To Jr. Rangers Everywhere,

It's been some time since last we saw each other.  It's a bummer but there it is.  Dr. O and yours truly are off to CA.  For a while it looked like we might be headed back east but no dice.  As I sit here writing you from the rocky mountain redoubt that is Spring Creek, Almont CO. it is 12/29 and the temperature is 42 and Nantucket is freezing its butt off, another bummer:) How are you?  I like packing, it's the loading I'm not fond of.  Before I forget Swegen says WOOF!  We trust you are all doing amazing things and wish you peace.

Len

Adios

To All Jr. Rangers Past and Present - Until we meet again

As most of you know, Sarah and I are moving to Colorado on February 27th.  I wanted to thank you for your service to the field station and the work being done here.  It has been a privilege to know you and your folks.  You are the best! I will always be available to you. Write me anytime.  I will keep this blog active, please do check in from time to time.  I promise there will be things of interest for you to check out.


Thank You!

James
Caillean
Orion
Anjali
Sonia
ED
Mollard
Avery
Holly
Leland
Tate
Ross
Raymond
Raffa
Thomas
Gigi
Jacob
Lila
Mackenzie
Henry
Beck
Sawyer
Nicholas
Isobel
Caroline
Mookie
Ben
Clyde
Francis
Claire
Mathew
Sinead
David
Elizabeth

Jr. Rangers Writers Circle

As an extension of our Jr Ranger programming we've added a school year writers circle.  A workshop format designed to listen to other writers work and to discuss the writing process.   

Spider Time - Written by Anjali D.

I sit among them 

Their ever graceful bodies move around me.  

I am not one of them 

But I am one with them.  

They are elegant creatures and have adopted me as their own. 

Much superior are their species to mine, 

So light and fast, 

Whereas mine are bulky and clumsy. 

They are merciless, but also small and fragile, like a delicate flower. 

And now, here I am 

Sitting here with them. 

Yuck. 

Why must such a species thrive and exist?  

They are sly, vile creatures, 

Moving sickly across surfaces with their long legs. 

They are so small and useless, yet they cause terror to young and old alike. 

They are monstrous and hide in the dark like cowards, 

And scurry when the light is set upon them. 

Grotesque beings they are, and their eerie voices echo in the darkness. 

I am the only one to know. 

I am the only one to see the truth. 

See? 

There are two sides to the story. 

Very different they are, and many change through time, 

And there are vast amount of opinions that float between the two. 

However, they both share a common subject. 

One to love or one to hate, 

Or one to simply pass by. 

Yet they are not to blame. 

Or are they? That is an opinion entirely up to you. 

But just to think all this must come to these small, tiny Araneae... 

Spiders, I mean. 

Meat Eaters, Full Moon, Howl - Back To School!

This Is Not The End - by Clyde K

The trees are reddening,

The Deer Flies disappearing,

Lenny is about the same,

But this is not the end.

School is starting,

Walks are getting smaller,

People are leaving,

But this is not the end.

It will soon be chilly,

The vernal pool will get smaller,

Summer’s almost over,

But this is not the end.

This year was great,

And next year will come soon.

This is not the end,

But just a break.

Thank you, everyone, for an awesome year!

Elizabeth takes charge

On Friday 8/28 and after just 2 weeks of training Elizabeth led a group of visitors on a nature walk of the field station.  She's from Maryland and has been visiting Nantucket and the field station for several years. Great job Elizabeth!  

End of Summer - PARTY!

David and Elizabeth assist Elway with the harvest of this years sumac crop.  Time to make the tea.

Rourke is first to the party, he heard their would be pizza.

Bob is next, he was privy to the same information.

Ono, Beck, and Sunny.

Stella

The party can begin the cool kids have arrived.

David's first reaction to Sophie T's pizza.

We even had popcorn.

It was at this moment when something shifted in our gravitation field 

Order restored

We honored Avacado as our Jr. Ranger of the Year - F

Clyde (absent due to sickness) won the whacking stick - B

The tea came out awesome.

That desert was the bomb, everybody wants the recipe Sunny.

My favorite pic of the day.

We want to mention Molly, Eliza, Thomas and Gigi, Nick, and Nicholas, and Clyde unable to attend and missed.  We want to thank the parents, everyone who visited us this year.  Thank you Dr. O for letting us work for you and a better world to live in.

A good day for a paddle

Beck, Raymond, Elizabeth, and David went on a voyage of exploration in Folgers Marsh this morning.

The water was like glass

Beck and Raymond demonstrate backing up, Elizabeth and David catch on quick.

Len tells the rangers to take their time and keep their eyes open

Raymond brought this back from his walk with his group of field station visitors.

We'll try and ID this later today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apios_americana

Id by Dina Warren.  Thank you Dina!

Illusions By Elizabeth L.

It was a bright sunny day at the UMAS Nantucket Field Station.   We were with Lenny.  He told the boys and the girls to split up.  We were going to write stories and we girls were walking to a beautiful hill.  As I started writing about falcons and Godzilla fighting I looked up from my notebook and saw what I was writing was actually happening!!!   We girls started running down the hill, we ran to where the boys were and told them to run!  We ran as fast as we possibly could.  When we reached the shop I got scooped up by Godzilla and he started throwing me in the air.  He didn’t catch me so I started falling to the ground.  The Junior Rangers caught me!   

I will never forget this moment..

The end. 

Field Station Acrostic Poem - Clyde K.

From the pond to the beach

I think it’s a very hot day

Everyone wishes there was AC here

Lenny has Popsicles though

Darn it, there’s none left!

Swegen is ever barking

Trying to catch our attention

Also, the Deer Flies are terrible

To regular human snacks

I don’t think I can bear this day

Oh no, it’s only 9:15

Never will this end!

The 4th Day By David L.

August 19, 2015

The 4^th day was the busiest day in Junior Ranger history.  There were 7 junior rangers helping with the job!   Some talked, some didn’t, some helped, some helped a lot, but chatted with their friends.  Some were afraid to talk to the public and more joyful to converse with their friends.  It was a sunny day at the field station and we had lost of fun!   We split up by gender and the boys went to the vernal pond and the girls wend to the top of the hill.  We (the boys) were picked up by for the nature walk and led it and then went back to the shop for some ice cream and then we went to the ocean and had some fun!   Our dad picked us up.   What a GREAT day it was at the UMass field station!

Nicholas up a tree.  The Red Maple at the vernal pond.

Beck wonders about gravity and how it might affect Nicholas.

Ben in one of his quieter moments.

Anjali, Elizabeth, and Sonia explore the back 40.

A nature walk with friends from Beck's family.

Acrostic poem By Clyde K

Just A great group of friends

Raymond, Orion, and me

Running around at the Field Station

A new mission every day

Never without popsicles

Getting eaten by Deer Flies

Everyone is having fun

Ready to defend against the dog

Swegen is his name

Swegen

Anjali and Sonia teach David and Elizabeth, Jr Ranger field research methods.

1st step Plant ID, write down the name of the plant and google it later, at home.

Bayberry is a favorite, smells good and it has some interesting qualities.

Teaching visitors and new Rangers how to use a seining net to study some of the creatures in the marsh.