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Nov 22nd, 2009:
Tom`s Page
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RMWF Gift Shop Opens
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Pups in Summer.
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More Pup Pictures
May 16, 2009:
Fund Raiser Update
Alex's Story
It had all started one warm California afternoon as I was studying for a final. Cramming would probably be a better word, and the economics test wasn't looking to be an easy one. I had been staring at the same page for a while, and all I was seeing was meaningless words - a sure sign that I needed to take a break.
Closing my book and putting it aside, I remember glancing out the window and seeing the endless expanse of blue sky overhead. I think it was at that moment that I decided that I needed to take another kind of break. Something that would break the monotony of the college grind, and just get away from the city life for a while. Hectic mornings, rush hour traffic jams, retail part-time job, late nights - the city vices were all slowly taking their toll. However, summer was approaching and in that I saw a chance.
Keep in mind that I'm an economics major at UC - Irvine (Orange County, California). City born and raised for 22 years among the streets of Los Angeles, the hectic city life is all I've known. However, change was what I needed, so I turned to the Internet on a whim. I was looking for an opportunity that I could take advantage of that would be a welcome change, yet would not cost me any major funds. Getting away from the city life would also definitely be a major plus, though my main objective was just avoiding another long boring summer of classes and retail job, while trying to avoid accruing too much monetary obligations. From this point though, things became a bit blurred.
I had turned to the Internet and searched for the only seeming thing that fit the criteria in my mind - a volunteer opportunity for the summer. However, I had a few requirements in mind: an interesting opportunity away from the city, not a sedentary desk nor retail job, and if possible live-in accommodations. From those few requirements sprung a search that spanned months, and visited opportunities ranging from building houses across America to... wolf sanctuaries?
The idea immediately intrigued me, and sparked a more in-depth search that eventually led me to a few seeming decent choices for volunteering for the summer. However, as I did more research on the actual work done by the volunteers at these institutions, I began to become a bit discouraged. At many of these institutions, a majority of the volunteer’s time was seemingly spent in gift shops, or other similar tasks (discouraging because I work a retail job alongside schooling). As well, many of the places stated that interaction with the animals was minimal if any at all, unless you had a long history with the institution. Now, don’t get me wrong - these places sounded like a decent change regardless, and despite everything I had bookmarked a few of the places and sent out inquiry e-mails. However, my search came to rest when I came across this foundation (obviously!). Perusing the website put me in a hopeful mood, and it was in this mood that I placed a long distance phone call to one Mark Johnson.
This simple call confirmed what I had hoped. A good honest work job, interaction with the animals, location in the beautiful state of Colorado (honestly, how much different can you get from California), great weather, and even live-in accommodations provided. I don’t think I could have asked for more, and with this thought in mind I tentatively began exchanging emails. After a period, it eventually escalated into finalizing plane tickets and questions about what items would be a good idea to bring. And before I knew it, the spring quarter of school had finished, and I was free for the summer.
Going into this certain summer I had come prepared. An opportunity doing something that I would probably have never known about or experienced without a change of heart, a respite from the Los Angeles city grind, and a step out of my comfort zone into something that I knew I’d remember for the rest of my life. And how right I was!
A candid little look into how my experience began - after some plane cancellations due to tornado warnings, I finally made it into the Colorado Springs airport only a few hours after scheduled. There I met Mark, and we made our way back to the sanctuary. A few hours drive, and I got to my lodging. Now, consider that I really had no idea where I would be staying (great preparation I know...). We drove up and I was greeted with the sight of a beautiful house . This was very encouraging, and my initial impression was confirmed when I went inside and proceeded with introductions and accommodation confirmations. My hosts were very friendly, and my first impression of their inn was of a family environment. I felt like I had found a home away from home. As it was late, I was plied with a great dinner, some medicine for altitude sickness (I had come from sea level to 9600 feet in a matter of hours. As you can imagine, my head felt pretty rotten...), and shown to my bedroom. Imagine my relief at seeing electricity and plumbing (I didn’t know what to expect!). The next morning, Mark picked me up in his truck and we went over to the sanctuary, where we proceeded to finish butchering a horse with a hunting knife and a hacksaw. Oh, and we had apparently just run out of latex gloves. Thus began my two month stay at the Shiloh Inn, and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation.
