Volunteering in the east (Denali National Park entrance campus)

Matthew and I have been overwhelmed by this inspiring experience!  Not only have we been able to genuinely support the interpretive staff, we’ve been encouraged to create our own chats/service opportunities.  Hmmm, maybe I should explain.  Generally, when we’ve volunteered, we have done the mundane.  No, not complaining, that is typical, and we are happy to help in any way.  The people we’ve worked with here, however, have provided opportunities for us to use our skills and for us to learn and apply new knowledge in unique ways.  As our volunteer coordinator, Kathleen, insists, we should enjoy volunteering as well as provide support for the National Park.  Well, to-that-end, it has been a beyond-successful volunteer experience!

Denali Visitor center (DVC)
Striding towards the camera--Ranger Ellen in plain clothes!

Work area for the rangers--
Clara, Lauren, and Jessica

The front desk with Ranger Bill and Diane

Matthew has put together a bench-chat.  He invites people to match pictures of “Denali animals” with animal track casts, skulls, scat, and/or pelts.  Additionally, he provides the ASL signs for the animals.

I have pictures in the Toklat entry of Matthew doing his chat.  He also did this chat in Livestream for the park.

ASL Livestream with Matthew

(Click on the link above--it is in the Archived Events.  Just look for Matthew's picture.)

We also set-up a prop table with a wolf pelt, scat, skull, and track cast.  We arrange the props in a busy area of the visitors’ campus, invite people to touch the pelt etc., and to talk about wolves.  (“Thank you!” to all of the rangers who taught us about the wolves, so we could share factual/interesting information with the visitors!)

Pelts in the prop room

antlers, skulls, horns...in the prop room

Our favorite prop--scat!

The best part of volunteering—the rangers and the other park staff (DVC and Toklat)!  I was impressed by their knowledge, genuine care and love of the environment, the joy they expressed while sharing this passion, and the friendships they extended to Matthew and me.  We have definitely gained more than we’ve given.  Thank you!

Unfortunately, I did not take a group shot of the rangers at DVC.  I should have taken one at the delicious farewell chips and dips lunch--YUM!  (Fresh guacamole too!) No camera...dingle dorf!

However, since Matthew and I intend to come back next year, we will focus on people photos then.  SMILES!

The photo I did take--

Mary, our favorite bus driver, and
an AWESOME person!

Autumn is here!  It has been in the mid-30s/lower 40s for the last few days, and the foliage is beautiful! Matthew and I went out to Savage River this morning.  We did see a few of the bull moose (no photos, sorry) and one bear on the road.

Good for hyper-vigilance; Not good for traffic!

Poor guy...thankfully, he or she did make it safely off the road.

Termination dust on the mountain tops and vibrant autumn colors...
winter is on the way!  

This is my favorite time of the year....

One more time because it "bears" (ha ha!) repeating.  Matthew and I have had a wonderful time with everyone at Denali.  Thank you again for the sharing and caring!
One last photo of Matt; Cinnamon snapped it last night.  I think his smile says it all--

Matthew at the Nenana River