Out WEST!

Out WEST!

Out WEST!

Five people in winter gear smiling in a snowy landscape, holding antlers and a skull. Bright blue sky and snow-covered hills in the background.
Heading Outdoors with the Willson Environmental Stewardship Team as they visit Yellowstone National Park with Conservation Nation

Can you imagine the excitement of being a young girl and leaving your middle school in Cleveland to embark on a visit to Yellowstone National Park to work alongside a real wolf biologist? And not just any wolf biologist, but an amazing young Black woman who grew up in the same place as you and is now one of the world experts on wolves?

This dream became a reality for Darinay, Ja’Mya, and Haniyah, three girls from the Willson School in Cleveland, Ohio, as they set out with teachers Teresa Imm and Natalie Simmons in February 2025 for the adventure of a lifetime. Conservation Nation was proud to help sponsor this trip though our Rewilding Collective and provide a truly special and unique experience for the girls hosted by our amazing Education & Engagement Facilitator, Taylor Rabe. Taylor has been an integral part of Conservation Nation’s story since becoming our inaugural Fellow in 2021, and her work on the Yellowstone Wolf Project has led to great advancements in bioacoustics research and our understanding of wolf biology.

The girls were in awe the first day as they peered through Taylor’s spotting scope to observe a pack of wolves laying down and resting. Over the next few days, they trudged across the wintery landscape on snowshoes, learned how to count the number of wolves in a pack, practiced using radio telemetry to locate radio-collared wolves hidden in the sage brush, and discovered how to use a GPS tracker to find the acclimation pen where the original wolves were kept 30 years ago during the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. Along the way, they had many memorable adventures, including the experience of being stuck in a “bison jam” when several bison decided that traveling on the road was much easier than through the snow!

By day 4 of the trip, the girls were feeling confident and brave. They used hoks, a type of ski used by members of the Wolf Project to travel in the field when there is lots of snow, and skied over half a mile to a bison kill site. When they arrived at the bison carcass, they discovered scavengers feeding on it. A fox, magpie, and raven were looking for leftovers to eat! With Taylor’s guidance, the girls determined that the bison was young based on the size of its horns. They also noted that there were no signs of wolves because no blood was found at the scene. The girls had to remove a front tooth from the bison and bone marrow from the bison femur to complete the necropsy of the kill. Returning to Taylor’s office, the girls completed a report with their findings in the field. Definitely not your typical school day!

In addition to learning from Taylor, the girls spent time with many Conservation Nation partners and friends to provide a truly exceptional experience. They learned about filmmaking with legendary wildlife cinematographer Bob Landis and studied cougar biology with Dr. Jack Rabe; they practiced using spotting scopes with renowned wolf expert and author Rick McIntyre; and they explored wolf tracks and the different teeth of canines, felines and bears with Jim Halfpenny at his Tracking Education Center. On the last night of the trip they met Jeremy SunderRaj, also a biologist with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, who has been working with Rick McIntyre observing wolves since he was 11 years old. A highlight of the trip came when Jeremy shared some previously unseen footage of wolves in the park filmed by Bob Landis!
Programming like this allows students to get a firsthand look at real life science in the field. This is seeing beyond what they might view on television or social media. More than that, it is science that no textbook will ever be able to duplicate for our students. I truly believe that doing this kind of work with our students prepares them for their future. Even if those futures do not include science, our students have learned the importance and value of protecting the environment. —Teresa Imm

We are thrilled to have the Willson School participate in the Conservation Nation Academy and look forward to many more adventures with them.

Enjoy this video made by Out WEST! about their adventure in Yellowstone:

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