As part of their “travels” across the United States, third-grade students in Ms. Stacie Snow’s third-grade class at the Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School recently took a virtual journey to Alaska with the help of Ms. Donna Masters, who shared stories, photographs and personal experiences connected to polar bears, sled dogs and wildlife.
On their way to Alaska, students learned about Churchill, a well-known destination for viewing polar bears in their natural habitat. Ms. Masters shared stories about her stepfather, John Kroeger, who once spent two weeks in a small structure on stilts observing polar bears. Because of the danger posed by the animals, visitors were not allowed to leave the structure during their stay.
Ms. Masters also shared stories from her family’s travels through Alaska, including a time when her parents helped a stranded family along the Alaskan Highway by sharing food and supplies while they waited for repairs to their camper. She also described how her parents once helped care for a sick baby with a dangerously high fever during their travels. In gratitude, the family later gave them a small white puppy named “Kluany,” meaning “First of Our Adventure.”
Students were especially interested in hearing about Ms. Masters’ childhood experiences with animals. She explained that her family operated a kennel that cared for dozens of dogs and cats, along with a variety of wild animals. She shared childhood photographs, including one of her holding a pet raccoon she raised from infancy.
One of the students’ favorite stories involved a two-week-old gray wolf named Amy, whom Ms. Masters’ mother transported home from California to New York and raised alongside the family’s dogs.
Ms. Masters also spoke about training Siberian Huskies for sled dog races and shared photographs from her family’s adventures. Students enjoyed learning about wildlife, Alaska and the unique experiences that shaped Ms. Masters’ childhood.