Polar Bear Ambassadors in Helicopters!
Posted at 10:57 pm October 6, 2007 by Ronit AbramsonRonit is the San Diego Zoo’s 2007 Arctic Ambassador. She and other teens from around the world are in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, to partipate in Polar Bears International’s Polar Bear Leadership Camp. Read her previous blog, Snow on the Tundra Temporarily Disconnects Arctic Ambassador.
Today we had the tremendous opportunity to explore a polar bear maternal den. Hudson Bay Helicopters generously flew 24 of us in a fleet of 6 helicopters inland to a maternal den situated alongside Fletcher Lake. The flight was breathtaking, and we even had the chance to see a herd of caribou, asthe pilot descended so we could fly just above them! I have never liked flying, but this was an experience that was absolutely one of the most exhilarating in my life. We could see the crystalline ice covering the many lakes along the tundra surface and the abrupt change as the rocks of the coast became trees and streams. I was in a helicopter with four other ambassadors, and we had a great time snapping pictures of ourselves wearing the headsets and talking into the microphones. But as soon as we took off, silence ensued, broken only by gasps of delight and awe as the enormity of the tundra appeared.
When we finally arrived at the site of the maternal den, we piled out of the helicopters to find ourselves in the midst of a snow-covered mossy field. We immediately commenced in a flurried, frantic snowball fight, which only ceased when we discovered the softness of the moss and collapsed in a pile onto it. When it was my turn to don a headlamp and crawl into the maternal den, I was astounded at the immense complexity of the construction and the dampness of the peat into which the den was built. The journey back to the Lodge by helicopter was just as awesome and really made me appreciate the vastness of the tundra and gave us an excellent view of the Lodge. Upon returning to the Lodge, we had a heart-to-heart discussion about the future and what we as ambassadors hope to bring back to our communities from this trip. Our last night is coming to a close, but my Arctic family and I still have some time together so I won’t say goodbye yet!
Love from the chilly tundra,
Ronit
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October 7th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Ronit, what an incredible journey you are having, and the beginning of the journey for your life’s mission is about to commence. What you have learned, and experienced will help shape the woman you will become and the dedication you will have all your life. May you wisely use what you now possess inside you, as you make your own personal life choices, and help to share your experience and knowledge with others who have not had the first hand experience of the tundra that you were privileged to have.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Ronit, I loved reading about your adventures in the Tundra Lodge and buggies. Have you returned safely to SD?
If so, I am sure you had an adjustment to make to the weather, and the sights you see. I look forward to hearing about the rest of your adventure and your return home. Sorry the storm knocked out your power and network access. Glad you had equipment and the foresight to do record your answers to the childrens’ questions on video so they can look at them over and over. I also look forward to seeing more of your photos and videos posted somewhere on SDZ website???