I recently wrote for a blog, about environmental education and the role it plays at summer camps.  It is a topic that every parent should be concerned and educated about, as it is now being linked to many physical and mental problems associated in children  Please follow this link to learn more.

http://nowismystory.wordpress.com/

Life on Earth

Technology is doing great things for our environment!  At the moment, there is a rush to collect information on life on Earth.  With a dramatic decline of species worldwide, Project Noah has come about to allow individuals to show off species they are spotting!  This allows for all of us to enjoy such pictures, and increase our awareness of biodiversity.  Please check out my many photos of animals from around the world and in my own Chicago neighborhood. 


http://www.projectnoah.org/my/spottings

Kiwi in the USA?

I recently took a trip to Washington DC and before my visit, I got in contact with the National Zoo, which just so happens to have kiwis, and breeding kiwis for that matter! I asked them if I could stop by and visit with them (A friend in NZ had done the same years ago.) They actually said "yes", so I had a date with a kiwi. Turns out they thought that my time volunteering with the small flightless birds in New Zealand, made me a worthy visitor.

Kiwis as you may know, are flightless New Zealand birds. They have a long beak used for sifting through soil and grabbing bugs. They have the softest feathers, that Maori Chiefs still wear as cloaks. They lay the largest egg in proportion to their body size, of any bird. Did I mention they have whiskers. They are freaks of the animal kingdom, as are most of New Zealand animals. Sloths may be adorable, but a friendly kiwi is just as cute! Check out my video, to see for yourself!

To learn more about Kiwis at the National Zoo visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Kiwi/default.cfm?hpout=homepage

Help a Sloth

This holiday season if you are looking for a way to give back, please consider donating to Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica. The sanctuary is home to over 150 sloths, that need our help. By donating money, you are providing medical care, food, enclosures and towards the education program. http://www.razoo.com/story/Slothsanctuary

My Sloths make Animal Planet

Tune in to Animal Planet on December 17th to see my sloths at Aviarios!

My Photo picked for Australian Geographic!

A photo of Shark Bay World Heritage site I took in Western Australia, made it into the award winning magazine, Australian Geographic! Take a look!

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=0&gid=10356

Superior Hiking Trail: a 9 day walk in the woods

Bear Lake on our last morning

This is what it is all about
The dirty and more fit version of Jessy

View from one of our camp sites. Here's my little tent.
Jessy in Minnesota
The group, 12 teenage campers and three staff
Wolf prints, we saw hundreds during the first portion of the trail.
Most of my view for 9 days was a bunch of backpacks, but I was lucky to see the birch trees!

This summer I worked at the camp I have been going to since I was 9 years old. I was teaching environmental ed there as I did in South Carolina. a day before their Counselors in Training were getting ready to go on a 9 day backpacking. Well, turns out their female counselor was sick before the trip and could not make it. They asked me to go, expecting the worst and I happily agreed to go, leaving them all in shock.

The only item for the hike I had brought along with me to the camp was my amazing water proof backpack! Everything else I had at home, so needless to say there was a lot of borrowing going on. I managed to get everything I needed, including biodegradable soap for when we did happen to find a body of water.

Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT is one of the 10 best hikes in the world. Its rated the 5th best in the US. It goes from Deluth Minnesota to Canada along Lake Superior. It also goes through the Sawtooth Mountains. Its up and down, over massive rocks, through swamps, through mud, through birches and over bridges. Its great!

The first day we walked maybe a mile..I thought I was going to die! It was hot and I was tired of walking, believe me it crossed my mind if this was going to work out for me. We also managed to break a water pump that night, but luckily David (the trips director) ran out to buy a new one since we were still close to the road. We did hear wolves howling that night and in the morning.

The trail ended up being amazing, the sights were breath taking. Sure it was challenging, but this made it even more worth the while. The teenagers I got to know were each such great individuals! Especially the one who boiled my water for my coffee every morning.

For anyone wanting to try this hike, I would give yourself plenty of time to do it, I could have kept going after the 9 days! Make sure to bring a good bag, a water pump, and a camera!