Kids Ask Why?

Wyoming winters are often blanketed in beautiful snow but living around snow has its challenges for both animals and humans. In this episode, Stella and Bowen talk with Corey Anco, the Curator of the Draper Natural History Museum, to discover the survival strategies of animals who live under the snow. Shelby and Elise talk about snowflake structure and the danger of avalanches with Frank Carus, the director of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center.

On this episode of Kids Ask Why, we learn about biodiversity and how things like bugs, skunks and sagebrush are all interconnected. Cedar and Leena speak with former Curator of the Draper Natural History Museum, Nathan Doerr, about wildlife food chains in Wyoming. Rory and Addie interview plant ecologist, Trevor Bloom, about the importance of plants like sagebrush to the ecosystem.

In this episode Lucio and Kai speak with Jenn Runs Close To Lodge a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe living on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. They learn about the challenges of being Native American, gain understanding of another culture, and learn ways they can fight against racism. Vassilissa and Caleb speak with Sam Mihara who was interned at the Heart Mountain Camp during World War II. Sam tells them about his life in the camp including school, food, and what they did for fun despite the prison living conditions. He emphasizes how important freedom and rights are for all people in the United States.

Cinch and Chauncey Dalton have been ranchers their whole lives, and they explained all about branding cattle in Wyoming. Cali Jo Johnson comes from a family of rodeo riders. She helps listeners understand about youth rodeo and her family’s strong connection to their horses.

Every community in Wyoming seems to have a summer event (or more) that will attract visitors and locals and help to celebrate the resources in the area.