the wild happened during a critical time period in her development, so when she was brought to the wildlife rehabilitators in Duluth, it was determined that she was no longer fit to be released in the wild. This made her a perfect candidate to become an education animal at Wolf Ridge.

Having a captive raven at Wolf Ridge is a great opportunity for hundreds of children to get exposure to an amazing bird every week, but it is always preferable that wild animals be able to live their life in the wild. Wild birds and other animals should never be kept as pets. If you ever find a wild creature that appears to be injured or abandoned, contact

your local wildlife rehabilitation center before taking any action.

Since Korppi is a wild bird, one of our goals as caretakers is to provide a lifestyle that most accurately mimics life in the wild. This is especially challenging because ravens are active and intelligent birds.

Providing Korppi with daily enrichment activities is

Wolf Ridge ALMANACThe

W R May 2013 • Vol. 35 No. 2

Korppi, the Ravenby Danny Pirtle, Wolf Ridge Naturalist

Wolf Ridge Naturalist Honored

continued on page 4

As I walked towards the Science Center early one February morning, I heard a bird call ringing through the woods that I had never identified before. My first instinct was that it sounded like a Pileated Woodpecker, but there was something about the call that was just a little bit off. As I entered my office, some of the other naturalists present were discussing the strange, Pileated Woodpecker-like call; no one could place what kind of bird would be making that sound.

A few weeks later, I was again walking towards the Science Center when I heard the sound again, only this time, it sounded even more distinctly like a Pileated Woodpecker. I decided I needed to investigate. I headed around behind the building and I immediately identified the culprit perched at the top of her enclosure, beak-open wide, emanating her best impression of a Pileated Woodpecker. It was Korppi.

Korppi is a Common Raven and the latest addition to Wolf Ridge’s team of education animals. Her name is the Finnish word for raven.

As with all of our wild education animals, Korppi is permanently disabled and unable to be released into the wild. Unlike our resident raptors, Korppi does not have a physical disability. When she was a chick, some well-intentioned people found her without her parents and

made the assumption that she had been abandoned. In actuality, this was probably not the

case. It is quite regular behavior for raven parents to leave their chicks

alone while out looking for food.

Korppi’s month-long hiatus from

Korppi tips over a rock covered container to get a raisin.

Joe Walewski named MAEE Non Formal Educator of 2013..........5

2 3

Off-site instructOrs

Emily FoubertEric HolmstromAlison Wood

Apprentice nAturAlists

MJ BachAnne GottwaldDanny PirtleAndrea Wakely

Published for members and friends ofWolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center6282 Cranberry Rd, Finland, MN 55603-9700218-353-7414, 1-800-523-2733 (MN, WI, ND)

fax 218-353-7762www.wolf-ridge.org

STAFF

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Printed on EarthChoice®paper, a socially and environmentally responsible paper with fibers from

well-managed, certified forests.

TheWolf RidgeALMANAC A View

FromThe RidgePRESIDENT

Peter Smerud

WOLF RIDGE TRUSTEESTom Berg, Chairman

Earl Gransee, Secretary

Rick Bateson ~ Russell BierbaumBlyth Brookman ~ Pat Coppo

John Daniels ~ Kirk GeadelmanKurt Heikkila ~ Tom Osborn

Ron Sackett ~ Pat SchoffNancy Schultz ~ Aaron Smith

Tom Nelson

EMERITUS TRUSTEESThomas Atchison ~ Jim Brandenburg

William M. Burns ~ Richard GrayPeter Heegaard ~ Robert Heller ~ Ron Kirk

Donn Larson ~ Mike LatimerSigurd Olson ~ Jack Pichotta

Michael PlautzRene Settergren ~ Werner Tismer

Jack Pichotta, Founder

prOgrAm

Carrie AndersonJenny BushmakerDavid Butcher Peter HarrisJohn KohlstedtErin ManningBetsey MeadJoe WalewskiLori Walewski

finAnciAl DirectOr

Fred Morgan

grOunDs/builDings

Cory CarlsonRobert Cunningham

Rosemary EvansJeff Iverson

Kayla KlinkerPaul McLeete

Gary OlsonAmy Parker

Kris SveLynn Varney

Jason VelacichretAil sAles

Lise Abazs

fArm mAnAger

David Abazs

Office

Coleen CloughChris Kustritz

Judy LarsonDevelOpment DirectOr

Lucy Rogers

fOOD service

Cathy Hanson Jim HickmanJim Kustritz

Deb OthoudtBambi RaddatzBarret StavsethBernie Vadner

Brent Weeks

Wolf Ridge

DevelOpment Officer

Pete Gravett

by Peter Smerud, Executive Director

The 2014 Wolf Ridge calendar features the North Shore photography of Paul Sundberg. He has been taking photos since the early 1970’s. He purchased his first 35 mm SLR camera while serving in the military at Fort Bliss, Texas. For 28 years Paul worked as the manager of Gooseberry Falls State Park before retiring in 2010. Paul and his wife currently reside outside of Grand Marais where Paul continues his passion for photographing Lake Superior and The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. You can see more of Paul’s work on his website, PaulSundbergPhotography.com. Calendars are available for $14.00 for donor members and $18.95 for non-donor members, including shipping. They are also available at special prices, in lots of 25 for school fund raising and retail resale. Proceeds of all calendar sales directly support children attending Wolf Ridge school programs. Call Wolf Ridge at (218) 353-7414 for more information and to order.F

