HOMESCHOOLING LESSON OF THE DAY:
What is an ECOSYSTEM?
"An ecosystem is all the living things, from plants and animals to microscopic organisms, that share an environment. Everything in an ecosystem has an important role. Well, almost everything.
The term ecosystem was coined in 1935, though ecosystems have been around as long as living things. Eco is a spin-off from the word ecology and describes anything having to do with the environment and our relation to it. You've probably heard of related terms like eco-friendly and eco-warrior. And system comes from the Greek word systema or "organized body, whole."
"When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities—such as agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial development or water diversion—it may no longer be able to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Every day there are fewer places left that wildlife can call home."
Ecosystems that remain intact are difficult to come by these days, especially in the United States. We felt so blessed to be able to visit one today...DENALI NATIONAL PARK.
We loaded the kids up in a different bus (one that has seatbelts and a tour guide :-)) and set off on an 8 hour exploration 90 miles into the heart of the Denali National Park.
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| Shiloh |
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| Tate |
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| Choice, Tate, and Shiloh |
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| Morghen and Tate |
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| Shiloh, Juliann, and Tate |
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| Tate and Choice |
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| Tate, Juliann, Shiloh, Jason, and Choice |
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| Tate, Juliann, Choice, Ryder, Shiloh, and Morghen |
The terrain and landscape were absolutely breathtaking.
For thousands of acres you could see plush green plants and trees, gorgeous wildflowers, fresh flowing creeks, rivers, and streams, and WILDLIFE!
While on our tour, we were able to see grizzly bears, moose, caribou, and doll sheep. I wish these pictures could do justice...
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| Tate, Shiloh, Choice, and Ryder |
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| Jason, Ryder, Shiloh, Juliann, Choice, and Tate |
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| Jason, Ryder, Shiloh, Juliann, and Tate |
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Choice, Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Juliann
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Juliann |
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| Juliann |
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| Ryder |
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| Morghen, Choice, Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Juliann |
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Juliann |
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| Choice, Jason, Shiloh, Tate, Juliann, and Ryder |
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| Choice, Jason, Shiloh, Tate, Juliann, and Ryder |
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| Shiloh and Juliann |
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| Ryder and Juliann |
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| Ryder and Juliann |
We were so awestruck by the beauty of Denali National Park that we went back on our own to hike around and explore. The kids were troopers and surprised me with their rock climbing abilities. There are a couple pictures that capture the essence of just how much they were living on the edge. I probably should have been more cautious but we are all alive to tell the tale.
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| Ryder, Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Choice |
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| Choice |
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| Ryder, Tate, and Shiloh |
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Choice
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Choice and Jason |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Choice and Jason |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Jason and Choice |
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| Choice and Jason |
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| Choice and Jason |
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| Juliann and Shiloh |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Choice |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Choice |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Ryder, and Choice |
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| Shiloh, Tate, Ryder, and Choice |
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Choice, Tate, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Choice, Juliann, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Choice, Juliann, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Choice, Jason, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Choice, Jason, and Ryder |
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| Ryder, Shiloh, Tate, and Choice |
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| Choice, Juliann, Shiloh, Tate, and Ryder |
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| Choice, Juliann, Shiloh, Tate, and Ryder |
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| Shiloh, Jason, Tate, Choice, and Ryder |
We even had our own little brush with wildlife. Shiloh had a moose come right up to her window.
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| Shiloh |
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| Shiloh |
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| Shiloh |
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| Tate |
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| Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Choice |
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| Choice and Tate |
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| Shiloh and Choice |
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| Choice, Tate, and Shiloh |
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| Choice, Shiloh, and Tate |
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| Choice, Tate, and Shiloh |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Tate, Shiloh, and Choice |
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| Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Choice |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Tate and Shiloh |
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| Tate and Shiloh |
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| Choice |
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| Tate |
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| Tate, Shiloh, and Choice |
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| Choice and Shiloh |
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| Tate |
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| Shiloh |
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| Shiloh and Tate |
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| Tate |
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| Tate |
We went back to the lodge after a long afternoon on living on the edge, and enjoyed some hot chocolate and a playground.
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| Choice, Shiloh, Tate, and Ryder |
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| Shiloh, Tate, Juliann, Ryder, and Choice |
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| Morghen and Ryder |
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| Shiloh |
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| Choice |
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| Morghen and Choice |
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| Ryder, Tate, Choice, and Shiloh |
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| Ryder, Tate, Choice, and Shiloh |
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| Ryder, Tate, Choice, and Shiloh |
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Ryder, Tate, Choice, and Shiloh
What a pleasure it was to be a part of something so miraculous and pure. The ecosystem in Denali National Park is a reminder of what life is like without the fingerprint of man. It was an encouragement to me to be sure I improve the spaces I am in and leave them the same or better than they were before I was there. God did it right, nature is a wonderful site to behold. We should celebrate His masterful creation and preserve it for the future generations to enjoy.
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