Helicopter Rides and Our Goodbyes
Posted at 9:09 pm October 16, 2008 by AliciaAlicia Valencia is the San Diego Zoo’s 2008 Arctic Ambassador to the Polar Bears International Leadership Camp. She spent a week on the tundra in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, watching polar bears and teaming up with other dynamic teens to become leaders for polar bear conservation. Read her previous blog, Beautiful Northern Lights, and More Polar Bears Visit the Lodge.
(This blog is for Tuesday and Wednesday because I was on kitchen crew on Tuesday and traveling on Wednesday.)
Before this trip, I could have never fully understood how life-changing the Polar Bears International experience would be. But now, as I sit on a plane that takes me from my tundra Eden and PBI family, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without this opportunity. I have been fortunate to gain lifelong friendships with people who have a mutual dedication to a cause. I can say now, without a doubt, that through the last week I have grown as a person.
Our last full day on the tundra was filled with mixed emotions and discoveries. We traveled by helicopter to visit a maternal den site. What an adventure! We soared through the sky, viewing the beautiful ponds, speckled lichen ground, and coastline from above. Upon arrival at the maternal den site, I was very interested in how spongy and soft the lichen ground was. Later we went into the den. The den was partially collapsed, but everyone was able to take a picture inside surrounded by bright green moss and red berries. Flying a helicopter and visiting a maternal den was such a thrill! In the evening at dinner, everyone shared memories, poems, and songs about our exhilarating journey. I talked about how inspired I am by the harmonious colors of the tundra landscape and how I feel on the edge of the world when the clouds roll over the bay. These things inspire me to act in my community and share my experiences.
I feel motivated from this trip to make changes in my own life and help others do the same and be more environmentally friendly. I will try to ride my bike as many times as I can throughout the week. I will start composting in my backyard and present my knowledge and experience to my community. As for everyone who reads this, I invite you to do the same. Join my fellow PBI ambassadors and me in our quest to reduce climate change and save the Arctic ecosystem. Join us in lowering our thermostats and riding our bikes. Plant trees with us. Whenever possible, buy recycled products. Share the message of changing our habits with family and friends. Robert Buchanan said that when we left Winnipeg and headed to Churchill, we would be saying goodbye to ourselves. We would be saying goodbye to our doubt, our confusion, and come back empowered and passionate. He was right.
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October 19th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Alicia, thank you for taking us along on a mental journey of your adventures and experiences on the tundra. you, no doubt, have learned alot first hand and will always remember and most likely, put to use the valuable information you have obtained. your posts were very interesting and informative, and I really looked forward to reading each and every one of them. I hate to see it come to an end as I am sure you are too! best of luck in your future plans for your life. go get em!!!!
October 19th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I just got on the Polar Bear Cam and I think I see apples floating in the water. Two bears just jumped into the water and seem to be having the fun of their lifetime. What more is there to life at the SDZ when you have all sorts of enrichment items thrown at you??? I think I want to be a polar bear there too!!!
October 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Alicia, it is always heartwarming to read you and your fellow Teen Ambassador’s journals and personal journey of growth through this awesome experience. You are empowered to make a difference, and your eloquent way of sharing your experience with zoo bloggers, and your community in the future, will be a great place to start.
We hope you had a safe journey home and pleasant dreams of white fluffy polar bears for weeks to come.
May your new vision guide you on a strong personal path of meaningful contribution to our shared planet and the animals and plants with whom we share it.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
To whoever is manning the cameras at the moment, thank you, thank you. What beautiful views of whichever polar bear is guarding their carrots, rolling around being silly and now looking right into the camera as if to say ‘hello’ to each of us watching. Is it Chinook? I’m sitting here, really miserable, having been in agony with my back all day and this has really cheered me up.
Moderator’s note: Polar bear antics can brighten most any day. We’re glad they could help you, Susan!
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
How do you get on this trip?
Moderator’s note: Alicia was selected as the San Diego Zoo’s Arctic Ambassador for 2008. To learn more about this program, visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_polar_bear_camp.html
December 4th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I am sure that most readers here as well as the team at Polar Bear Plunge know that Knut, the beautiful orphaned bear in the Berlin Zoo, is going to need a new home. Berlin has said they can’t afford to keep him. I’m sure that someone else in Europe will be happy to take him but if not why not San Diego? We have two females and one male right? We could certainly use a second male and with Polar Bear International finding and giving homes to such bears would be part of the program.
I enjoy the cam just like everyone though it seems like every time I look there are no bears. They’re not as predictable as the pandas of course and so it is a joy when I go and find the bears out swimming and having fun with each other.
Thanks for all the hard work.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Your article is very motivational and wonderfully vivid. I have always been intrigued by polar bears and know that your experience must have been amazing!
Steve