Chattermarks

Reflect on everything you have experienced in the last two years. Now create an hour-long presentation about it. Your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, and peers will be the audience.

This was the assignment that cohort seven of the Institute’s master of
education program recently completed. Over the last two years, they explored the North Cascades, taught students of all ages about the region’s natural and cultural history, learned to create and run their own nonprofit business, and analyzed the theories and practices of education.

For those of you who couldn’t attend, here’s a short synopsis, accompanied by photos of the distinguished speakers.

» Continue reading Sum up your last two years

Top photo: Red crossbill found at the Environmental Learning Center

A ball of fluff caught my eye on the road headed to work. Absolutely a bird. I got out and crossed the highway, trucks at high speed just feet from tackling me. With a grocery bag wrapped around my hands, I lifted the great horned owl to determine the cause of death: high-speed truck.

Why would any reasonable person risk her life for the sake of picking up a mangled, bloody bird carcass? Perhaps a few stories will explain this phenomenon.

» Continue reading Playing with dead birds