First Snow...in Laramie

This time last year, a few days before my birthday, white stuff fell from the sky in the Tetons onto the Kelly Campus. I am not at all surprised that snow has started to fall roughly the same time this year!

Great....

Little Blue, I know Laramie is going to be different many aspects, but are you ready to handle another Wyoming Winter?!?! It seems the warm seasons here are just too short. Hang in there, Girl! We got one year already under our belts, another year is gonna be a little bit easier...I hope!??! We're already used to it and know what to expect!

But, let's celebrate my birthday first...then snow can come!

Thanks!

TheChristyBel

Little Blue, Are You Ready?!?!?

Best Mail Received in Laramie

Today. I received an awesome gift in the mail from Em-J, one of the TSS grads from my cohort.

She was visiting her grandmother in Delaware this past summer and decided to send something from home to my apartment! She's the absolute best! I am going to have to limit myself to one every few days to keep this stash long-lasting!

Thanks Em-J for the Awesome Gift in the Mail!
Great to Have a Little Piece of Delaware in Laramie, WY!

It's the Little Things That Are Getting Me Through This Crazy Semester!

(and yes I know it's only week 2!)

TheChristyBel

Rainbows & Science

My Advanced Topics in Pedagogy Class (Science Methods I) has us perform labs with activities and lessons that we would use with our students in the classrooms. Today, we got to play with colors, varying liquids, and relative density. Can you guess which liquid is the most dense?!

Playing with Play Doh, Colored Sugared Water, & Relative Density

School is Pretty Cool!

TheChristyBel

Welcome Back to Art Class!

This semester, I wanted to take a class that focuses on my love for art and well, a brain break from all the other classes I am taking. Plus, one of my faculty said it would be good to take this course to also help me with my Plan B (which I think I want it to be focusing on determining professional development teacher workshops and programs that incorporate art into scientific learning). We will see.

Anyways...so this semester, I am taking Ceramics II - one of the only art classes that a non-art major can get into. It was such a process getting into it! Calling teachers and the registrar...crazy. But yes, this class is awesome. It is all focused on the wheel and the art of throwing. Can I just say, I have not thrown in a class since junior/senior year of high school with Mrs. Yarnall!!! That's over 11+ years ago!!!! But it was so good to start again, and after 3-classes, my hands are remembering what they had learned that long ago. I cannot wait to see my progression again and to show you some new 3-D ChristyBel artwork! Ahhhhhh!

First Cylinder I am Satisfied With!
It's Still Too Short to Turn In, But It's a Start!

Getting to Draw Too!
Ceramics Research Consists of Finding Some Pieces You Find Interesting & Drawing Them!

I'm in heaven!

TheChristyBel

A Geology Funny

Alumni of the TSS 20th Class at UW

Twelve students from the 20th Class and one from the 19th class at the Teton Science Schools Graduate Program have decided to embark their 'Year 2' here at the University of Wyoming to finish up their Masters. Many of us are taking the Masters of Natural Science in Natural Science Education, alongside a few that are doing more scientific studies or dual-majoring in the Environment & Natural Resources. 

Friday evening, the entire TSS grad community that is here in Laramie was invited over to Kate Welsh's for some drinks and appetizers. It was a great excuse to 1.) get some delicious food and beverages, but 2.) to get together as a TSS community and embrace/celebrate our new year's academic endeavors.

Some of the Teton Science Schools 19th & 20th Classes Are Taking Over the University of Wyoming
I Hope This School is Prepared to Handle Us!

Photo Credit to Heather Wakeman, Fellow Graduate of Teton Science Schools & University of Wyoming Grad. Student

TheChristyBel

Laramie or Bust!

Monday morning, instead of sleeping in and enjoying the Labor Day Holiday with my closest friends and doing awesome things outside, I cried in Marc's arms as Little Blue was filled with all of my last remains of stuff that I would travel the 6+ hours and the 385-miles east to Laramie, WY.

Let me tell you, I thought it would be difficult to say goodbye to Jackson and those beautiful peaks that I had the honor to call home for the past year. No, it was beyond difficult, it was the worst goodbyes I have ever had to make. Saying so long to the mountains that I have still yet to explore, saying goodbye to bison and moose along the roads, saying goodbye to some friends on Nelson Dr, and saying goodbye to a very special person who has made me smile everyday since they have moved out to Jackson. Monday morning was the worst morning I have had in a long time, and possibly worse than a hangover.

But, hearing the words, 'this is not goodbye, you'll be back, and you're not leaving us' were words of reassurance and light to a cloudy morning. I felt that the whole GYE and Tetons knew I was leaving - I was not even able to see those peaks before I headed southeast - they were covered by clouds. 

Getting To My New Home...

At Least I Got to See Some Awesome Geology Along the Way
An Anticline!

Settling In --- My Living Room / Kitchen

I got to my apartment and was greeted with three large boxes at my door. My furniture had come in! About 2-hours later, I had constructed (all by myself) a futon and a card table/chairs. My little apartment was slowly becoming a home!

My Bedroom --- Don't Mind the UnMade Bed

Perk --- A Walk-In Closet --- I Don't Even Need a Dresser!
All My Clothes Fit Into Those Closet Organizers!
Boom!

My Very Own Bathroom!

The next morning, still feeling not quite where I should be (thinking I should still be in the Tetons), I walked to class, well Grad Student Orientation. Even though this 8-hour session was filled with some useful and helpful information regarding a student's grad school experience here at the University of Wyoming, it was a lot of review for the TSS grad students - lots of 'What Would You Do' scenarios about teaching and working with students to financial aid assistance and getting involved in the community.