WOLF RIDGE CALENDAR G 2014

PA U L S U N D B E RG ’ SN O RT H S H O R E I M A G E S

There is no Wi-Fi in the forest

surroundingWolf Ridge

but,you will find

a better

connection.

Wolf Ridge’s Changing World

Smiles all around in Basic Survival Class.

I am usually not a guy that embraces change well. Now my wife, Sue, is a person who loves change, even to the point of occasionally rearranging the living room on a weekly basis. I’m left cursing the new placement of the coffee table and nursing a sore shin. I am excited, however, as Wolf Ridge embraces change on so many levels. Our 2012-2015 strategic plan laid some very big plans. We’re one year down the path and achieving tremendous results.

Anyone following Wolf Ridge may be familiar with most of these changes:• installing a solar domestic hot water system• replacing our wood boilers with a biomass

pellet heating system• upgrading our treatment of wastewater

with major septic improvements• breaking ground for our organic farm• installing energy saving lights, doors, and

toilets• improving our evaluation and training for

naturalists• marketing efforts to increase camp and

family attendance• new branding and imagery supporting our

marketing• making plans to radically remodel our West

Dorm.

With incredible success over the past decades, Wolf Ridge is forging ahead with great enthusiasm. If you’re a member donor, parent, summer camper, or teacher you’ll be pleased as well. Wolf Ridge is going places and it can be challenging to stay abreast of all the changes. Even staff members comment to me on how challenging it can be to stay up to date.

I’m adjusting to the relocation of my favorite chair in the living room. I’m excited for the changes and learning experiences that make Wolf Ridge even better and more appropriate as we look to the future.

F F F F F

A few conversations and experiences of the last few months really have me thinking about how Wolf Ridge fits into today’s changing world.

In this first situation, a child was escorted to the Wolf Ridge office. The child complained of pain and limited movement and was concerned of a possible lower leg injury. As a ski patroller and a Search and Rescue EMT, I rose to the call. The exam left me baffled. Good patient assessments grow from building a relationship and developing a narrative. I dove deeper. After learning more about my patient, it finally hit me. This child had a sore muscle! He had never been sore in his life. He had just walked to Sawmill Creek and back, a 1.25-mile walk with 300’ of elevation difference. This child’s lifestyle had never, ever, included activities that caused him to be sore.

Then, at a recent training seminar someone pointed out that the parents of the students who are now attending Wolf Ridge are the first generation of parents to have grown up using the Internet. They understand from experience the benefits of this tool. They know that the simple touch of a thumb on a device pulled from your pocket can instantly provide vast amounts of information. It isn’t

all great, though. Recently, phrases such as “too much screen time,” “nature deficit disorder,” or “childhood obesity” have been added to our discussions. Wolf Ridge serves the interests of so many parents who want their children unplugged. They want their children linked into a network that is the outdoors. Today’s parents realize their children get information in new and changing ways and make decisions with value sets that are also changing quickly.

In a third instance, an adult recently described a child’s experience here in the following manner, “Wolf Ridge is a learning experience that is the sum of knowledge and inspiration.” The comment was followed by, “Where does that fit in a graduation standard?” How does one defend the value of learning that is far beyond basic knowledge attainment? Any parent who has chaperoned their child’s trip to Wolf Ridge or heard stories from a camper, can answer the question. Change comes from more than knowledge; it needs the addition of value and inspiration to make it happen.

These stories really illustrate some of the changes occurring in society today. Wolf Ridge is continuing to evolve to meet these needs. Since our beginnings at the ELC in Isabella, Wolf Ridge’s class listings have greatly expanded. The manner in which we deliver the Wolf Ridge learning experience has also changed. When we first began using a climbing wall at the ELC in Isabella in 1975 many considered it a tremendously bold move. We weren’t necessarily trying to teach the skills of climbing. We were looking to achieve a deeper, richer personal experience to enhance and anchor the content learning. This concept now permeates much of our curriculum.

