Submitted and
Review staff:
The Wolf Willow Guides, Brownies and Sparks of Rimbey and district had a close-up look at monkeys and a number of other wild and wooly animals during an overnight field trip on the weekend of Sept. 28 to Calgary that included a stop at the spectacular Calgary Zoo.
The safari began in Rimbey at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with Bob in the Ogopogo Tour Bus and by 11 a.m., groups of girls ranging in age from five to 12 were touring through the African Savanna, Australian Outback, Asian Jungle, Tropical Rainforest and the Northern Canadian Wilderness exhibits at the zoo as well as a few ice cream stands and a really good climbing gym.
The weather was perfect and the animals were out in fine form. Along with the lions, tigers and bears, other sites included baby elephants, a musk ox and giraffe, a Sloth bear, a ring-tailed panda, snow leopard and many other interesting and exotic species.
After a healthy supper of pizza and birthday cake, the group set up camp in the Lodge and spent the night with spotted owls, leopard frogs and otters.
The Zoo’s Interpretive Program also included a night of stories, crafts, skits and a sunset tour of the northern boreal forest to see many of the animals bedding down and a few species that were just waking up.
An early morning hike to breakfast allowed the group to see deer, wolves, wapiti and even a glimpse of the elusive swift fox. Even a group of otters got in on the action by sending off the girls after they had returned to the Lodge to load their belongings for the trip home.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed, the group retuned to Rimbey at 11:30 the following morning.
To finance more trips like this as well as their winter and spring camps, the girls will be out fundraising over the next month as part of their fall cookie campaign which begins mid October and will also include cookbooks this year. The girls also hope to do a bottle drive in early November and would like to remind the public that their support is always appreciated.
The Guiding program allows girls to share in fun, friendship, challenge and adventure. It teaches both independence and community spirit and encourages girls to be themselves.