1st grader William met a boa constrictor in Mexico:

“We went to El Refugio de Potosi, near Zihvatanejo, Mexico. They take care of sick or hurt animals and make them better. The picture of Buddy is with a boa constrictor!”

2nd grader Drake visited Cumberland Caverns, TN:

“We went to a cave in Tennessee and it was big. The cave is 27.6 miles long. It was discovered over 200 years ago. It was so much fun!”

1st grade students visited Kemil Beach in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore:

“On November 11, 2011, Buddy Bison went with the Discovery School’s first grade to Kemil Beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The first grade was exploring the Dunes habitat. They were looking for animal homes and signs of hibernation.”

3rd grader Sander took Buddy to Coffee Creek to see salmon:

“On Sunday, October 23, 2011, Buddy went to Coffee Creek. I don’t know if Buddy liked it, but I did! We watched salmon on a log. Also we jumped two times over a polluted creek. We had a great time.”

NOVEMBER 2011

Discovery Charter School heads to the trails

October 12th was Buddy Bison's first opportunity to hike in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with students from Discovery Charter School in Porter, IN. Mrs. Essany's third grade students were excited because they were taking a long hike on parts of the trail they had not yet explored. They were also excited to have Buddy Bison along, and worked out a plan so that each student would be able to carry Buddy for part of the journey. It was a beautiful fall day, and the students looked for signs of the season — colorful leaves, acorns and walnuts on the ground, and fungus growing on an old log!

Discovery students hiking across a bridge.