of the first big game refuges established and was created as a result of the public interest in the survival of the Jackson elk herd.  Providing a habitat for approximately half of nearly 14,000 elk on the herd. 

There They Are!

As we traveled into the refuge, our tour guide talk about the history of the refuge, talked about the elk and their natural history, and answered any questions that we had.  When we take students on these sleigh rides, the tour guides also explained how our roles as field instructors can help support our tour guides during these tours with younger individuals.

So Majestic!

The grasslands are maintained with native plants and managed to produce enough natural forage for the elk through irrigation, seeding, prescribed burning, and other management activities.  The refuge is also managed throughout the summer and fall with hunting, to give the refuge land enough time to continue to produce the elk's vegetative food before they are allowed onto the refuge land.

Since the number of wintering elk on the Refuge is limited to avoid overuse of the range and spread of diseases common when herd animals are crowded.  As the winter season progresses, the management program enhances the winter elk habitat and reduce the need for supplemental feeding. 

Bull Elks Resting in the Early Hours of the Afternoon

The Refuge Has Carrying Capacity of About 5,000 Elk to Stay Here on the Refuge for the Winter

Some of the controversial activities and issues include the supplemental feeding of the elk (and bison), the management hunting program, spread of disease between elk and livestock, concentrated elk and bison populations on a limited wintering area, and the growing bison populations on the Refuge. 

Heart Exploding From Seeing the Elk Up Close

These sleigh rides were very informative, interesting, and gave us an up-close and personal viewing of the elk.  Not to mention our tour guides give that pure, raw, cowboy vibe and of course on a sleigh!

TheChristyBel

Observing Teton 5th

For the Fall Teaching Practicum, I will be apart of the Outreach Team.  This is a really awesome opportunity for several grad students to teach programs off of Kelly Campus and in various schools throughout the state of Wyoming.

Before we are able to start teaching, we are given the opportunity to observe others so we can get an idea on the teaching techniques and curriculum that TSS offers its students.  This week, we begin to observe TSS faculty teach field programs on the Kelly Campus.  In addition, the Outreach Team will also observe at the Journeys School to understand 'in-classroom' teaching as well since we will be teaching in and out of a classroom while on the road.

My Favorite Time of Year...Autumn and the Turning!

Today, we were able to observe Kate Bodey, our Outreach Team Leader, in the SCAR Teton 5th Field Program.  This program is very cool where students are taught SCAR communities.  Students will be able to visit and explore communities such as the Sagebrush, Conifer, Aspen, and Riparian communities.  They are able to differentiate between the four and create their own research project basing them off these communities and the various other programs they participate in.

Brotherly Love...Morning Massages!

All ready to go, the graduate students prepared, followed, and observed with TSS faculty in programming all week to help us prepare for our own teaching of program the following week. 

Such a Fashionista!  Em-J and Her Hunting Vests!
Safety First!

From Teamwork, Expectations of Group, Self, Instructors, and Environment, and Environmental Ecosystems/Communities to activities, projects, and games of camouflage, we observed full day and evening programs all week.

A Hiking We Will Go...Through the Aspens!

Very interesting to wear bright orange vests and hats as we hiked through trails.  We still hike in hunting country.  Very different from back home where we completely shut off and close down certain trails to hunting.

Elk Remains!

Seeing students explore with curious eyes and eager minds makes me love teaching.  Showing them really cool natural history specimens and letting them have fun outside is incredibly rewarding.  To also watch faculty teach gives us confidence and understanding on how TSS runs its environmental education programming and how we can learn from them to be better teachers ourselves.

Teamwork and Leadership with Teton 5th!

Watching Kate was really fun to watch.  Her excitement, engagement, and ways to manage her group was really inspiring and very helpful for how I should and can manage my students.  The most rewarding part of observing Kate was the excitement and teamwork the students expressed!

Such a Great Group of Students!

Being a visual learner is a great way to understand information and concepts.  Observing Kate in the field gave me a lot of confidence and understanding for when I teach in the next few weeks for my Fall Practicum.  Can't wait until I start next week with Saratoga!

Almost in full swing!

TheChristyBel