The efforts of Wolf Ridge are some of the most important of our society. Wolf Ridge’s importance, relevance and need continue to grow. Environmental education grew from the “back to nature” movement of the 60’s and the first Earth Day. Our mission remains much the same from our origins in 1971, but the context and need is changing quickly. Our curriculum now includes information and activities covering genetically modified organisms, healthy and fit lifestyles, renewable energy, a changing climate, and of course ecology. Some of our classes also utilize technology to aid students’ learning. The Wolf Ridge experience serves as a piece to the puzzle building toward a stronger future for us all. Wolf Ridge needs to change as society changes.

Change is here, and more is coming. I’m padding my shins and embracing it.F

4 5

perching on various perches in the enclosure, flying to perch on Erin’s arm, or staying in one spot while we enter and leave her enclosure. Training is an important part of Korppi’s daily enrichment because she is constantly trying to figure out what we want, how she can earn a treat, and we are able to positively reinforce behaviors that will help Korppi to be a more successful education animal.

As Korppi is still a relatively recent addition to Wolf Ridge, (she joined us August 2012), the possibilities for using her in various classes are still to be determined. Many naturalists take their Birds Classes to visit her enclosure, discuss her story, and sometimes assist in creating her daily enrichment activity.

The look of wonder on a class of eighth graders’ faces as Korppi figures out how to get an apple slice out of a closed yogurt container says it all to me. This incredible wild raven has a lot of lessons to teach.F

Nature of Things

Danny Pirtle is an Apprentice Naturalist at Wolf Ridge. While he enjoys teaching and learning about every aspect of the

natural world, it is no secret that he has a special passion for all things avian. He

has enjoyed working with the education

animals at Wolf Ridge, particularly the

trials and triumphs of providing a happy, healthy lifestyle for a Common Raven. When not training

ravens, bird banding, or bird watching,

Danny enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and playing trivia board

games with the other Apprentice

Naturalists.

Korppi, the Raven continued from page 1

important to keeping her happy and healthy. Ravens are exceptionally smart; they have been known to solve complex puzzles, memorize long sequences, and mimic sounds they hear in their environment (such as our local Pileated Woodpeckers).

There is a story of a Scandinavian fisherman who was outwitted by one of these intelligent birds. Every day, he would cut a hole in the ice, put down his fishing-line, and then leave for the morning. Whenever he returned to his line, his bait was gone, but no fish was ever on the hook. Frustrated and confused, this continued to happen every day until he caught the culprit. The fisherman watched in awe as a local raven approached the fishing hole, and began tugging the fishing line out of the hole, using its beak and foot. The raven successfully pulled a large fish out of the hole and took off with its prize, but not before returning the fishing line to its original position in the ice hole!

In an experiment to test raven intelligence, biologist Bernd Heinrich tied two strings to the perch of one of his captive ravens. Meat was tied to the end of one of the strings, while the other was simply tied to a rock. When tested, the raven never failed to select the string holding the meat, pulling it up using its feet and beak, and reaping the rewards. Since there clearly was no challenge in this test, Heinrich tried crossing the lines. With this new challenge, the raven clearly spent time studying the situation to determine which string had the meat, before exerting the effort to pull it up.

Why are ravens capable of these intellectual feats? There are a number of factors involved as Bernd Heinrich explains in his second book about ravens, Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds. Ravens are highly social creatures. Heinrich describes in many chapters the social hierarchies that exist within raven groups, their ability to recognize other individuals, the formation of pairs and coalitions of pairs, and the mutual relationships formed with dangerous predators. Living a lifestyle that involves social complexity encourages creation and strengthening of neurons and synapses. However, the question remains, Is a socially complex lifestyle responsible for raven intelligence or do “well-developed” raven brains allow for a socially complex lifestyle? Heinrich argues that, to a degree, both of these theories are true.

Our daily challenge as animal caretakers is to keep Korppi’s brain engaged. Furthermore, since she is living in a small enclosure instead of in the great outdoors, we need to keep her body active. Her enrichment comes in the form of a multitude of different activities that encourage a healthy body and mind, but generally fall into four larger categories:

•Foraging enrichment is creating a situation where Korppi has to work to obtain her food. This is especially important because ravens are scavengers in the wild, meaning they are always searching and working to obtain their food. For Korppi, we might hide peanuts around her enclosure, put raisins in the branches of her tree, bury a hard-boiled egg in the snow, put crickets in a plastic container with one small opening, or put live minnows in her pool of water. In all cases, she has to do some level of work to find and/or obtain her food, just like she would in the wild.

•Sensory enrichment is anything that engages Korppi’s senses of vision, hearing, smell, or taste. In other words, we are constantly putting novel stimuli in her enclosure to mimic the fact that she would always be encountering new things in the wild. This might include hanging a colorful toy from a perch, playing frog call sounds on a CD player, or adding interesting spices to her food.

Erin places a peanut in a rope that Korppi pulls up to retrieve.

