A message I admire

Buggy Bears Fighting Picture

Robert and Carolyn Buchanan: My heroes

Robert and Carolyn Buchanan are my heroes. Robert is the current president of Polar Bears International. He recently won the George B. Rabb Conservation Medal from The Chicago Zoological Society/ Brookfield Zoo. I had the privilege to attend the Conservation Dinner where they awarded Mr. Buchanan for all of his conservation efforts. The dinner was hosted by the Brookfield Zoo Women's Board and it was held at the Art Institute of Chicago in the Modern Art Wing. I was the youngest person there but I met so many new outstanding people. The dinner was delicious and I really had some good conversations about polar bears and the climate change. I got some recognition at the event which really made the night special for me. I watched a presentation about polar bears and one new thing I heard about was a radio collared bear that had swam 400 miles. This is incredible that such a majestic animal is capable of so much power. The biggest bear on earth with so much power can still be so helpless due to the climate change. That is a reason why Mr. & Mrs. Buchanan are so special to me, it is because they have so much passion for these bears, they speak with such intensity that makes you want to change everything around you. It was really great for me to see them again it had been a whole year since my Canada trip and I cried myself to sleep tears of happiness because I was once again reunited with my real life heroes. ~Wildlife Katie

(photos by Jim Schulz of the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo)

Lesson of the day: DON'T DIE BY POOP

AFTERNOON my blog reader minions! I hope you are enjoying life as I am. I thought today I would share with you my day at the zoo. First I need to inform you that the things I do at Brookfield Zoo are very special and that I can do them because I am involved in special programs and am a staff member of the zoo. I am a very responsible staff member and nobody of the common public gets to do what I do without the proper Zookeeping staff on duty and without paying. So don't go thinking you can just go and do what you want. The Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) Is a well maintained and very enforced zoo so please follow the rules. Thank You!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ABOVE WAS IMPORTANT TO READ! I HOPE YOU DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I shall continue on with my day! Science Track Year 1 went on two tours today! First we went to seven seas and pinniped point. These are our locations in the zoo featuring the dolphins and seals. I learned that working as a dolphin trainer, communication is important. Communication is important because you need to know the daily routines and if anything switches. You also need to pay attention to any changes within animal behavior and social environmental changes. If you actually are looking into being a dolphin trainer you will need a batchelors degree in biology, zoology or something of the like. You also need to be scuba certified and a strong swimmer and speaker. Experience is most important when getting a job so be sure you get involved in some internship programs. Psychology is also encouraged when looking into dolphin training. I thought it was amazing when I learned all these things because I never knew it took so much knowledge to become a trainer. Its because animals are always learning. We were listening to our keeper give some speeches about dolphins while that was happening I had my hands up against the glass and the dolphin was touching his nose to my hands. It was a really memorable experience knowing I could see her and she could see me. Moments like that make working at the zoo be worth it. After being with the dolphins we went to see the Seals and Sealions. We have Grey Seals, California Sea Lions, and Harbor Seals. I got to watch some trainings. It was really cute to watch them do tricks like waving and spinning around in the water. Each animal is trained using target training. That is where they have to touch their nose or paw to a target and they get rewarded(it teaches them tricks and they have positive and negative reinforcement). After my tours of the dolphins and seals/sealions I had a tour of 31st street. This is the street with Bison, Zebra, Camel, and Addax. I was able to feed the animals carrots(minus the Addax), it was loads of fun. I would hold the carrot to the gate and the camels would be moving their lips all funny trying to get a hold of the delicious snack. When we moved down the street to the bison and our keeper in charge Bill said we could feed Ron (he is our big male) I was flabbergasted because he is such a huge beast. His big purple tongue slurped up my carrot. He is very friendly and sweet for such a huge animal. We moved along and fed Patches our last Grants zebra. He was great for picture taking. I learned lots of male zebras become aggressive with age and I found that very interesting. Next Bill brought us to the Aardvark house. We got to go in with the aardvark and pet her. Her skin is really coarse. I learned that people are actually allergic to aardvarks( but I am not allergic to anything as I know of so I was alright). We went and saw some peafowl that will be released into the park next year and we saw Abby the ostridge up close and the warthogs Michelle and Siri. Bill told us that the worst way to die would be by poop. If he was cleaning the Camel exhibit and the animal decided to step on him or knock into him it would be a bad way to die. It would be pretty humiliating to read the obituary or grave stone and see, "Here lies Bill, He was just an ordinary keeper picking up poop when it happened." So yeah those of you going into the Zoo keeping world that is your lesson of the day. It made me laugh. He was a great keeper and cool mentor. Maybe if I do science track year 2 he will be my mentor. We will see, I'm crossing my fingers to work in the Australia House. Well that is all for today! ~Wildlife Katie

