2023 PEOPLE OF THE BIG RIVER FIELD CLASS

 Packed up this morning and we were ahead of scheule from being used to the regular hours now. Packed up and took the long drive to Spokane. There are showers, bathrooms, power plug ins, and HEAT.  ITS HOT, thick air and humid. Im going to express it is suprising there are not more funding for this program and class, or, more support from the University to be able to support more classes like this throughout the summer. I know that there are basic necessities that are provided, but i feel it can be better. Such as, use of the Yakama Nations camp, if possible. Or volunteering groups working with the youth worker through WIOA, to have the camp get funded and fixed up for use, through the science class, or, the environmetal sect. Im just not feeling like it is getting the full potential it deserves.  I have been a teen, once, and went to a program funded by the University of Washington, called the Science and Tribes Educational partnership:(S.T.E.P.)  It was years ago, but the camp consis

July 18 th :  This morning started off at 6:20 am. I wanted to be up at least ten minutes before the actual time we have our instructor come through to tap the tent with a “good morning”. It is pretty much a “good morning” check to make sure we are awake. If you don’t answer, they will come back until you answer. Walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night isn’t so bad here than it was at Deschutes. Deschutes, was a private campground where it was locked at the gate at night, no other people around, and the reality of bears was constant. So constant, and closed, we had to take out our garbage everyday, as well as include anything that had a scent left in the vehicle, or, given to our instructors to store in the R.V. or on the surburban. This morning we started around 7 to wake up. Today is more comfortable. I am enjoying the days as they go on here. It is not so cold nor is it too hot. Last week before this trip I had many weather warnings of a tremendous heat wave that was

 Day 9. It has officially been a week as of saturday. Left to go to the Harris Park camp. It was impossible, the arrival there. It felt like a death ride. Not the drivers, the route. The app the drivers were using took us a turn, too early;  all the way around, adding nearly an hour and a half, instead of going straight , which would have been 15 minutes. It was NOT FUN. Even seen a vehicle off the side of one of the ravines. Dirt road, winding crazy, through mountains size of the unin gap, and road as narrow! It was crap! Im not going to not express how I did not like that ride at all. it wasted the gas. lol. Darn app!  After getting into Harris park, it was really nice. the ground wasnt so bad, the last two was uneven, unlevel, on rocks and dechutes, was gravel. Here, was dirt. it was nicer! it wasnt as much mosquitoes, and there were deer and turkeys runnning around. We had  a late dinner and will continue tomorrow.   

 Im sore. Im not necessarily tired, just feel like a horse being broken in. Sore mucles, lots of needed stretching. Haha. Ive been stagnant personally since starting school. I left a job full time to pursue what ive always wanted, to get a degree. Im a history major and i have my Native American studies minor, (thank you atwaii Dr.Sol), ((and Blake, of course))  Im going to pursue something great. Im almost done and now, what next. Im really reflecting, being out here off grid, its been a long time since i didn't have to make dinner, plan, cook, clean up, im a mother, i love my kids. But as a woman in this day and time: ITS MENTALLY STRAINING. I am married, but having this class, i can self reflect. I am me, myself, and I , for two weeks, and I havent been like this since 2010.  From the time a woman goes to bed, to her waking up, she has to manage everything. Think about it. She has to get dressed, clean herself up, get ready, then, be up enough early before the kids, get the dres

 I highly reccomend if you get a chance to visit the obsidian mountain in Oregon, please GOOOO!!! Its A M A Z I N G!!! Walking around in that area reminds me of walking on glass. The pieces of Obsidian are GIGANTIC!! IT A WHOLE MOUNTAIN OF OBSIDIAN! Its beautiful. I enjoyed that mim-hike, it wasnt really a hike either, more like a walk-around. It was fun. Geting back to camp though, i packed up what i could to get  ready for tomorrow. Its time to leave Dechutes and those forsaken evil mosquitoes. i hate that when they bite, you can definitly feel them prick your skin.It feels like the skiniest sliver, Ugh. lots of big spray and layers. Tomorrow. move out tomorrow. 

 Its nice having a private campground. Its a closed one on account of the sick trees, which can fall down anytime so we have to be careful. Its nice though, we lock it every time we leave or come back. Ive packed solar energy lights for my lights. i dont have a problem with them, ive also brought my own solar battery with a plug in, and a solar charger. highly reccommend. It charges my phone fast, but not in the heat. im still burnt so i keep reapplying my salve.   This morning, we got up and ate breakfast. We got out and about on time. We went to meet Marlo and her co-worker in the area called moonstone BOPU area to help survey. i found the first one. So far, ive been lucking out on finding the first fo stuff. I should get myself a ticket at this point! I didnt find anymore, but i got my first sun birn in nearly 15 years onmy shoulders. Im ok though, i bought some aloe vera gel thats good for burns, bites, and it has lidocaine in it so it soothes. dollar store (+25).  The plant looks