With the school year starting again, and classes resuming I return back to campus. But, it’s not to say that the summer I had was very short but it was very eventful. Right before I did go to work I went up to Waupaca for a twenty one pilots listening party, but more of that is on my music blog. I also had a few other listening parties and music related events but those are for another time. For now, we discuss the other stuff that happened….this summer.
My Time at Upham
In May after finals I started my job at Upham Woods. On my first day of work, I met Mark who told me that there’s always one tornado a year here, and on my second day of work we were under a tornado warning. So, me and my new coworkers had to do skits for a middle school group of kids to not freak them out about the weather happening around us.
But, one of the main things I had to do for my job was feed the animals. We had a snapping turtle (Egor), two three-toed box turtles (Larry and Midge) two painted turtles (Big Mama and Little Mama), an American toad, a gray tree frog and a Hondurian milk snake who passed away on my last day of work (Leche). I taught youth (and adults) the wonders of amphibians and reptiles and drove a truck for the first time with my coworker Laura to an outreach program my second to last day of work.
Other things I had to do was teach youth about teamwork, orienteering, how to survive in the wilderness and the food chain (but also the food web). I also got to do the riveting campfire starting and got to do skits/songs like we were back at camp. Our groups were mostly 4-H in the peak of summer, but we got some other groups as well. I had to liaison some groups but it was all fun and good.
I had fun with my coworkers, got to create fun memories of them but also got to take funny pictures/videos of nature around us because we all had a love for nature.
The best part about my job was Peach, the kitten I found. Mark (my very unreliable coworker) told me there was a kitten outside, I didn’t believe him because his motto was “gotta teach them about distrust” but there was a kitten. Me and my three coworkers were able to corner it, and one caught her in a net. I adopted her and now Peach is my cat.
Missouri & Canada
Not only did I work, I did a bit of travelling. I went to Missouri with my dad, and the night we got there….we were under a tornado watch. But, we did spelunking, got to go to Dogwood National Park and visit the Bill Clinton Presidential Library (I need to get all the stamps). It was a fun trip, but we were also in the cicada swarm. I have a new found hate for cicadas by how many flew into me and into my hair. But, at the end of all of the vacation we finished it up with a walk in the park by the Mississippi River.
Then, after my last day of work I headed to Canada. My mom and I flew into Toronto for a Glass Animals concert. On the first day we went up to the CN Tower after we experienced a thunderstorm right when we were heading into the city. We got to do the CNE (Canadian National Exhibit), got to flex my dairy knowledge and I got to try interesting foods. Even got to go to a Latvian cultural center, and I upgraded the seats for the concert a few hours before the doors opened. Even got to spend a day in Niagara Falls and be on the Rainbow Bridge. It was a fun trip, and I missed my opportunity to exchange my money so now I’m stuck with Canadian money.
Heading back to Campus
But now, it’s time to go back to campus. I embark on my new adventure, with new challenges and I hope to just have a great semester. So far, as I write this I’m excited finishing up my first week of classes and I can’t wait to see what else happens this semester.