•Manipulanda enrichment is anything that Korppi can manipulate or “play with,” that will specifically challenge her motor skills. This represents the effort that is oftentimes required for ravens to obtain food in the wild. This might include giving her a phonebook to tear apart, hiding food inside a paper bag filled with newspaper strips, or putting treats inside of an old mayonnaise container that she has to figure out how to open up.

•Training involves working with a human and performing certain actions to earn positive reinforcement (in this case, raisins, mealworms, peanuts, etc.). When Erin Manning, Wolf Ridge’s animal care coordinator and I first started training Korppi, our main objective was simply to get her comfortable with humans (specifically us) and teach her to correlate humans with positive experiences. This primarily involved giving her lots of treats for coming closer and closer to us. As Korppi learns to trust us, we train her to do more complex activities, which include

Nature of Things

Joe Walewski, Wolf Ridge’s Director of Naturalist Training was recently named Non-formal Environmental Educator of the Year 2013 by the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE). This honor is awarded to one recipient each year that exhibits innovative and exemplary effort in front line interpretation and environmental education.

Joe has been employed by Wolf Ridge since 1991. He became familiar with Wolf Ridge in 1988 when he was a Student Naturalist. He then taught environmental education at Jekyll Island 4-H Center, GA and Ashokan Field Campus, NY before returning to Wolf Ridge. Joe first worked at Wolf Ridge as the School Program Coordinator then as Adventure Education Assistant before moving into the position of Director of Naturalist Training. He has mentored over 200 graduate students in his 13 years in this position.

With a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State and M.S. in Education from U of MN - Duluth, Joe’s teaching has benefitted at least 70,000 students from kindergarteners to senior citizens.

Highlights include: • teaching classes on topics including animals,

plants, lichens aquatic habitats, earth sciences, human culture and history, personal growth, photography, teaching techniques, group building, outdoor recreation and more• devising an Environmental Educator Literacy Competencies Manual• innovative training elements including improvisation, storytelling, and photo-based evaluations• a second year apprentice program at Wolf Ridge where graduates of the Wolf Ridge student naturalist program can spend a second year working alongside program staff focusing on a specific area of interest• student teacher program where undergraduate education students can gain experience (10 weeks in a traditional classroom and 29 weeks at Wolf Ridge) in interdisciplinary and experiential education while completing a teaching practicum to earn their teaching license• writing and photography for the book, Lichens of the North Woods• volunteering with the Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project, rare species botanical survey, MNA, and MAEE.F

Wolf Ridge Naturalist Honored

Joe reviews an evaluation with Max Melby.

Congratulations, Joe!

6 7

arrives. Rainy April nights bring the creatures forth, signaling them to the nearest pond, wetland, or lake. This is the best time to look for salamanders. Highways are a likely place to spot them, along with window wells. After mating, females lay 20-100 gelantinous eggs in an aquatic environment. Some of the larvae, if densely populated, may become cannibal morphs. As the name suggests, these deviants grow larger heads with wider mouths in order to exploit the nearby food supply; their brothers and sisters. Those that survive into adulthood, which they reach by September, then spend their time hunting for worms, snails, insects, and small mice. Salamander adults are prey for owls, snakes, badgers, or bobcats.

Thanks to the naturalist who purchased them as adults from a local bait shop in Finland, Trout Slayer and Littlefoot no longer need be wary of predators. Both ten inches long, our Tiger Salamanders have dull, gray-brown backs and lack the signature yellow spots common to many of their species. Their smiles are as wide as their broad heads and their eyes protrude from their smooth heads. Hanging out under a rock, log, or soil a head will poke out now and then to watch for action. Burrowing under the soil is a favorite activity, however our salamanders stay active all year round in the controlled indoor climate. If I step close and lean over, Trout Slayer immediately comes out to say hello. Littlefoot is usually right behind. They eat a few crickets every other day, and over the course of a year, meet thousands of students. They may not be six feet long, but I believe they inspire plenty of curious Wolf Ridge visitors to discover amphibians. I’m certainly one of them.F

Nature Notes

Salamanders 2013 Summer Staff

Wolf Ridge Staff

Update

Summer Camp Director of Programming - Grace Theisen

Summer Camp Director of CounselorsRachel Zacher

Summer Camp Director of Health Services - Nickie Swenson

Assisting in Staff Development, Mentoring & Trip LeadingBrandon Trapp

Animal Care & Education InternHaley Appleman

Family Camp Onsite CoordinatorMary Bryant

Road Scholars Onsite CoordinatorNikki Field

Bluefin Bay Naturalist - Sara Sloan

Lead Teacher (for SEAK, HSECC & EII Murray Program)

