Journal Entry

Antarctica Revisited

Welcome Back Students and Teachers!

The 2014-15 school year has begun and I would like to extend an invitation to YOU to join me on a trip to Antarctica!

In 2012, I was selected to join a team of Researchers studying Weddell seals in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. It was an amazing once in a lifetime educational experience - but the good news is this adventure is not over! I will be returning to Antarctica - no wait, scratch that - WE will be returning to Antarctica in Nov./Dec. 2014. I personally invite you to join me on this return to the ‘ICE’ as we again focus our studies on Weddell seals.

There are a number of ways in which you can participate. Choose one or all of them, it’s up to you. Here are some of the challenges – all of which can be found at AntarcticaRevisited.com .

Antarctica RevisitedYou are invited to participate in these challenges.

Postcards from the Pole challenge

The first challenge is what we’re calling ‘Postcards from the Pole’… or as close to the South Pole as our team will get, anyway.

To participate all you have to do is:

  • Get a postcard
  • Decorate it
  • Return the addressed, stamped postcard(s) to me at the Pink Palace by or before September 10, 2014.
  • I’ll take the postcards with me to Antarctica and mail them back to you (or to whomever the postcard was addressed) with the official Antarctica indicia/postmark!

Our goal is to send 10,000 postcards. So, here’s your opportunity to have a postcard sent not only to you but to a friend, a neighbor, a teacher or loved one and give them you own “Seal” of approval!

Help us reach our goal!

Postcard challengeJoin the postcard challenge! Help us reach our goal of sending 10,000 postcards.

For more details about Postcards click here.

Fly a Flag challenge

Want to fly your class’ artwork on the ice? Participate in the Fly a Flag challenge! It’s simple:

  • Purchase a flag at the Pink Palace Museum Store.
    If you are from out of town, please arrange your purchase with me at alex.eilers [at] memphistn.gov.
  • Select a topic you would like for me to research. Topics can be found on the antarcticarevisited.com website.
  • Draw or write the topic on the flag. Decorate it and don’t forget to sign it!
  • Return your decorated flags to me (at the Pink Palace Museum) no later than September 10, 2014
  • I will ‘Fly Your Flag’ on the ice and send it back to you.
  • Watch for your Flag to appear in one of my expedition journals in November/December 2014
Fly a FlagFly a Flag on the ice - join this challenge!

For more details about Fly a Flag click here.

Get Fit-Antarctica

My favorite!

With this challenge I ask you to Get Fit – your mind, your body or both – and travel ‘virtually’ with me to Antarctica. We’ve calculated the distance between the Pink Palace Museum and the lab at McMurdo Station – it’s a whopping 8,764 miles.

Now here’s the challenge! For every minute you ‘get fit’ through physical exercise or studying about science, you will travel a ‘virtual’ mile with me. After every 60 miles/minutes you unlock another waypoint and discover interesting tidbits about health, science, history and/or math.

You can log and track your progress http://www.antarcticarevisited.com. This challenge has officially begun and you can register any time throughout this school year. It only takes a minute to register and you can start logging your progress immediately!

Get Fit!Jumping helps you 'Get Fit'!

For more details about Get Fit click here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

The Weddell seal team!

Comments

Jenn

Are there dinosaurs in Antarctica?

Dr. Burns

There were dinosaurs in Antarctica from approximately 200 - 65 million years ago, but there aren't any now.

Whitehave Elem…

Where do nyou live in Antarctica?

Emerie - White…

How do you get down there?

Jaden Whitehav…

Will you find old mammal fossils down there?

Alex Eilers

Hi Jaden!
Great questions! I feel sure there are some down there, but we may not be in a place where we will see them. But I'll be sure to take a picture if we see any.

Thanks again for your question.

Ms. Alex

Alex Eilers

Emerie,
Thanks for your question! It was wonderful to meet you last week.

I will get to the 'Ice' by airplane. It's a very long flight. Be sure to watch my journals - I'll write one about my journey.

Thanks again for your question!

Ms. Alex

Alex Eilers

Hello Whitehaven 4th graders!
You might think I'd stay in a house while I'm in Antarctica. That's close - I'll be staying in a dorm room - similar to what I lived in when I was in college.

Some of the other PolarTREC teachers will live in a tent. Which would you prefer to live in? A tent or dorm?

Thanks again for your question.

Ms. Alex

Janet Warburton

Hi Alex.
I love all your outreach activities and the website. I signed our family up today :)

Great job!
Janet