Thanksgiving Break…maybe

Well I was supposed to fly back to Sac today for Thanksgiving break, but unfortunately my flight was cancelled =(
So I get to spend one more day here before hopefully getting back to the sun and snowless Sacramento!

This past week students from Carson High School came to TSS, and we got to introduce them to the snow and being outside in the cold! It was a great program, and the students were so inspirational. It was hard to see them go!

No pictures this time around, but I'll take a ton at home to post for next time!

~Meghan

Snow, snow and more snow!

Well this has been one exciting week! I have officially been in below 0 temperatures, and I've got to say, not a huge fan. Looks like it's going to be a tough winter/spring for me! But honestly this week has been beautiful. We were inside a lot for Place-Based Education class, which was fine with me. But on Thursday we went out in small groups and taught individual lessons on the trails around campus or at Bradley-Taggart. I taught a lesson on dichotomous keys, which I am now psyched to actually try out sometime!

We have up to 2 feet of snow in some areas, and therefore have had to keep our trails and paths around campus somewhat clear. I shoveled our incredibly long path to the driving circle yesterday, and boy am I feeling it today!

Overlooking the grad circle after our lessons for the day

I can't get over these icicles!

Looking down the road

Conifers and snow

My favorite vantage point

This morning I went snowshoeing for the first time! It was an adventure, and super fun!

On the way up to Lobo Hill

Look at that trail!

I fell right as I asked someone to take of picture of me in snowshoes!

The gang

Actually really impressed with myself for jumping with those things on!

Everyone jump!

While I am here enjoying the snow, my two best friends are having fun down in So-Cal and I am so jealous. Kelly, you better have lots of pictures to share with me! Miss you guys!

We're getting ready for LA Carson high schoolers next week. They fly in tomorrow, and I am so excited to work with them; more people to relate to for not having snow! Woot! And then next Sunday it's officially Thanksgiving break! Can't wait =)

~Meghan

Bring on the snow!

Our first real snow came last night! I'd say we had between 4 and 7 inches when we woke up today! This was definitely the most snow I've ever seen, and it's only going to get worse! I guess I should go buy those snow boots…

So pretty!

Behind our cabin

The grad circle

So much snow on those branches!

Favorite

Look at them icicles!

A pretty sunset

It's so pretty! But I am not excited that it will now be snowy until May!

Ashley, Mary-Margaret and I went up to Coyote Rock the other day, the first time I've been up there since our first day here.

Coyote rock!

Lookin' good!

The perfect lounge spot

Taking a selfie was an ordeal

Epic

Almost there!

Boundary between park and forest

What else?

Not much writing today guys, just lots of pretty pictures!

~Meg

University Week

I have not been doing a good job at updating this blog! I shall try to do better!

Last week we completed our community ecology research project, which although fun, was extremely frustrating. Our teaching team all went out together to collect data in the sagebrush, which was fun all in itself. Our group (team Scat) and the other group (team Gopher) were looking at different variables, but we had to use the same sites for safety reasons. We even carried around a 65lb rock all day! Props to Martha and Dana for being able to pick it up about a hundred times! Ultimately, we didn't find much significant data, but it was a earning experience in project planning!

Too much fun to be had!

Measuring sagebrush annual growth

Fixing the penetrometer!

Look at that rock!

This week was University week, during which we learned about a few of the possible programs we could attend next year. First we heard about Antioch, then we took a trip to Laramie to check out University of Wyoming, and then today we learned a bit about Prescott. UW looks to be the best option for a lot of us!

While in Laramie we got a campus tour from some past TSS grads, as well as a town tour. And I finally got some mexican food! We got a chance to talk to people from the two departments that we would be affiliated with, and overall we just learned a lot about what next year could look like for us. They also had some pretty cool buildings on campus, including a geology museum with dinosaurs!

Climbing at Vedauwoo!

Reminded me a little of Pride Rock

We made it!

Dinosaurs!

My possible home next year!