STRIVE Prep – Montbello and STRIVE Prep – Excel took memorable trips out to Mission: Wolf for a wolf lickin’, tree cuttin’, hay stackin’, night hikin’, stargazin’ good time! During our stay at the sanctuary, we had the opportunity to participate in a number of exciting activities; some highlights included team-building games, a night hike through Carcass Canyon, an adventurous and challenging night hike summiting a mountain, and a crystal-clear sky perfect for stargazing.

While we made sure there was plenty of time for play, we also participated in fun, educational service-learning work that helped us expand our knowledge about the ecosystem in which the wolves live. The students from STRIVE Prep – Montbello assisted in clearing trees in the San Isabel National Forest, which aids in preventing forest fires. The wood we collected will be used in the future to keep Mission Wolf staff and volunteers warm when the cold winter months return.  The students of STRIVE Prep – Excel were also pro-active in helping Mission: Wolf by stacking hay for the resident horses to eat and helping prepare the garden for summer planting.

In addition to understanding the importance of wolves in the ecosystem, both groups were able to participate in the feeding of the wolves.  It is amazing to watch this interaction as the wolves become very excited and talkative.  During our stay, we also took some time to learn basic survival skills and practiced how to make fire by friction (followed by a beginners class on S’more Making).  Students were so persistent in getting an ember and so close to busting a fire we could smell the wood burning and see the smoke, impressive work for their first time bow-drilling!

Last but not least, we would like to give a huge “Thank you” to the Mission: Wolf staff for their ongoing support of our programs and for continuing to educate our youth!

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Written by: Colleen Seymour, CI Instructor