Imagine a school day that starts before the sun comes up, where the dress code is wear as many layers as you can, and animal spotting tells you to move from place to place instead of the tardy bell; where teachers’ passion and enthusiasm for their subject matter is met with students eager to learn. If you can picture such a day and such a place, then you would’ve been with us today as we toured the Lamar Valley.

Our day started with a speedy pass through the Roosevelt Arch while the moon was still up. Our first “class” of the day was with Kira Cassidy, the program manager with the Wolf Project in Yellowstone. Surprise guest was Joe Madison with the Red Wolf Project in NC! No wolves spotted just yet…but we are holding out hope.

Wolf biologists Kira and Joe teach the group about their favorite subject matter.

 

Second block was an Animal Science Field Trip. As we drove around Lamar Valley, sudden stops on the side of the windy roads were not uncommon. No….no one got car sick. We were on a scavenger hunt to spot the animals in the distance. With our binoculars at the ready, we got amazing views of an adult moose with a calf. Spotting bison was not a difficult task, especially when they were walking along the side of the road. A quick stop was made beside a river to catch a sighting of a majestic bald eagle flying over trying to catch up to the flock of mallards.

Lamar Valley revealed many hidden residents today- here, an adult moose with calf.

 

We stopped in Lamar Valley, with an overlook across the Lamar River for lunch and animal watching. A pack of coyotes joined us. The pack consisted of 6-7 coyotes? No, more like eight, which is an unusual number in Yellowstone.

PE today consisted of snowshoeing at Pebble Creek, where we spotted a couple of grouse and were quizzed on our animal track identification skills. Matt gave his expert topic speech when we spotted an American dipper! Our snowshoe trek ended in a race – can you guess who won?

Physical Education has a whole new meaning at elevation and in the snow- the group learned new skills and had fun while snowshoeing.

Instead of bus traffic holding us up from going home, we hit a bison jam!

After-school remediation consisted of reviewing tapes of eastern NC red wolf behaviors with expert Joe Madison.

A full day.