Kim Swanson

SEAK/HSECC Naturalist - Liz Doane

SEAK Naturalist & Murray Jr. High EII Program NaturalistMary Beth Factor

SEAK Naturalist - Emily Foubert

Murray Jr. High EII Program Naturalist - Robyn Char

CounselorsHattie GiestJohn HackettAbby Michels

Savannah MillerEmma Runquist

Bailey Shatz-Aken

Asst. Trip Leaders/CounselorsJack Armstrong

Justin ColeMark HarrisEvan Lahr

Brandon LiddiardAndrew Lynam

Megan MalinowskiEoghan O’Neill Claire Runquist Amy SullivanKari Smerud

Naturalists Max Bockes

Brent HennenAnna KeenanMaria Sabljak

Katharine Chute - and Trip Leader

Counselors 2012

by TomPearce, Wolf Ridge Naturalist

How big are the salamanders?” Asked a 5th grader who was studying our salamander terrarium as I was passing. Quickly scanning the terrarium, I couldn’t find either of them. I figured they were underneath the soil. “Let’s see what this information sheet says. It says here that Tiger Salamanders are between seven and thirteen inches long and their names are Trout Slayer and Littlefoot.” The student looked up at me and said, “That’s way smaller than the biggest salamander in the world.” I had to ask, “Which one is that?” He smiled and taught me, “The Chinese Giant Salamander, and it’s six feet long!”

Students at Wolf Ridge often amaze me with their animal knowledge, and after this brief exchange, I realized that I knew very little about Tiger Salamanders. In fact, I realized I knew very little about any Minnesota

amphibians. So I did what any resourceful naturalist would do. I visited our library and then met with Erin Manning, our Animal Program

Coordinator.

An amphibian is a vertebrate animal that can live both on land and in water. (Frogs are probably the signature amphian.) Amphians have a life cycle that includes transforming from an aquatic larva with gills to an adult with lungs. A few though, live life entirely in water and keep their gills. A reptile, on the other hand, breathes through lungs immediately and is a miniature replica of its parents; no physical transformation is required. There are nineteen amphibians native to Minnesota, and six are salamanders. Our salamander friends, which are sometimes confused with lizards (a reptile) can be distinguished from each other by remembering that salamanders have smooth, moist skin rather than dry scales.

As members of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae), Trout Slayer and Littlefoot would spend the majority of their adult lives underground. Before the ground freezes in fall, Tiger Salamanders excavate or use another animal’s burrow. Nestled as far as sixty centimeters (two feet) beneath the surface, they wait out the winter, motionless in a state known as torpor. They slow their heart rate and metabolism, retaining enough energy through the season so they are ready to travel to breeding sites the moment spring

“

Littlefoot & Trout Slayer, Tiger Salamanders.

Amito (Richard) Haarhuis (91) is a Deputy Director at Science Center NEMO, the largest science center in the Netherlands with 528,000 visitors in 2012. Linda (Kressin) Martin (93) was a parent chaperone for Oak Park Elementary School’s trip to Wolf Ridge. She was a High School language arts teacher for many years. Recently she is home but is looking to teach again. Bryan Rebar (98) received his masters and PhD and is instructing at Cal Poly Technical U – San Luis Obispo and is the Science Teacher and Research program (STAR) coordinator placing undergrad students seeking teaching license in a practicum of “real science” such as research, to balance their teaching practicum in the classroom. Kristi (Achor) Pursell (06) is excited to bring her son, Henry, born Sept 7, 2012 to Wolf Ridge. Jenni Poliseno (10) finished her M. Ed in EE in Duluth and is now teaching preschool in the Twin Cities. She and her students love searching for signs of spring! Jenni is also serving on the MAEE board. F

Tom is originally from a suburb of Chicago,

and has been teaching and working on conservation trail crews for the past

three years. He enjoys running on trails and

reading about the history of anything.

Tom's favorite part of being at Wolf Ridge is exploring Superior's

North Shore."

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Afton-Lakeland ElementaryAndersen United

Annandale Middle SchoolArcadia CharterARTech School

Assumption SchoolBadger School

Bancroft Elementary SchoolBarnum ElementaryBeacon Academy

Benilde-St Margaret’sBethlehem Academy

Birch Grove Community SchoolBirch Lake Elementary

Blessed Sacrament Catholic ChurchBlue Earth Area Middle School

Breck SchoolBug O Nay Ge ShigCarlton High School

Central Cass Middle SchoolCentral Lutheran

Central Middle SchoolCentro, Inc

Chisago Lakes MSChurchill Elementary

Congdon Park ElementaryConservation Corps MN & IACoon Rapids Middle School

Cooper ElementaryCowern Elementary

Cultural Diversity UMDCumberland Middle SchoolDiamond Path Elementary

Duluth/Ely/Grand Rapids Home SchoolEd Visions

El Colegio Charter SchoolEmanuel Lutheran

EpiphanyFive Hawks Elementary

Folwell School, Performing Arts MagnetFootprints Academy

2012-2013 Attending Schools & GroupsFranklin Elementary

Friends School of MNGirl Scouts of MN & WI Lakes & Pines

Girl Scouts Troop 54 & 55Glen Lake ElementaryGlendale Elementary

Grainwood ElementaryGustavus Education Students OrgHeilicher Mpls Jewish Day School

