So...this is my last blog at the Tundra Buggy Lodge. Words can not express the thoughts and feelings that I have, but I'll try. It's been the best experience that I have ever had.

Before I was selected for this trip I wasn't sure that I was going to apply. I was debating on whether I could win something of this magnitude. I often found myself thinking, "How could someone like me get selected for something like that?" I didn't think I had what it took to get selected. The day of the first informational meeting for this wonderful opportunity I was still unsure whether or not I was even going to apply until...I talked to my French teacher, Mme. Stanley. I was telling her about the trip, and that I was feeling unsure. She was very shocked and surprised and said "Zoe, you absolutely have to do this. What's the worst that could happen?" I took this into consideration and I applied. Little did I know what was to come. I knew it was going to big but I never ever expected this. This was beyond anything my mind could have ever dreamt up.

When I think back to what my life was like before this experience and how I thought that I knew what was going on and how to do everything...I now see that I was quite wrong. Part of me feels bad that I was so naive about what was happening but part of me is happy and hopeful. I'm looking forward to how I can change and make it all better. My life is no longer one of a simplistic teenager. I feel as if I now have the power to do things that I couldn't do before. Without this experience, these people, and this whole trip, I would not be who I really want to be. I feel as if I am a new person. I am not usually a person that likes my personality or my life to change or like it when that happens. This time is different. I am embracing the change and I very happy for it. Eager for it to happen.

When I came here, and everyone said that we were a family, I thought "Oh yeah, that's cool", not really thinking it would shape into that. I am now a believer. These people ARE my family and I'm not sure what I would do without them. They have done so much for me. Since it's just me and my mom at home, I don't have a large family and I don't think of family as a very big thing or a very big support network. These people are now so important to me. I feel as if they are actually my family. I would do anything for them. Thank you so much for all you have done; you just don't know what you have done for me. I am grateful for this trip because it changed the course of my life. What's the most important thing...to me? Ruth, Lindsay, Shelby, Becca, Sam, Breanna, Donald, James, Sean, Bri, Sarah, Jules, Amy, Hillary, Lisa, Lisa-Joy, Debbie, Karyne, Robert, Robert, Robert, Kathy, and Carolyn.

That's what is important to me. They are my family and I love them. Thank you Polar Bears International...for changing my life! Now I am ready to go out and change the world!

Hey mom! I wasn't sure if you would be at work or not so I decided to email both places. The last few days have been life altering amazing. I don't even know how to explain it. You know how I never cry at like anything? Like any speeches, movies, songs, books, nothing? Well I can't say that anymore. I was BAWLING on Sunday night. Robert Buchanan gave a speech and it was so powerful so personal, so moving that right in the middle of it I started crying my eyes out. I was so upset with what people have done to the earth, the environment, and somehow by accident, the polar bears. It was quite an emotional night. But later on that night we got to see one of the most beautiful northern lights shows in was just completely exhilarating.
So I told you how we saw a family of three? a mom and her 2 cubs. they are quite adorable. Well we have seen them out in the tundra buggy everyday since I have been here. Unfortunately we only got to see them from about 2 football fields away it was still amazing to see them moving and to also see how they act around each other as a family. But the really amazing part was, last night they actually came into camp! It was awesome! I can't even begin to tell you. (I am actually so moved by it right now that I am almost in tears AGAIN)
The little cubs came up to the tires and stood on all fours and looked RIGHT into my eyes! It was SOOO amazing. Imagine the feeling and the thrill you would get if you had an animal so rare so threatened so GREAT staring YOU right in the eye. It was completely bone chilling. However I was sad that they came at night so we didn't get the best of pictures but guess what. They came back AGAIN this morning! It was great!! I will attach you a picture of the adorable little bear the one that is quite quite curious! Then at 9:30 this morning we all went out in FIVE helicopters and traveled ALL OVER the tundra and all the way over towards the Boreal forests where we landed. We got out and, man, was it weird. It's like walking onto a field of marshmallows but it doesn't look like that at all. It looks mossy and like lettuce. It's really fun to walk on.
This is where we went to go into the maternal den! We had a great view! The den had somewhat collapsed but we did get to sit inside it which was nice. We also had an amazing view of the water! I have gotten some great shots of the sunset and the water, and the bears of course!
It's quite funny. Up until yesterday we hadn't been off the buggy or the lodge for well, basically since we got here, and yesterday we got to step foot to the ground for the first time. It's weird to be feeling weird that we haven't touched the ground, if that makes sense. On the way back on the helicopters we saw some moose, and we also were shown the Northern Studies Center building. That's what it is now. But I guess it was built during the cold war by the US and they used to launch rockets off from there. They haven't fired any rockets for decades, but the pilot showed us how false their firing was. We flew over to show us like 5 rockets that were supposed to go like miles away but just went crashing deep into the ground. Anyway it's been a great awesome time! We have done 3 teleconferences, which was cool in itself. All in all this has definitely been a life changing experience for the better!
I can't wait to see you! You know how you forwarded my earlier email to everyone? Well I can't wait to come home and get everyone I know on board with what needs to happen. I look forward to seeing you!
Love, Zoe