Later that day, not only did I figure out my class schedule (and discover a teaching certification program that will emphasize my Earth Science/Geology background), but I was able to rent a bike for the Fall Semester from the Outdoor Program (for $25), met with my GA faculty, bought my books for the semester, and got a lot of settling in logistics covered and taken care of!

Tomorrow is the start of our first day of classes - really excited for them - I am taking an art class! Beyond super excited for that brain break and to allow the talent in my hands to create some beautiful things!

This transition is going to be tough, the distance back to the Tetons is feeling farther and farther away, but the feeling of being in a college-town is a familiar lifestyle that I am used to (unlike many of my fellow grads in my TSS cohort who have never gone to a big school), so I know that slowly I will be able to get back into this swing of things and accept and let Laramie become my new home (for at least this school year).

Grad School Orientation!

So Here's to Year 2!
TheChristyBel

Last Few Days in the Tetons

I did not think it would be really hard to say goodbye to Jackson. But as my time here in the Tetons grew shorter and shorter, I realized it was going to be one of the hardest goodbyes I would have to make. Since I am grounded from hiking, we took the time to celebrate my last few days in Jackson by doing some fun activities - from inside artwork to partying about town at the bars, to having a 'Tourist Day' (that will come in another blog entry!) Enjoy the pics!

TheChristyBel

Went to a Ski Sale at the Mountain Resort
Found a Cat Snowboard!

Took a Tram Ride Up Rendezvous Mountain!

Going Up in the Tram

Gazed into Corbett's Couloir

Corbett's Couloir

Color By Numbers!

Kissing Wolves

Water Color and Pen & Ink Art Mornings with Marc

A Work in Progress

Went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert at Jackson Hole Live!

Beautiful Teton Sunsets

The Nelson Crew!
I'm Gonna Miss Them So Much!

#Operation Kidnap Christy
I love the Roommates!

They Wanted Me To Stay!
Wahhhh!

Photobooth Moments in Town!

It's a Hard 'Goodbye' But Not Forever!

TheChristyBel

Tourist Day in Jackson Hole

We wanted to be tourists for the day...obnoxious, 'let's take photos of everything,' see the sights, and do what everyone else comes here to do. It was so much fun - just hanging with some good people, goofing around, taking lots of photos, being annoying, and having a great time! Here are some moments captured on this glorious day!

#ThisIsWhatYouAllLookLikeToUs

TheChristyBel

Marc in a TeePee?!?

Hats, Hats, Hats!

Unicorn Meets Stallion!

'I Am In Jackson Hole!!!'

Being Obnoxiously Adorable in Public!

Gotta Read About Cats While You're Here!

'Oh Look a Moose!'

Moose Meets Wolf?! Trophic Cascade?!

Story Time in the BookStore!

Being Read to By Marc
Enjoy the Video Below

The Hulk, Spiderman, & the Wolverine Came to Jackson Hole Too!

Last Teaching Program at Teton Science Schools

You would think I would be done teaching with the Teton Science Schools after graduation...wrong. The last week of August was my last week of teaching for TSS - I ended with an age group I was definitely not familiar with and actually, incredibly nervous to work with and teach - undergraduate college level! I was supporting the University of Wyoming's ENR1100 course where similar to TSS' Ecological Inquiry class where the entire class chose their own specific Wyoming Environmental Issue to research and interview stakeholders, this class focused on one issue and as a huge group. ENR 1100 dug deeper into the issues ecologically, politically, systematically, and within the community of the expansion/renovation/construction of the Moose-Wilson Corridor.

For those of you who do not know about this, the Moose-Wilson Corridor is a road that runs through the park on the southeast side of the Teton Range. Even though it is incredibly scenic and is a great place to spot moose, black and grizzly bear, and beaver, it also attract many people to use the road. You would think a scenic road in a national park would just have its occasional wildlife jams and idiotic tourists stopping in the middle of the road for various reasons, but the issue goes beyond that - this road also connects the Teton Village (a major tourist hot spot and recreational area for all people of Jackson Hole) to Moose (a town that is an entrance area into the park and a junction to get onto the major highway, US-89.

The concern over Moose-Wilson Road is that it is constantly used by many people and the road is in need of some repair in certain areas and grows concern about safety of not just the people that use it but the wildlife that live within and around it. There has been great concern that redo-ing the road would affect wildlife populations and migratory patterns, as well as influence the road to attract more people with a question of surpassing a 'carrying capacity' of the pureness and scenic qualities of the area around the road.

It was the job of ENR 1100 to dive into this issue, find the origin and background of this road, and go into the community and speak with stakeholders from every position and see the perspectives and passions that this road has within the people that use it. The students spoke with wildlife and conservationists, staff from the National Park Service, local economic businesses - like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, residents of the Jackson Hole Community, Friends of Pathways, the Forest Service, and the list goes on...

Here are some photos of random moments from their experience here in the Tetons!

TheChristyBel

A Little Trail Management and Creation with the Forest Service

Wyoming Boys Will Be Wyoming Boys - Working in Some Fancy Cowboy Boots!

'Christy, Take an Action-Shot of Us!'

I am so Uncomfortable Right Now...

Jake and a Pick!

Got a Bike Bell As a Thank You Gift!
Best Gift Ever!