Herbertz Duluth HomeschoolHeritage E-Stern Middle School

Hibbing Community CollegeHighlands Elementary

Hilltop PrimaryHinckley-Finlayson Elementary

Holy Name of Jesus SchoolHoly Rosary SchoolHoly Trinity School

Hope Community AcademyHopkins Summer Field Biology

Imhotep Science InitiativesInternat’l Spanish Lang Academy

Inver Grove Heights MSJeffers Pond Elementary

John IrelandJordan Middle School

Karen Organization of MNKing of Grace

Lake Superior Youth ChorusLester Park School

Lincoln Center ElementaryLowell Elementary School

Loyola Catholic SchoolManvel Public School

Maple Lake ElementaryMarshall County Central HS

Midway SchoolMpls American Indian Center

MN Forest GuildMurray Jr. High

New London/Spicer Middle SchoolNorth Shore Community School

North Star AcademyNyQuist School

Oak Crest ElementaryOak Grove Middle School

Oak Park ElementaryOdyssey Charter School

Onamia Junior HighOrono Intermediate School

Our Lady of the LakePaideia AcademyPark River School

Pine Island High SchoolPrairie Creek

Presentation of MaryProvidence Academy

Raleigh Edison SchoolRamsey Junior High

Redtail Ridge ElementaryRogers Middle School

Sacred Heart-E Grand ForksSacred Heart-Robbinsdale

Sanford Middle SchoolSawtooth Mountain Elementary

Schoolcraft Learning CommShakopee Indian Education

She is OutdoorsShell Lake School DistrictShirley Hills Elementary

Sojourner Truth AcademySouth Ridge School

St Anthony ParkSt Charles Borromeo

St Croix CatholicSt Croix Montessori & Sunny Hollow

St Croix Preparatory

St James SchoolSt John the Baptist

St John the EvangelistSt Johns SchoolSt Marks School

St Mary of the LakeSt Mary’s School-Breckenridge

St Mary’s School-MorrisSt Mary’s School-OwatonnaSt Michael Catholic School

St Michael’s Lakeside SchoolSt Pascal BaylonSt Patrick SchoolSt Peter’s SchoolSt Rose School

St Thomas More Catholic SchoolStowe ElementarySuperior Cathedral

Superior Hiking Trail AssociationSuperior Nat’l Forest Wilderness Wkshp

TEAM AcademyThe Clariden School of South Lake

Trinity Lutheran/Our Lady of the PrairieTriton High School

Two Harbors High SchoolU of M Dept of Forest Resources

Valley Middle SchoolValley View Middle School

VandenBerge Jr HighWarner Nature Center

Warroad Middle SchoolWashington ElementaryWatershed High SchoolWatertown-Mayer MSWayzata Central MS

Wayzata East Middle SchoolWest Central Area Schools

Westwood ElementaryWestwood Hills Nature Center

William Kelley ElementaryWillow River ElementaryWinona State UniversityWinterquist Elementary

Wisconsin Wilderness CampusYinghua Academy

Zumbro Education District S Campus

Introducing Donna Hill

Profile What is your connection to Wolf Ridge ELC? I was a student naturalist

from 2006-2007. I was not the “typical” intern as I was 56 years old at the time. I lived in the dorm for the year with 15 other student naturalists who were

“a couple of years” younger than me. It was the best “job” I’ve ever had. I learned so much about outdoor education, nature, the environment, kids and myself! Wolf Ridge

quickly became my second home and a place I adore…for both its beauty and because of the people who are part of the organization. It is truly a special place! I visit whenever possible and

plan to introduce my grandkids to the wonders of Wolf Ridge when they are old enough.

What is your current occupation(s)? I currently spend my time with my family, grandkids, extended family and friends. I enjoy volunteering when opportunities arise. I currently have ongoing “gigs” with Groveland Elementary (my grandson’s school) and the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. I also enjoy the outdoors (skiing, hiking, biking) and traveling.

Please share a Wolf Ridge ELC memory. There are so many memories…..I guess the best ones revolve around the kids and their experiences. I was the liaison for Diamond Path School, the first school to arrive in the fall. I admit I was a little nervous. As the bus pulled up I waved at the children. A little boy pointed to himself and asked if I was waving to him. Of course, I was! As it turned out Eric was a special student with some challenges, but his spirit and the support he received from his classmates was truly inspiring! Another great memory occurred at the rock wall. Hailey was a seventh grader who spent an entire hour trying, trying and trying again to reach the top of the wall. This can be very exhausting both physically and mentally but Hailey refused to quit. When she finally reached the top I was close to tears. When I asked the kids at the end of class what they had learned she said, “Never give up!”