Hey everyone! So it's been a very interesting past 24 hours. As you might have read in my blog yesterday we saw BEARS for the first time and it was so unbelievably exciting that I didn't think that the day could have gotten any better but it DID! That night we got to see the NORTHERN LIGHTS again!! This time it was so vivid, and man, was it beautiful. It was teeth-shatteringly freezing outside but it was really cool how we all came together to watch the lightshow and keep each other warm. We stayed outside for a good hour as we "oohed" and "ahhed" and tried to take pictures. We ended the night by listening the Aussies sing. It was quite an ending to an amazing day!

When we were out in the Tundra Buggy today we saw some wonderful views of the Hudson Bay. Just as we were heading back to the Lodge, James (ambassador from Alaska) casually said, "Look, it's a bear" and we all raced to the windows to take millions of pictures. It was the mother and her two cubs again and we even saw them wade through the shallow water. They are such beautiful creatures; they move so gracefully. They are amazing and yet they don't even realize how special they are. We watched the bears for about 30 minutes and then made our way back to the Lodge for some special guests.

After a quick lunch, Betty, Jim and Patrick told us how it was growing up as trappers and their hunting and trapping way of life. They showed us hides of red fox, wolf, sable and beaver. I normally would not support hunting or trapping, but they explained their philosophy and practices in a way that made me understand a new point of view. It was very informative and I enjoyed listening.

Our second special guest was Kevin who grew up in Churchill. He was my favorite speaker so far. He was so down to earth. He said things in a way that I could relate to...even though the stories he told were about things I would never dream of doing. He was a great speaker and inspired me to explore the things that he does and perhaps do something like working with the polar bears in the future. I wouldn't mind learning more from him. He was very inspirational.

Today we also had the nice experience of hearing 2 of the 4 groups present chapters of the book Impacts of a Warming Arctic. They were both very good and gave me some more information and things to say when I get back to Washington and give talks. I loved hearing the different ways people came up with to present; for example one group presented the information through a game show, the other through a debate. They both conveyed

We are also preparing for our video conferences with students. We have each been assigned questions and have to find ways to answer them accurately and appropriately for the students who are asking them. It's our first real chance to represent PBI. I am quite excited.

Well, I am about to go off to dinner and then help plan our presentation for tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll add videos to see! Hope everyone's good back in Washington! See you in awhile!

'night,
Zoe

Oh boy! This is the day we have all been waiting for...THE BEARS!! It was a life changing experience. I was expecting to see one maybe two bears, but we were luckier than that - we saw THREE bears and what made it even better was that it was a mother bear and her two cubs. It was so...so...so amazing that it is beyond words to explain, but I will try my best to give you the day through my eyes.

