by Mark Herwig

Did you ever wonder why elk and antelope sometimes gather in big herds?

A few autumns ago I tagged along with a friend to learn how to hunt elk. His license was for the rugged wilderness south of Rawlins, Wyoming.

The night before, the high country where the elk, deer and antelope like to eat received a lot of snow, covering up their feed. In the morning, we found snow clogged roads and no elk.

We knew, however, that when it snows a lot, the animals have to migrate down to lower, snow-free range to eat. So, we headed off the mountain . . . and it wasn’t long before we found game. As we drove around a big hill on a lonely dirt trail, we spotted a huge herd of antelope walking fast down a broad, flat valley! But still, no elk.

The next day, we stayed low, but had to stop where the road was blocked by deep snow. So, we got out to walk. We didn’t go far before we spotted a big hill to the south that was covered with hundreds of elk! more…

By Kendall Schwartz, SCA Manager of Media Relations

Jamie Elliot’s first post-high school SCA posting was at Tennessee’s stunning Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.

Green jobs seem to be the wave of the future. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has led the way in connecting youth to jobs in the growing “green economy” for 51 years. The SCA’s motto is “Changing lives through service to nature.”

SCA is the nation’s leading youth conservation organization and has placed more than 54,000 volunteers in national parks, historical sites, national seashores and fire-prone mesas. All receive practical experience and green collar career advancement through hands-on conservation work and training in life skills experiential education.
From conservation internships to urban programs in nearly 20 major cities to backcountry crews deep in the woods of national parks, SCA offers something for everyone in all 50 states.
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By Chad & Jodi Hines

Rewarding your dog with a treat is a great way to gain obedience.

A pack is a group of animals of the same kind, especially predators like a pack of wolves. You can also look at your classroom as a pack. When the teacher leaves the class unattended, what happens? If there’s no teacher organizing and leading the class, very little learning takes place. With a teacher involved, the class has order, structure and a common goal. Students can make great accomplishments working together as a pack with a leader.

The Family Pack
The same principles apply to your family pack. Your parents say when it is time for school and dinner and when playtime is over. If they were not around, the family would fall apart. Dogs live by the same principles. Someone is always in charge. If the one in charge leaves, a new leader will fill the position. Small children can’t take care of themselves and neither can a dog. Both need a strong leader and most dogs are born followers. If they were all born leaders, they wouldn’t form a pack because they would all be trying to lead. more…

by Dan Hare

As much or more water collects and flows underground than in this Tennessee surface river.

“Water…water…everywhere and not a drop to drink” is a well-known phrase that reminds us that wildlife need clean water to survive. If we try to think about water as part of a wildlife habitat complex, we need to get a better idea of how water becomes such an important habitat element. How does it affect the land and the wildlife trying to survive there? While we are at it, we need to remember how important it is for our survival as well.

We all know that food, shelter and water are the primary things necessary to sustain life, but water is pretty high up the ladder of survival! For many of you, if you took a look out your window this past winter you wondered if the snow was ever going to leave! There were many parts of the country that experienced extreme cold, ice and snowfall.

Well, there is the first clue as to where the water comes from. Whether you are from the mountain states of the West, the upper Great Plains states or Midwestern states, you probably recognized all of that snow! As you read this, all the snow is gone from the front yard. But…just where did it go?
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Item code: 910270003

Kids Gone Paddlin’ By Tom Watson
Review By Rylee Young, 16, Atkinson, NE
Does the color of your life jacket really matter? Can the shape of your canoe or kayak determine how fast you go? Where’s the best place to go canoeing or kayaking? All of these questions plus many more can be answered in Tom Watson’s book Kids Gone Paddlin’. In this fascinating book you will discover the ins and outs of canoeing and kayaking. You will find new skills to use while out on the water. You will also learn what gear to use, some good places to go and other things you can do while canoeing or kayaking. All this information along with a variety of detailed pictures can be found in this great book.
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