Tell us an item of interest about yourself. I spent 3 months in 2001 living at an orphanage in Honduras teaching 3, 4 and 5 year olds English.

What is your favorite place at Wolf Ridge and why? Sitting in the nasaogaan telling stories, waiting for birds to land on my head at Chickadee Landing, the view of Wolf Lake from Marshall Mountain, looking at the view of Lake Superior from the ropes course tower all come to mind as favorite spots.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers? I LOVE being in the woods. During my stay I wrote a poem I would like to share:

A Walk in the Woods written 10/06 Section 13

Today I went for a walk in the woods.

I saw robins searching for the last worms of the season,

Feathery crystals of ice in the frozen mud trail,

Downy woodpeckers looking for insects,

Snow clinging to the tiniest pine branches and capping a mushroom top,

Weasel scat and bird droppings,

Sharp shinned hawks diving and playing,

Huge red leaves of small red oak trees still clinging to their branches,

Woodpecker holes already filled with winter occupants,

Midden left by red squirrels,Snow on the underbrush,Black, tarry mushrooms,A majestic bald eagle gliding just overhead,

Lichen and moss covered rocks and birch.

I heard the wind blowing through the grass and trees,

The thud of my feet hitting the ground,

A chick-a-dee-dee-dee,The pecking of woodpeckers searching for food,

The soft gurgling of a small creek,

The call of a grouse,A red squirrel chattering at me….upset that I had invaded his territory,

The deep voice of a raven.I felt the wind on my face, my cheeks rosy.

I smelled the beautiful smell of the fragrant pine trees,

Damp, fallen leaves.I touched the woods with my heart and soul and we became one.

As Donna considered how to support Wolf Ridge she spoke to her financial advisor and decided to make a stock gift each year (“easier than writing a check”) and to include Wolf Ridge in her estate

planning. “When a place like Wolf Ridge is important to you, you want to help all the good stuff that happens there to continue long into the future. Wolf Ridge is like a second home to me and

what it does for young people is so important. The ecological diversity of the campus allows many different learning opportunities and outdoor experiences and the permanent staff and naturalists are amazing.”

Thank you Donna for all you do for Wolf Ridge and for helping to ensure Wolf Ridge programming long into the future by making a planned gift.F

Donna Hill supports Wolf Ridge with a planned giving donation.

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WOlf riDgeenvirOnmentAl leArning center

6282 Cranberry RdFinland, MN 55603

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Youth

FamilyGrand Adventurefor Grandparents &

Grandchildren

Road ScholaR®

June 5, 12, 26, July 8, 17, 24, & 317:00am to noon

Fee: FREE

Family Camp

Family & Group Trips

Split Rock Sea Kayak Tours

Advanced Bird Banding Workshops

For more information about Wolf Ridge programs:

1-800-523-2733 (WI, MN, ND)or

218-353-7414

www.wolf-ridge.org

June 23-28, July 7-12, July 28-Aug 2Fee: $485

Our youth camp programs offer unparalleled opportunities to explore clear lakes and streams, develop life-long connections to the natural world, make friends, create

memories, and grow in self-confidence. With a wonderfully diverse campus and variety of activities, campers can return year after year for new experiences.

Build lasting memories to share with your grandchildren ages 8-12.

Become a French-Canadian voyageur and visit our Ojibwe camp. Learn the ecology of forests and streams,

and take a day trip to Lake Superior. Some of the other activities include

hiking to spectacular overlooks, paddling a canoe under stunning

cliffs, and experiencing our Adventure Ropes course and indoor

climbing wall. Call Road Scholar at 877-426-8056 to register or go to

www.roadscholar.org.

Imagine a family vacation with no hassles. With over 50 different

activities to choose from during your stay, the only question you’ll face is,

“Which adventure today?”

Learning and laughter are the hallmarks of our custom group and family wilderness

trips whether you are hiking, canoeing, or kayaking. Wolf Ridge’s naturalist guide

will teach you all the skills needed to meet the challenges of your trips.

July 21-27, Aug 4-10Fee: $390, 2-4 yrs $195, under 2 free

Fee: 1-4 people: $1760 (add’l person discount)Call 218-353-7414 to arrange your dates.

Select Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings.

July 23-27 and July 28-August 1

Fee: $59/person. Picnic included. Six person limit.Min. age 12 yrs. Must be accompanied by adult.

