This past weekend I and a few other peers from CCL tagged along with some of the Lake Forest College students and their professors, Ben Goluboff and Glenn Adelson on a environmental studies trip to southwestern Wisconsin.

We started at the Madison, WI Farmer’s Market, which happens to be the biggest in the country! It had such beautiful produce, such as apples, Brussels sprouts, radishes, peppers, and much, much more! They were absolutely delicious!!

We then visited the International Crane Foundation which we learned was started by two students obtaining their Ph.Ds back in the ’70s. We definitely learned a lot there! They have all 15 species of cranes, and 4 had to come from Africa because that’s where they are native. They have around 150 cranes at the reserve, even the most endangered crane—the whooping crane. They are all such large majestic birds! Some even appear to have afro’s, but really, it is just feathers: long, thin feathers which we got to see close up!We also saw the costume in which they train the baby cranes who  are born in captivity. They literally dress up as cranes and teach them how to eat and fly utilizing a puppet.

All the college kids had an animal or plant assigned to them, and each time we saw one they would have to tell us facts about it. We learned an abundance of facts, including things about the Oak tree, the Northeastern Blue Bird, the White Pine, Beaver, Pileated Woodpecker, Quaking Aspen and more. We also got to hear a couple of passages written by Aldo Leopold, and we learned all about the extinction of the passenger pigeon.

We went to Devil’s Lake, which is a huge basin formed by glaciers. All around Devil’s lake there is purple tinited quartzite. It is such a beautiful view, almost as marvelous as Wolf Mountain and Yondota Falls back from our previous trip to the North Woods of Wisconsin.

We also stopped by to see the confluence between the Mississippi (Big Muddy) and Wisconsin River (The hardest working river). We have learned that Big Muddy got his name from the numerous land formations along it, and the hardest working river got its name from the numerous paper mills, dams, etc. that it contributes its powers to. We also learned of the different dances that the Indians used to do for the Mississippi so that it would not flood!

All the places we visited have been a breath-taking experience! I would definitely do it again! I guarantee I speak for all of us when I say, that this was such a fantastic trip, and also I would like to thank Susie, and the professors for giving us this sensational opportunity!

New Vocabulary Word:

Confluence: The flowing together of rivers or streams.

Karla P. Figueroa