News and Views from Discovery Southeast Spring 2002 and the peaks, streams and bays. He asked his Secret Places readers to settle for just the story, leaving the Richard Carstensen Land of Large Bears to its furry denizens. It was Three friends once walked for ten days through a land so rich that small almost a fair trade; the essay was a masterpiece. bears detoured in fear of their propertied elders. Let’s call it the Land of The three friends reviewed the draft and Large Bears. begged the author to purge all place names and That country burned permanently into the friends’ hearts. Except to directions. To their surprise, he accepted. I hope their closest acquaintances, others who understood the fragility of wild- his decision is noted not only by other nature ness, they never spoke of the long walk. They knew those ten wild days writers, but by earth stewards everywhere. were unrepeatable. Backcountry is shrinking. The press of humanity on Those who advertise wild land for whatever rea- Manhattan and its satellites can’t be quarantined. son — to fill a kayak trip or cruiseship, to hold A few years later one of the three friends caught wind of a book chainsaws at bay, to prop up sagging timber or project. A writer and photographer planned a trek into the Land of Large fishing economies, to instruct us from the ecol- Bears! Shocked, he asked to join the expedition, hoping to convince the ogy of untrammeled places, or simply in purest journalists that to such a place their art was costly. praise — all need to ask how deeply we can dip The lobbying effort was half successful. The book’s best photos from the well of wildness before it goes dry. showed the Land of Large Bears, but bore few captions. Little was written There’s a conundrum in sharing wildness. of the long walk. Meantime, boats and floatplanes dropped a few more When a place teaches me something, I try to parties each year into the bears’ bedroom. take people there with words and images. But The book’s author was moved by the country, but could not agree that the wildest places with the richest lessons are secrecy was a viable strategy for the protection of charismatic places. He least inured to social calls. I crumple drafts and wrote a follow-up essay about his experience, naming his companions, cross out place names, feeling like a conflicted evangelist who fears to identify the home of God. Such feelings are less unusual than we might guess. Richard Nelson says that the Koyu- kon teach children not to point at mountains. Pointing shows disrespect. If we considered it as rude to point at mountains as toward the person across the street, imagine how that would change our relationship to nature! Such circumspections may open more doors than they close. Like knocking on wood or continued on page 4 In this issue Secret places .............................. 1 Discovery news ............................ 3 Winter adaptations .......... ............ 9 Night Lights Contributors ................................ 10 NASA, 11/27/00 Members Honor Roll ...................11 Board of Directors From the board Barbara Sheinberg, President Mike Stanley Mike Stanley, Vice President In most of the Discovery Southeast newsletters, this space is reserved for Alex Wertheimer, Secretary comments by the executive director. In the last newsletter, it was the Presi- Jenifer Shapland, Treasurer dent’s Corner and was written by Barb Sheinberg, who has been working Sue Baxter Dave Haas tirelessly on behalf of Discovery since the departure of Jono McKinney in Marie Larsen mid-December. This time, I’ll take the pen in hand – more accurately, put Marie Olson the keyboard under my fingers – and bring you up to date on some of what Beth Potter is happening with the organization. Kristen Romanoff We are still searching for an executive director to lead Discovery into Joyce Sarles the future. We completed one round of interviews in March – including Florence Sheakley bringing two applicants to Juneau for interviews in person – but didn’t find the right “fit” between them and us. We’ve undertaken a second Staff Interim Director round of searching, and several intriguing candidates have surfaced. We’ll Jan Carlile be interviewing them shortly and hope to fill the vacancy soon. The board Naturalists understands the importance of an executive director for Discovery, and Diane Antaya Harborview is committed to finding the best person for the job. Much thanks to those Richard Carstensen At large board members and staff who are on the hiring committee for all the time Walt Chapman Gastineau, Vanderbilt they have put in on this effort. Kathy Hocker At large In the meantime, we are moving forward. Administrative Assistant Steve Merli Glacier Valley/MRCS Jan Carlile has stepped in as interim director, and is doing a wonder- Nonna Shtipleman Auke Bay,Vanderbilt ful job managing the organization day-to-day. Tracey Miller is keeping Apprentices Alison Kromm the books