Roads and Trails Tour
Today was our day off from counting seedlings and saplings. Everyone decided to take a Roads and Trails Tour. Sheldon met us at the Churchill Northern Science Center at 9:00 in a small school bus. Who knew that the bus could drive down this narrow dirt paths? We drove down many small roads that were not too far from the science center. We finally saw a polar bear! The first bear was very large, he generally stays in one area by the beach. He is surrounded by chained Eskimo dogs, they share the same food. We found the other bear up on the rocks. Both bears were a distance away so we were in no danger. Because they were so far I did not get great pictures, but I will try to upload some pictures from other teachers tomorrow.
We also saw another Arctic hare and two red foxes. Swimming in a small pond were two tundra swans.
We also stopped by the beach so we could put our hands in the Hudson Bay. I picked up some nicely weathered beach stones to bring back home. One teacher did a polar plunge into the Hudson Bay, but since the air temperature was 32 degrees F I decided my hand was the only body part that I was getting wet!
posted by Mrs. McMinn @ 11:25 PM
4 Comments:
Sunday night - Sept 28th, our Bob Clock temperature is 72 rainy degrees in tropical Connecticut.
What an experience! Keep up the great posts. I want to share them in class tomorrow. I know that you have "Skyped" the 8th grade.
Why don't the bears go after the dogs if they are chained?
As far as taking the polar bear plunge - that is a challenge that only the brave, hearty, or maybe daring without thought would take. We all know what 32 degrees feels like.
Be safe and scientific along the way. What an "authentic" learning experience.
Thanks for the temperature update Mr. Forsyth - it was below freezing today, approximately 28 degrees as we set off for the transect. As far as the dogs and the large polar bear - it is a relationship - the bear is fed by the owner of the dogs when he feeds the dogs. He knows that he will continue to be fed as long as the dogs are there. The polar bear scares away other polar bears as he is quite large. It is a large area of "wild" pets.
Do the dogs keep the bear from going to the camp. Or is the bear kept on the beach by the dogs. Or is the bear allowed to walk werever it pleases.
-Josh G.
Did you know that the lowest temperatures in Churchill can range from the low 40's to below zero??
And also, wouldn't the person who swam in the Hudson Bay freeze his or herself on the way out? It's FREEZING in the AIR for lord's sake. How would this be possible? Also, did you know that (well i dont know if this is true but a website said it ;] ) the Hudson bay is 1.23 million km long times two? Thats humungous!
~Avery
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