Discover Eaglecrest Day
Head to Eaglecrest this Saturday for Discover Eaglecrest Day from 10:30-3:30pm.
Discovery Southeast will be there celebrating the fall season with the Decomposition Decathlon!
Red wiggler worms are decomposition pros!
The Decomposition Decathlon will feature ten exciting self-directed activities for kids to participate in, like the Fungus Cap Fling, the Dirty Dash, the Banana Slug Sack Hop, and many more. Ride the Porcupine Chairlift up to the top for free -- that's where you'll find the Decathlon activities.
Read or click on the flier below to find out more about what you can experience at the event:
- cathleen's blog
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Outdoor Explorers Wrap-up
What a summer it was for the Outdoor Explorers!
Did you participate in Outdoor Explorers summer camp this season? Take our survey - your feedback helps improve our programs.
Why not take a look back at pictures and blog posts from each week of camp?
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Session One: Beachcombers
Session Two: Journey Downstream
Session Three: Nature Time Travelers
Session Four: Backcountry Survival
Session Five: EcoNinjas
Session Six: Marine Scene
Session Seven: Our Wild Backyard
Session Eight: Juneau Rocks!
Session Nine: Alpine Adventures
We also had some of our Outdoor Explorers join us for the Parade of Species on Fourth of July!
[View all Parade of Species photos]
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Summer's just about over, but kids will still have the opportunity to exlore the outdoors with Discovery Southeast at 2011-2012 Early Dismissal Mondays and Discovery Days - call 463-1500 to sign up.
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Outdoor Explorers: Session 4 + 5 Snapshots
In Session 4, our older 10-12 year old Outdoor Explorers tested their mettle during Backcountry Survival Week with shelter building, orienteering, edibles, bushwacking, and more.
The week after that, Session 5 Eco-Ninjas strove to leave no trace... they investigated water quality comparisons, made a visit to the landfill, and explored the impact of humans on Juneau's natural world.
Sign up here for Outdoor Explorers
Take a look back at:
Session 1 Snapshots: Beachcombers
Session 2 Snapshots: Journey Downstream
Session 3 Snapshots: Nature Time Travelers
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Meet our Summer Interns!
Celeta Marie Cook
Celeta is Discovery Southeast's Alaska Conservation Foundation intern and is the assistant naturalist/facilitator for Outdoor Explorers. Born and raised in Canada, Celeta had dreamed of coming to Alaska since she was old enough to read a map. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Quest University Canada, specializing in child development and what motivates children to care about social and environmental action. She has worked with children all over the world, and is continually inspired by their energy and compassion. She also loves dinosaurs, knitting, marine life, learning new languages and exploring.
Harris Laughrey
Harris, who grew up in Tennessee, is joining us for nine weeks as an Ingram Scholar from Vanderbilt University, where he is majoring in Human and Organizational Development. He is supporting a variety of projects, including Outdoor Explorers summer camp, the Health and Nature initiative, a new Teacher Expeditions program, a new Discovery Southeast alumni project and the Parade of Species. A few of his favorite experiences in Juneau so far have included hiking Mount Jumbo and kayaking out to camp on Shelter Island. He is working toward becoming an officer in the Marines after college.
Heidi Lueck
Heidi hails from Vienna, Austria, where she is completing a three-year course of study at the University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy. She is here for the month of July and will be supporting Outdoor Explorers, the Health and Nature initiative, and multiple other Discovery Southeast and community projects. She is considering heading into the field of education or teaching in some capacity after completing her studies. One of her first impressions of Juneau was surprise toward the mild temperature -- she'd expected it to be more like Norway -- cold! She is joined in Juneau by her husband and daughter.
Hone your German-speaking skills and click here to check out Heidi's blog about visiting Alaska (lots of lovely photos for non-speakers!)
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Outdoor Explorers: Session 3 Snapshots
Last week, the Outdoor Explorers became Nature Time Travelers, investigating the points where nature and Juneau's history collide.
We're still working out the kinks in our time-travel technology, so things got a little wet.
But we were too busy to mind.
A highlight?
Special guest Ricky Tagaban helped us explore traditional Tlingit fishing strategies.
A good time had by all.
