PART 5: Back to Reality

Friday, October 14, 2011

After waking early this morning and completing our cleanup duties, we finally left the Tundra Buggy Lodge behind and headed back into Churchill.  We were fortunate enough to see one last bear as we headed into town, one last reminder to why we all came together for this special week.  I got to meet many great people, which was not just a great networking experience, but also inspiring.  The teenagers had some truly inspiring ideas and were genuinely excited about what they were doing.  It makes me think back to when I was their age – I think I was probably more interested in boys and soccer than being a steward for our environment.  I definitely applauded them.

As I leave Churchill and the polar bears behind and head home with my action plan in hand, to an inbox full of emails, or reality, I feel inspired, motivated and excited to take on new challenges and move my community and those around me to make a change and reduce their carbon emissions.  If not for the polar bears, then do it for yourself.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Just kidding!  We didn’t leave Churchill last night.  Fog had blanketed the town earlier in the day and unfortunately left us grounded and unable to fly.  We were put up in the rustic Northern Lights Inn, and were finally able to shower after completing the week’s No Shower Challenge!  We were woken up at 5am this morning to the sound of gunshots.  Quickly springing out of our beds we realized they were not gunshots, but the scare pistols and screamers that we got to shoot off at the Polar Bear Holding Facility, because there was a polar bear right beside the hotel!  Although it’s unfortunate to see a polar bear wander into town, it was interesting to see all that we learned at the facility put into action for the safety of the Churchill residents, and the polar bear. 

We finally got off to Winnipeg, but upon arrival was welcomed by more bad news.   Since I won’t be able to get out of here until tomorrow morning now, I think I’ll partake in a little retail therapy!

I will leave you with a poem I wrote during my inspiring time on the Tundra Buggy Lodge.  Apparently I’m a poet, and I didn’t even know it! Enjoy! 

Polar Bear, Oh Polar Bear

Polar bear, oh polar bear, will you feel harm?

Will you feel harm when the Arctic continues to warm?

Polar bear, oh polar bear, where will you go?

Where will you go in a world with no snow?

Polar bear, oh polar bear, what will you be?

What will you be when you can’t get to sea?

Polar bear, oh polar bear, will it suffice?

Will it suffice when you can’t hunt on ice?

Polar bear, oh polar bear, will you feel defeat?

Will you feel defeat when you can’t eat?

Polar bear, oh polar bear, how can we assist?

How can we assist so you continue to persist?

Marla, oh Marla, it’s no great debate,

One way you can help is to educate!

Take all that you’ve learned from this opportunity,

And be a leader in your community!

Together as one, we can change our way,

So that Ursus maritimus, the polar bear, is here to stay!


Find more on my journey to Churchill here:

Off to Change the World

Part 1 | The Beginning of an Adventure

Off to Change the World

Part 1 | The Beginning of an Adventure

Part 2 | Greetings from Churchill!

Part 3 | Looking into the Eyes of a Big White Bear

Part 4 | Tying it All Together