Wrap up Day...
Today was a "tie it all together" reflection day. We began the morning with two hours of guided practice. We had a full page checksheet of technological skills on which we needed to show our competency. This was great because everyone worked specifically on the skills that needed the most practice. Zeb, Ronnie, Janet and Kristin were there to answer any questions or work us through any technological "bugs" we may have had with our equipment. I posted a new journal during this time and worked on polishing my file management work flow. This still tends to be the hardest part. There are many steps in getting the numerous files into a single journal entry.
We also spent a good bit of time reflecting upon the experience. Every PolarTREC teacher took the microphone to talk about the PolarTREC Orientation experience. Overwhelmingly, teachers felt it was the most organized, most impacting professional development experience they had ever participated in. Every facet of the training will be used in our research expeditions. We will have to utilize the technological tools that we were trained on, so we realize how important it is for us to become proficient in those skills. Integration of these skills into our personal lives and classrooms is essential.
The training sessions on polar sciences background and Native Alaskan Indigineous peoples background will be very helpful. Sean Topkoc visited with us on... The research expedition that I am a part of will be departing from Dutch Harbor and ending (hopefully - dependent upon sea ice cover) in Barrow. I may have the opportunity to interact with indigenous populations while in Barrow and I need to be culturally educated for that diversity. Sean explained some overall guidelines regarding interacting with indigenous people and they really center around "respect". Always be respectful of others, of their thoughts and feelings. I already believe in that philosphy and am looking forward to interacting with people of all backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, races, etc aboard the USCG Polar Sea on this research expedition.
Sean Topkoc from Alaska Native Knowledge Network taught us a native dance. It is very similar to Hawaiian hula dancing in the way it tells a story.
In my very first journal posting, I mentioned the 12 teachers selected for this program were all incredible teachers. I can tell you now, they are not only incredible teachers, but they are also great friends. I hope you will follow their expeditions too! You can find each of their research expeditions on the PolarTREC front page. I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to my new friends and their expeditions.
PolarTREC 2010 teachers outside of the Museum of the North in the SNOW!
Claude Larson will be going on an archeology expedition to Kamchatka, Russia in July. Claude will be getting to her field camp by armored tank and amphibious vehicle!
Cheryl Forester will be going on a "high Arctic change" expedition to Svalbard, Norway. Polar Bears OUTNUMBER people in Svalbard!
Karl Horeis will be going to Northern Alaska for an "spear point" archeology expedition. He has already been practicing "flint napping".
Keri Rodgers is going on a tundra plant expedition in Barrow, Alaska.
Bill "the birdman" Schmoker will be on the United States Coast Guard Ship Healy sailing on the same seas I will be sailing on!
Jim Pottinger will be camping out on the Greenland Ice Sheet - for real- in a TENT!
Josh Dugat will be on a permafrost monitoring expedition on the North Slope in Alaska. The field station is Toolik Lake - where I followed Tracy on my very first interaction with PolarTREC!
Tina Sanders will be spending time at McMurdo Field Station in Antarctica.
Katey Shirey will be at the South Pole in November.
Anne Marie Wotkyns will be sailing on the Oden, a Swedish Icebreaker over the holidays. She will be on board from Christmas, New Years and her birthday!
Lesley Urasky will be in remote locations on Antarctica. Her journals will more than likely be FLOWN to the station via helicopter for someone else to upload!
Mike Lampert will be in Norway doing glacial research from UNDER a glacier!!
6 PolarTREC teachers braved the freezing temperatures to participate in the 19th Annual 5K Water Run in Fairbanks!
I hope you will follow not only my expedition, but the expeditions of my new friends throughout this year. There is so much science to be learned...all of these expeditions are extremely fascinating science topics. It is certainly exciting to be involved in this program!
I am leaving Fairbanks with so much more knowledge...a broad polar sciences background, tips and pointers for my expedition from veteran teachers and technological skills. I am exhausted from our jam-packed schedule and not wanting to waste a single moment of my time here. Every free moment we had was spent exploring something. As Orientation comes to an end, the real "work" begins. I will be planning for my expedition for the next 7 months or so. I will be following the expeditions of my PolarTREC colleagues and learning all I can from their experiences. My posts will not be every day, but it is my goal to have a new journal posted once a week. Please check back periodically!
The view of Mt Rainier as seen from my airplane leaving Seattle.
Signing off....one last time, from Fairbanks, Alaska!