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Sign up here for Outdoor Explorers
Take a look back at:
- cathleen's blog
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Outdoor Explorers: Session 2 Snapshots
Ever seen a dragon run?
Neither have we.
...seen plenty of kids run, though.
Ever seen a dragon... fly?
Or just a dragonfly?**
No, we mean, up close.
Well, we have.
And they're pretty incredible.
You should try it some time.
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Session 2 of Outdoor Explorers was a Journey Downstream.
We spent time at the Mendenhall Glacier learning about glacier formation and the source of our water, investigated mining and power at Gold Creek, and got our feet soggy at the Mendenhall Wetlands. Also, the Juneau Empire caught us with special guest John Hudson learning about aquatic insects at Dredge Lakes/Steep Creek.
From the Juneau Empire: "Biologist John Hudson identifies an aquatic insect for Zach Martin, 10, left, Gareth Miller, 8, and Clara Don, 7, during an outing with Discovery Southeast's Outdoor Explorers program on Wednesday." (Photo: Michael Penn)
Sign up here for Outdoor Explorers
Take a look back at Session 1 Snapshots: Beachcombers
**That picture is actually of a damselfly! Do you know the difference? Dragonflies (like the four-spotted skimmer below on the left) have their wings held open, usually to the side, while damselfly wings are closed to the back (below, right). (source) (source)
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2011 Parade of Species
The first annual Parade of Species at the downtown Juneau 4th of July Parade was a success! Thanks to all the kids and families who turned out to represent the biodiversity of southeast Alaska, and huge thank you to our sponsors and supporters.
View photos from the 2011 Parade of Species
Thank you to our 2011 Parade of Species sponsors:
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Parade of Species Costume of the Day: Flowers
Not yet sure which species you'd like to emulate in the Parade of Species?
Here's the next installment of our Southeast Alaskan Costume of the Day!
Parade of Species Costume of the Day
Flowers
How cool would it be to walk through the parade costumed as a Chocolate lily? (Bonus points if you find a way to add odor effects! On second thought, just kidding.)
(source)
A method for creating a flower costume is to follow the same strategy you'd use to make wings. Use hot glue to attach fabric, paper, or cellophane to a wire frame you've shaped like a flower.
Once you've fashioned the actual flower/petals, you can mount the flower on a pole and carry it, or attach it to a hat! (source).
Inspiration from other parades:
I
(Photo credit: David A. Koontz. source)
(Photo credit: David A. Koontz. source)
If you're having trouble getting your costume together, come out to our costume workshops at Auke Rec. The last on is this Friday, July 1st. We can share materials, swap ideas, and create costumes.
This costume/art handbook from Bellingham, WA's Procession of the Species is a helpful reference for how-to's, pictures, materials, and costume ideas.
Read other Parade of Species Costume of the Day posts:
- Migratory Shore Birds
- Jellyfish
- Butterflies (and other winged species)
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Juneau Empire: "The North Face Explore Fund Awards Grant to Discovery SE"
North Face Explore Fund recently selected Discovery Southeast to receive a $2,500 grant toward helping children explore nature in the Outdoor Explorers program. Ours is among 52 other projects that were awarded grants from The North Face to help children enjoy and investigate the natural world.
From the Juneau Empire: "Biologist John Hudson identifies an aquatic insect for Zach Martin, 10, left, Gareth Miller, 8, and Clara Don, 7, during an outing with Discovery Southeast's Outdoor Explorers program on Wednesday." (Photo: Michael Penn)
Read the article to learn more! From the Juneau Empire: "The North Face Explore Fund Awards Grant to Discovery SE"
Visit Discovery Southeast's Planet Explore profile page and click around to see other partner sites in The North Face's Explore Fund/Planet Explore.
- cathleen's blog
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Outdoor Explorers: Session 1 Snapshots
Where's the beach?
Found it.
Regular ol' mollusc?
Nope, limpet nail polish.
Ordinary starfish?
Nope, body builder.
Bare feet?
Bring it on.
Glorious.
...and if paging through the beachcombing pictures leaves you feeling salty and bubbling with envy, we've got good news: there are still seven spectacular weeks of Outdoor Explorers left.
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