P.S: For those of you interested in getting some hands on experience with some animals and with Zoo Keepers at Brookfield Zoo- check out our Wild Encounters
http://www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Plan-Your-Day/Things-to-Do/Wild-Encounters
Or become a Science Track Member after completing a year of Youth Volunteering
http://www.czs.org:80/czs/Educational-Programs/Career-Ladder/Youth-Volunteer-Corp

Polar Bears International: A little message from me

My recent trip to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada changed my life. It is hard to describe the trip in a simple paragraph. I saw the world at its best. I could smell the crisp clean air and I could see the northern lights and I could experience waking up and seeing wildlife all around me. There were polar bears right outside my window, and moms with cubs running after her, and giant males fighting on their hind feet. I saw artic hare, snow bunting, ptarmagin, ravens, snowy owls, arctic fox, and even ringed seals. The wildlife and nature was so beautiful. I saw the tundra barren land with trees that had branches on only one side due to the sharp wind. The northern lights took my breath away with their whimsical dances in the dark black sky. The friendship with the other teens that care about the earth just as much as I do and the friendship with the adult leaders was an unforgettable experience. I grew closer to these people that I spent a week in a Tundra Buggy with than kids I sit in a classroom with for several years of my life. I met so many different people on that trip and saw so many different things that my life can’t be the same as it was ever again. I waved goodbye to myself on that plane when I headed to Canada because I knew I can’t ever be that person again. I learned so much being up there in the wild. I learned about the polar bears and how global warming is affecting the arctic. I learned it is real and people do cause it. I learned that I could change that. I can make a difference in this world. I am and I will make a difference; this is why being a part of that Polar Bears International Team is important and makes up who I am as a person. I CARE. I care about the world and I care about the people. I care because I love life and because I know that if things continue they way they are with global warming death will come on swift wings. Polar bears are dying due to thin ice, and starvation because the seals are dying. The seals are the bears’ primary food source. The giant chain and web of life is all connected, once these guys die then the whole world will crash eventually. People should care too, maybe they don’t like polar bears but I am sure they like themselves or their familes. Don’t they want to live? Don’t they want to learn? The Inuit tribe are the indigenious people that live in Canada. Global warming is affecting them and they will die. Can we really live knowing that death is going to be going on? I want to stand and fight and save things because we can by doing simple things like turning off lights or saving water or buying recycled products. Little things add up to make a huge difference. It is just like me, I am a little tiny person and I am going to make a huge difference. I am going to try to change this world. This is how I am going to contribute to society. I will do it my whole life until I die because I am dedicated to connecting people with wildlife and nature. That is why I want to go into wildlife ecology and conservation as a career. I want to spread the message. I want to cause the CHANGE that is going to happen.

Going Back in Time

Hey Friends, Family, and Fans

I have decided to go back in time and share some blogs from my experiences from earlier in the years, 2008 and 2009 specifically because I didn't think of a blog then. I did however write in journals so I figured I would copy them down so you can see interesting stories from YVC days and Polar Bears International Leadership Camp blogs. Enjoy my past! ~Wildlife Katie

Steve Irwin in Training

About Me:

I have always had a love for wildlife ever since I can remember. I actually wanted to be an actress when I grew up, but somehow during my middle school days I ended up at Brookfield Zoo/ Chicago Zoological Society. I actually got into the Youth Volunteer Program in '07-08. I had written a complaint letter to the zoo after reading through the Zoo Views Magazine and noticed there were no opportunities listed for teenagers. I got a letter back saying there was a Youth Volunteer program and they asked if I would like to apply, I did, then I was called for an interview, and then I got into the program. I never knew that once I would step in those zoo gates my future would unfold before me. It is my 4th year working and volunteering at Brookfield Zoo/ The Chicago Zoological Society and I have learned so much about animals and conservation. I also was chosen to go on a trip in 2008 to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada to study Polar Bears with Polar Bears International as an Arctic Ambassador. My experiences both in the zoo and in Canada changed my life. My goal is to be a Conservation leader and to make a difference in this world benefiting the environment and the wildlife. ~ Wildlife Katie

The Beginnings

Hello fans, friends, and family,

I have finally decided on making blogs so that I can reach a bigger audience. Perhaps more animal lovers will come across it and find my stories interesting and my adventures exciting. Those of you who don't know me: I am a young adult with big dreams. Some dreams have been reached, but other goals still lay on the path ahead of me. My motto in life is, "Make A Difference!" My heros include Steve Irwin, Jane Goodall,Robert Buchanan and many more.I care about the earth, wildlife, and conservation.Follow me on my journey,read through my point of views,comment, and share what you learn.~Wildlife Katie