Canoes and Journals

We asked the girls to write some messages back home to their friends and family and to tell us, in their own words, what they were doing (because a picture may be worth a thousand words but sometimes they need a caption!). Here is what the girls had to say:

Megan - GSCNC

Hey people reading this! I’m going to tell you what my group has been doing these past few days.
On our fist day we hiked around campus learning about the wildlife communities in this area. In the first community (sage brush) we played a game called helium pole and it was a great teamwork builder. We saw dirt circles made by bison called wallowing holes - its how they get bugs off and cool down. Next we went to the aspen community and played a game called senses where we paired up and our partners lead us to a tree and we tried to remember which tree our partner lead us to and once we found it we switched with each other .
On the second day we went around the Grand Teton mountains. First we went to the bottom of a mountain and looked for fossils (did you know that the Teton were originally under water?), then we went to a historical part about a man named Menor who ran a ferry across the river . Next we went to the elk refuge and looked for signs of elk (we found them) but we also saw bear dung . Then we saw succession of the log pole forest to a sub-alpine forest . Next we went to a beaver habitat and learned about them. Did you know that beavers have three buildings - a dam, a food storage place, and a lodge (or home)?

Then today we went on a long hike and we made it to the top of Coyote Rock and I have lots of cool pictures of it. We also saw bird banding and it was really cool. Did you know that now they are adding colored bands so that every one can see what bird it is?! And we also played a fun game called migration with different movements to go with different birds. It was amazing. Then we went shopping in Jackson and I bought souvenirs for every one . Well I’ll write again soon .
~Megan M

Sofia, Rancho Foothills Council
Today we learned about the different variations of birds. We also saw some bird banding by some graduates. Sometimes they took us to the nets to see if any birds have been caught in them. They had to go often because it was getting hotter so we were mostly jogging down trails. They caught a humming bird that they had to release because they’re not permitted to catch humming birds. They also captured a sparrow and a yellow warbler.
Afterwards was a quick lunch then a three mile hike up to Coyote Rock. The first part was a mile and a half up hill which took awhile. It was really pretty at the top and it was also one of the sites for our group picture. We relaxed up there for awhile before heading back down which was a much, much easier trek. Several people kept chanting “Harry Potter Puppet Pals” on the way down for at least ten times.
After that we went into town--well we changed first (at least most people did) and every thing so we didn’t smell like buffalo--and had dinner. Then we split into our trail groups and headed different directions. The first shop that we headed into was Shirt Off My Back where they had a lot of cool Jackson Hole tees. We also got smoothies and ice cream towards the middle and saw some other groups. Then we headed back to the arches--looks way different from when my mom took a picture in front of them--and we saw these two guys playing with pop guns. We were just joking around and then Morgan made a gun shot sound and one of the guys turned around…Woops. But then they started “shooting” us during the picture, mostly at Ivy. It was all in good nature.

Taylor, GSNEG

Hey everybody!!!

Wyoming is so awesome. The Tetons are so beautiful!! Everywhere you look you can see them.(shoutout to Mom, Dad, Zach, Matthew, Sarah, Nana, Hannah, Jessie, and WOP swim team: sorry I missed county!)
We have done sooooo much hiking. We’ve also done bird banding, canoeing, and traveling by vans. I have met so many fun people. They are awesome! I am going to be so sad when I have to come back and go to school. The chaperones are fun and so are the instructors. Today, I’m doing stream ecology as my field topic. We are going to get to wear huge wet suit things and take water samples and observe the riparian communities. ( oh yes, communities in nature was our topic on Saturday) I miss everybody, but I have made tons of new friends here. I can’t wait to come back and tell you all about it! Now I have to get off the computer because Ivy is in line! Hahaha!

p.s.- I am getting ready to send some postcards and letters. See y’all (Jessie, haha, your word) on Sunday. Make sure you make me a nice dinner! Just kidding!( we don’t get any soda though! Or ice!) okay, bye!!!!

~~Taylor~~

Alison and Kelly examining fossils1.jpg	beaver lodge1.jpg	Brittany and Miriah1.jpg	Danielle and Meghan1.jpg	Elaine1.jpg
home on the range1.jpg	It's true - Girl Scout leaders DO walk on water 1.jpg	IvyJulie and Jen looking at fossils1.jpg	Jessica1.jpg	journaling at an historic site1.jpg
Julie and Ivy1.jpg	Kat and Chelsea1.jpg	looking for fossils in GTNP1.jpg	Marisa and Ayana1.jpg	Megan and Lina1.jpg
Mirah and the wolves1.jpg	Mollie and Ginger1.jpg	Morgan and Taylor1.jpg	Nana and the wolves1.jpg	on top of the fossil pile!1.jpg
Pam and Brigid1.jpg	Pam as a beaver1.jpg	secluded forest learning1.jpg	singing the beaver song1.jpg	Skye and Lora1.jpg