Have fun, laugh and feel alive as you kayak on Lake Superior. Our paddling could lead us under the Split Rock Lighthouse, over the Madeira shipwreck, and past active peregrine falcon nesting sites. Wolf Ridge provides all equipment including wetsuits. Full refunds

for cancellations due to weather and lake conditions. State Park vehicle permits required.

Fee: $820, includes instruction, take-home materials, lodging in our dorm and meals.

Are you a current bird bander, looking to advance your skills? Wolf Ridge is excited to host Danielle Kaschube of the Institute for Bird Populations and the MAPS Program and Bander Training Coordina-

tor, for 2 advanced-skills workshops. This class is designed to help partic-ipants to fine tune the banding skills they already possess and to advance

their comprehension of molt strategies and ability to recognize molts limits and plumages on birds in hand. There will be a concentration on details of feather morphology, plumages, and molt limits. Mornings will be field based with lectures and discussions in the afternoons.

Sessions are limited to 8 participants. Register by June 13th by calling 218-353-7414. Do not purchase airline tickets until Wolf Ridge has confirmed that we have the minimum number of participants. We will call you to confirm by June 13.

Join us for a day of outdoor fun at our annual Open House. Enjoy rock climbing,

adventure ropes, our live raptor and porcupine program, hiking, and canoeing.

See birds upclose. Learn about bird banding and what scientists are

discovering through this research.

Day Camp: (1st-7th gr) June 24-28: $165Summer Sampler: (2nd-5th gr) Aug 14-17: $325Discoverers: (4th-5th gr) July 14-20, July 28-Aug 3, Aug 4-10, Aug 11-17: $500Voyageurs: (6th-7th gr) July 7-13, July 14-20, July 21-27, July 28-Aug 3, Aug 4-10, Aug 11-17: $550Adventurers: (8th-9th gr) July 7-13, July 14-20, July 21-27, July 28-Aug 3, Aug 4-10: $550Canoe the BWCAW Adventurers: (8th-9th gr) July 14-27: $1250Backpack Isle Royale: (8th-9th gr) July 28-Aug 10: $1250Canoe the Quetico Jr. Naturalists: (10th-12th gr) July 21-Aug 3: $1300Kayak the Apostle Islands Jr. Naturalists: (10th-12th gr) Aug 4-17: $1300Outdoor Explorers: Angling to Archery: (6th-7th gr) July 28-Aug 3: $550Camp Fish: (7th-8th gr) July 7-13: $590Canoe the BWCAW: (7th-8th gr) July 7-13: $560Kayak the Apostle Islands: (9th-10th gr) July 28-Aug 3: $650Ecology Credit Camp: (10th-12th gr) July 14-Aug 10: $2675Counselor-in-Training (CIT): (11th-12th gr) Aug 4-17: $1000

NEW

NEW

NEW

Wolf Ridge Camp Shuttle:Ride from the Twin Cities to camp and back: One-way $100; round trip $175; reservations required.

June 15, 9-4:30Fee: FREE

Open House

Bird Banding

Upcoming Programs

2014 Wolf Ridge Calendar3

2012-2013Attending Schools &

Groups9

Korppi, the Raven1, 4 & 5

In This Issue:

Wolf Ridge enviRonmental leaRning CenteRWolf Ridge enviRonmental leaRning CenteR6282 Cranberry RoadFinland, MN 55603-97001-800-523-2733 (MN, WI, ND) or 218-353-7414 www.wolf-ridge.org

Non-profitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1Finland, MN

Complimentary IssuePlease Consider Membership

Wolf Ridge is an accredited residential environmental school for persons of all ages. We offer immersion programs which involve direct observation and participation in outdoor experiences. Wolf Ridge programs focus on environmental sciences, human culture and history, personal growth, team-building and outdoor recreation.

Our mission is to develop a citizenry that has the knowledge, skills, motivation and commitment to act together for a quality environment.

We meet our mission by:• Fostering awareness, curiosity and sensitivity to the natural world.• Providing lifelong learning experiences in nature.• Developing social understanding, respect and cooperation.• Modeling values, behaviors and technologies, which lead to a sustainable lifestyle.• Promoting the concepts of conservation and stewardship.Upcoming Programs

10 & 11

Summer Staff7

Wolf Ridge Staff Update7

Salamanders6

Profile & Planned Giving: Donna Hill

8

Wolf Ridge Naturalist Honored

5

View from the Ridge2 & 3

Bets

y Bo

wen

Wolf Ridge thanks thesegenerous donors:

a Jill

Lega

ult p

hoto

A student from Orono Middle

School watches a kettle of four Bald Eagles.

Boston Scientific Foundation - $15,000Lloyd K Johnson Foundation - $7,700

The Cliffs Foundation - $15,000The Outdoor Foundation - $1,500

The Dan & Sallie 0’Brien Fund - $1,000Mike Brandt -

24” f/4.6 Newtonian telescope