My experiences at the sanctuary have been satisfyingly dynamic. Imagine my surprise and excitement that we had just had a litter of wolf pups. Working and playing with them has been a pure joy, and watching them growing and healing from their ordeal was an experience that I think will stay with me for the rest of my life. When I arrived, they were dragging their hind ends. Yesterday, Apache almost jumped on top of a 4 foot high crate in his eagerness to find the food that we ‘used to’ store on top. Playing with the rest of the now 15 wolves has also been such a satisfying experience that its really hard to put into words. Something about bonding and interacting with the wolf resonates with something within. Its an almost magical feeling, and something to take with you and remember for the rest of your life. Even now I know that this experience out here at the sanctuary will influence my actions in ways I might not even be consciously aware of for many years to come. Aside from copious amounts of interaction with the wolves, I’ve also had the opportunity to help put on presentations involving the pups within the community. Going to community centers, farmer’s markets, museums - and seeing the looks on peoples’ faces when they first realize that the ‘dog that’s not quite a dog’ that they’re looking at (or already petting and playing with) is indeed a pure timber wolf pup... Children and adults alike. Its clear to see that even the small interaction that these people receive with the wolf pups affects them.
One time in particular comes to mind, when we were at the Dinosaur Museum for Critter Days. A small child and his mother had come up to the pen to look at the pups, and the child was hanging back and looking very hesitant and scared. Upon finding out that they were indeed wolves, the mother explained briefly that the child had been very afraid of wolves due to seeing certain things on the TV. However, after seeing the pups, the mother urged the child to at least walk up the fence. Eventually the child was overcome with curiosity, as any child would be upon seeing three small puppies safely within a cage, and approached. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on his face when the ‘fierce and scary wolf’ ran up to the fence and started whining and licking at the fence, just begging for attention. Fears forgotten, the child walked up and put his hands right through the fence and started playing and petting Apache, a look of amazement and excitement on his face as he laughed in joy. I think the look on his face, and his mothers as well, will stay with me forever.
Mark’s mission is to rescue wolves and wolf-dogs, and educate about wolves. To be able to take part in this mission and really contribute my time and effort towards such a goal has been an experience that really transcends any simple desk task I might have been doing this summer. Besides working with the pups and helping with presentations, I spent a fair amount of my time just doing honest physical work out on the sanctuary. Hauling water, cleaning pens (and taking time to play with the wolves during), feeding the wolves, fire breaking (clearing dead wood) - just a few of the tasks that need to be done to keep the sanctuary running. Building pens as well is a priority, with all the new wolves that we’ve been receiving. The different tasks I’ve been able to take part in have been satisfying. Some were a bit more difficult than others (i.e. swinging a pick axe and digging up rocks to form the foundation of a new pen), but at the end of the day when I’m sitting on the deck with a cold drink, taking in the beautiful scenery and listening to the wolves howling, the feeling of satisfaction inside is incomparable. I don’t think I could have picked a better way to spend the summer.
I really urge anyone considering trying something different for the summer to spend a month or two, or even just a few weeks, out on the sanctuary. Bill and Vanessa, my hosts at the Shiloh Inn, have been some of the most gracious and friendly people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. Their hospitality transcends anything I could have ever hoped for, and during my stay I’ve felt like part of the family and right at home. Some of the conversations we’ve had around the dinner table with other guests... I don’t think I’ve enjoyed such interesting (hilarious) conversation in years. I’m not a morning person, but I could easily see myself become one after spending countless beautiful Colorado mornings in the sunroom with a hot cup of coffee, watching the chipmunks, birds, and the occasional deer feeding mere feet away. Great company, great scenery, great weather, and great coffee - I don’t think I could have asked for more.
As well, Mark can always use help with all sorts of tasks around the sanctuary, and things are just getting busier as more people learn about the sanctuary and the magic of interacting with the wolves. There always seem to be things to do, and is definitely an experience that will stay with you for many years to come. So if you ever find yourself wondering what you’re going to do, or if you just feel like you want to do something different, and really make a difference, then seriously consider volunteering out here for day, a week, a month. It is an experience that you’ll never forget!
- Alex A