This Used to be My Playground...

Today was the last day of our work in the field, and we leave for the United States tomorrow! We surveyed a fen and a palsa for seedings and saplings. My partner and I found our biggest tree yet, our very own Moby Dick. Once again, our tiny group of two fell behind the other more productive groups of three, and we were left to fend for ourselves as we trudged through the water and muck of the fen.
For the first time since surveying in precarious sites, I fell through the earth and was really stuck in the muck! My leg disappeared past my knee and I began to panic. I had heard stories of an Earthwatch volunteer falling into the fen and losing her boot. When she was pulled from the fen, a teammate reached in to recover the boot and it had been swallowed into the earth. My fears were legitimate, but I survived!
Our afternoon was spent cleaning the research van and getting last minute travel instructions. Tonight we are celebrating the end of our journey with a char tasting event complete with bannock and locally made jams and jellies.
During the evening meeting, Dr. Kershaw explained how our seedling data fits into his research on climate change and some trends that became apparent in the data we collected. He has really made us feel as if we are an important part of his research and has valued our efforts. I feel like I am part of something bigger, something more important. I have achieved some insights into the tedious side of research and the exciting side, not to mention the downright fun side. I have a fuller picture of being a scientist. And this is only part of what I will bring back with me. Even more importantly, I got to work with a team of amazing, like-minded teachers from across the country. The ten days were spent sharing ideas, brainstorming lessons, and creating ways to stay in touch and maintain this environment of sharing our best practices. I have so many new curriculum and lab ideas. I am excited to get home so I can “re tool” my program for next year! I have developed some wonderful friendships with all my “Earthwatch Team One” members!
This will be my last blog entry from the arctic as my flight leaves in the morning.
This was truly an amazing opportunity, and I am honored that I was selected to be here. I am extremely grateful to the Earthwatch Institute, Northrop Grumman, Dr. Peter Kershaw, and the staff at the Churchill Northern Studies Center for this “once in a lifetime” opportunity. I would also like to thank all of my blog followers for supporting me electronically as I tried to share my experiences through this blog.