The day started with the wonderful Robert Buchanan waking us up by singing (let me tell you it was quite the experience). We ate breakfast and then we were sadly informed that we were going to stay at the lodge while some of the staff went out to see if they could find where the polar bears were hanging out. While we stayed at the lodge, we had a discussion about presentations we would give when we got home and how to answer some challenging questions that might be asked. This was very nice to hear and learn about, BUT as we were intensely talking we were asked to pack up quickly and we were off to the TUNDRA!

We drove out on the cold tundra for awhile and on the way we were lucky to see an Artic Hare. It was very pretty and sat there for quite awhile letting us taking millions of photos. We then moved on and Eva (the ambassador from Denmark) having eyes like an eagle saw the bears in the distance! We all quickly raced to that side of the buggy and tried to take as many pictures as possible even though the bears were about a 1/2 mile out and could only be seen with binoculars. We then started to move forward and ended up following the bears for around 2 1/2 hours. The mother at one time settled down and we thought she was going to nurse but she didn't. We did, however, get to move closer to her and her cubs. One of her cubs was especially rambunctious, always trailing behind and not sleeping when it's mother and cub mate were. This was a very exhilarating experience, giving me chills the whole time. I also learned many things. The cubs turned out to be COY, which are also known as Cub Of the Year, around 9 months of age. Knowing that made it more real for me; it was all just so sureal.

I am so excited that we saw the bears! I can not even begin to tell you. After having some false "sightings" in the middle of the night it was very exciting and exhilarating to see the real thing. Last night we even got to see a bit of the Northern Lights, which I must tell you was just awesome. Although it was cloudy and they weren't very bright, it was totally worth it.

Right now we are enjoying the beautiful sunset on the horizon. We just saw the sun go down. To have never seen the sun go down from start to finish it was a beautiful experience. We are now about to go off to dinner and then we are learning about video conferencing. This was the most fascinating and life altering day! I'm off to dinner and maybe another sigthing? Okay...goodnight!

Zoe

Oh my goodness...this has been such a unbelievable shell-shocking time! I am not even sure where to start. I got in at 10:15am on thursday and everything kind of just ran from there. We had a lot of fun listening to and getting to know everyone that came from many different locations around the world. Through bouts of sleepiness we all got to meet past camp attendees among MANY others that all had some tidbits of information at the PBI Alumni dinner. It was great to hear from people who had actually experienced the camp and how they looked at it and what they were doing now. They all gave us some very insightful ideas of what to do and what to be prepared for. We then got these WONDERFUL Canada Goose coats. They are very comfy and warm! They were donated to us and I am very greatful (because it did get a bit nippy today). Then we were off to bed because we had to be up and ready by 5 am to catch our flight up to beautiful Churchill.
We got to Churchill and toured the town, which was fascinating. The people of Churchill have such a different mentality than that of anyone I know or am used to seeing. They aren't constantly on their cell phones and their form of normal transportation is driving around town at high speeds on quads. They are very friendly. We learned that Churchill is a port for grain and that they get a lot of tourists for the bear season (around 11,000 per year). We also got to go to the Parks Canada Visitor Center and it was very interesting. They had a replica of a maternal den for a polar bear mother and her cubs and we also got to see what a real life polar bear looked like because the the center had a polar bear skin. It was very big.
We then headed towards the 'polar bear jail'. I think that was one of the more exciting things we did. I didn't expect to see such a facility. The polar bear jail is a place to keep the bears that wander into town and don't leave easily. We also learned some really fascinating things like how the polar bears are only there for about a month and that the most bears that they have released at one time was 29.
We then started on our wonderful trip to the Tundra Buggy launch. On the way there we saw that some houses have mats with nails sticking up out of them. We learned that this is so that bears will not come up to the house and harass the humans inside. We got to the Tundra Buggy launch, boarded the Tundra Buggy and after a long ride out across the beautiful tundra we boarded the Lodge and started unloading everything!
The bunks are very homey and warm. We even have little windows to look outside. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any polar bears tonight, but they assured us that before we know it we will be seeing them. We just ate dinner and now are finishing up our blogs. It's been quite a long day but it was totally worth it. I am thrilled and blessed that I get to be here and am greatly looking forward to what is to come. That's all for now, talk to you soon.

Zoe