up-to-date and preparing the necessary financial reports for the Terry Schwarz board. Kathy Hocker has been working on program issues and coordi- Kate Savage nating among the naturalists. And board member Kristen Romanoff is Darren Snyder giving a lot of her time helping in the office wherever she can.We extend Administration a hearty “thank you” to each of them for helping keep the ship afloat. Tracey Miller Bookkeeper I also want to note the efforts of my fellow board members. In particu- Susan Phillips Membership Vol lar, the board stepped up to the plate for this year’s auction, which was a success. Board members spent many hours planning for and putting on the Discoveries is published by Discovery auction, and were gratified that it went as smoothly as it did, even without Southeast, Southeast Alaska’s leading source an executive director around to tell us what to do. for natural history and I guess the point I’m getting at here, is that Discovery is fortunate to conservation education. A non–profit educa- tion organization founded in Juneau, Alaska, have a dedicated board and staff who are truly committed to this organiza- in 1989, Discovery Southeast promotes tion. As difficult as it is to function without an executive director, we’ve direct, hands-on learning from nature. Dis- been up to the challenge. Of course, we’ll all be relieved when we have a covery Southeast presents natural science new leader, but until then, Discovery is operating just fine. Please forgive and outdoor education programs for youth, me for “tooting our own horn,” but I just wanted to share with you, our adults, and teachers in communities through- valuable members and newsletter readers, what I have seen with the orga- out Southeast Alaska. By engaging youth nization in these last few months. and adults in the study of nature, Discovery Southeast naturalists deepen and enrich the connections between the people of Southeast Alaska and nature. Editor Carstensen Writers Carstensen, Merli Illustrations Carstensen, Kromm Discovery Southeast PO Box 21867, Juneau, AK 99802 907/463–1500 phone • 463–1587 fax • Spring 2002 00 Auction Thank-yous Bear Education Nonna Shtipelman Discovery Southeast would like to thank the Juneau is definitely bear country! And although many of us have seen many contributors and volunteers who made this bears walking through our yards, or along trails, streams and roads, few year’s auction a great success. This fundraising of us understand their behavior or biology. Unfortunately, not under- event helps to bring our Nature Studies Program standing bears often leads to problems with them. Discovery SE has to Juneau’s elementary school children. obtained a small grant from the City & Borough of Juneau to present 30- th th th Hearthside Books, Rainy Day Books, Lady Jane minute bear awareness programs to every 6 , 7 ad 8 grade classroom Mulready, Ricky D., Joe Geifer, Pavia Wald, Larry in Juneau’s two middle schools. Naturalists will work with students to Holland, Mary Pat Schilly, Scott Miller, Keith Bunny, understand basic bear behavior, promote safety in bear-human interac- John Day, David Sturdevant, Brenna Heinz, Tracey Miller, Susan Phillips, Kathy Hocker, Diane Antaya, tions, and encourage students to treat bears with respect. Programs will Nonna Shtipelman, Walt Chapman, Tiffany Wells, also focus on the importance of proper garbage storage and disposal. Michaela Fowler, Elena Ruddy, Nathan Goodwin, Heidi In other bear education program news, we submitted a funding pro- Geist, Kjersten Criss, Matt Greeley, Eddie Jacobson, Sara Cohen, Eve Schroeder, Rachelle Sloss, Laurie posal to the Alaska Conservation Foundation to support this year’s Bears Heagy, Deb Rudis, Debbie Tillinghast, Brita Bishop, of Admiralty Teachers’ Expedition, and plan to apply for additional bear Nicki Germain, Clancy DeSmet, Alice Hadsel, Claire education funding through Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Wild- Pavia, Marinke Van Gelder, Karin Wigen, Andy Romanoff, Scott Miller, Taku Graphics, Taku Smokeries, life Conservation, Education and Viewing Expansion Programs. Marcy and Jeoff Larson, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Juneau, Costco Wholesale, Alaska and Proud Foodland Supermarket, Super Bear, Alaska Natural History Association, Carr’s, Melvin and Bernice, KJ & Discovery Days Peggy Metcalf, Friends of Admiralty, Bob Armstrong, Alison Kromm Laughlin and Dunlap, Fish ‘n’ Fly Charters, Alex Wertheimer, Dave Haas & Fred Hiltner, Peter Wright, What leaves tracks ten times the size of a Snowshoe Hare and giggles Auke Bay Landing Craft and Excavation, Wings of uncontrollably? A kid on a Discovery Day trip! On February 19 and Alaska, White Pass Yukon Route, White Pass and March 11, Discovery Southeast hosted Discovery Days, nature day Yukon Route, Wings of Alaska, Scott & Betsy Fisher, rd th Foggy Mountain Shop, Rob and Koren Bosworth, Beth camps for 3 and 4 graders.