SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL
Northeast Wisconsin Chapter

A Tale of Two AWLS

by Roberta Windus, AWLS graduate 2008 and 2010 Lena Agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor NEW SCI Board of Directors Member

 

I have had the honor and privilege to be chosen to represent the Northeast Wisconsin Safari Club International Chapter on two American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) tours. Wyoming and Iowa!

 

In the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to fly to the beautiful Jackson Hole Wyoming to attend the AWLS camp. I have never traveled further than Kansas so the scenery was amazing! The images of the camp will be etched in my mind forever. The staff was amazing from the teachers to the cooking staff to the cleaning crew! I have had so many “firsts” that it was unforgettable. In Wyoming it was the first time I tied a fly, the first time I went white water rafting just to mention a few. The staff was comprised of experts brought in from all over the United States. We got state of the art environmental education curriculum that is used on a daily basis in my classroom. I will never forget my experiences at AWLS Wyoming and am forever grateful to the NEW SCI chapter for sponsoring me.

 

This past summer I traveled to Iowa to attend the American Wilderness Leadership School. I must admit I was thinking I’ve been to Wyoming what can Iowa offer me? This camp and staff exceeded my expectations and then some! The personal welcome you get when you come and the way that they immediately make you feel like family was awesome! From the start of the workshop to the end we were doing hands on activities! A lot of what I learned in WY was reiterated and enhanced in Iowa. My flies were better in Iowa, and I got to learn to cast and caught a fish! My GPS and compass skills were enhanced and we were taught how to use this with our students. My shooting skills on the other hand could use a few more trips to IA and WY! I am still in awe with the lifelong friends and memories that I’ve made in Iowa and all of the excellent hands on learning that went on, Ajay and his staff are second to none!

 

So I’ve completed AWLS WY and IA… comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges! Both offer EXCELLENT educational opportunities that anyone would be fortunate to encounter. I thank my lucky stars every day that I happened to stumble across a wonderful organization in SCI that is so willing to support teachers and education and I hope to pass my message on to many more students and colleagues!

 

 

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