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April 21, 2022
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Field Facts
The son of two freeborn sharecroppers, famed African American explorer Matthew Henson was one of the first two Americans to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909. Henson had been an indispensable member of Robert Peary’s multiple Arctic expeditions and was valued for his polar expertise and relationships with
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April 14, 2022
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Flora
As the only major tree nut indigenous to North America, the pecan (Carya illinoinensis) has a long history as a treasured delicacy, building material, and delicious edible nut, prized hardwood, and beloved state symbol. The pecan is a native species of hickory that originated in the southern U.S. along the Mississippi
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April 7, 2022
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Field Facts
The Grand Canyon should be on everyone’s short list of must see natural wonders. On January 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument and in 1919 it was further preserved by becoming one of the country’s earliest National Parks. It is also a UNESCO world heritage
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March 31, 2022
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Fauna
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a cold-weather cat perfectly adapted for thriving in the harsh snow-packed terrain of North America. Slightly larger than the well-fed house cat, the Canada lynx is about 20 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs around 20 pounds. The lynx’s thick fur is light or
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March 24, 2022
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Field Facts
John Wesley Powell was an iconic 19th-century explorer, scientist, and environmentalist. He is best known for his daring riverine explorations of the upper Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. An adventurer from an early age, Powell walked across the state of Wisconsin when he was 21. The following year, he continued
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March 17, 2022
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Flora
America’s rarest native pine, the Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana), is only found in two locations in North America. One population grows on the coastal bluffs of Soledad Valley, north of San Diego, California. The second population is on Santa Rosa Island and is separated from the first by 175 miles of Pacific
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March 8, 2022
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Field Facts
“Earthbound souls know only the underside of the atmosphere in which they live . . . but go higher – above the dust and water vapor – and the sky turns dark until one can see the stars at noon.” Jacqueline Cochran was the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach …
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March 3, 2022
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Fauna
The orca (Orcinus orca), also known as a killer whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family and the ocean’s apex predator. With its distinct black and white markings, the orca is one of the more widely distributed sea mammals and is found in every ocean in the world. The global population is around
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February 24, 2022
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Camp Kitchen
It seems that every season there is an abundance of new ultralight camping equipment on the market, and while I do love me a titanium spork or french press, I feel like outdoorsy folks can be a bit obsessed when it comes to the weight of our equipment. Now, mind you, if you are packing …
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February 17, 2022
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Flora
The world’s hardiest plant lives on Kafeklubben Island, off the coast of Greenland. Located just over 83 degrees north and closer to the North Pole than any other land on Earth, this island is made of permafrost whose summers only last around 30 days. Here, the purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) thrives and
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