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Kids Ask WhY Podcast

Episode 5: How Do You Survive in Snow Country?

Wyoming winters are often blanketed in beautiful snow but living around snow has its challenges for both animals and humans. In this episode, Stella and Bowen talk with Corey Anco, the Curator of the Draper Natural History Museum, to discover the survival strategies of animals who live under the snow. Shelby and Elise talk about snowflake structure and the danger of avalanches with Frank Carus, the director of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is overflowing with detail.

Episode 4: How Do We Explain the Mysteries of the Night Sky?

At this time of year as nights become longer, we often shift our attention to the beautiful sky overhead and wonder about the stars, galaxies, universe and beyond. In this episode, Wren and Sydney speak with Leo Bird, a science educator, about how the Blackfeet People have explained the night sky. He relates a story about “A Girl who Marries a Star.” Then Miles, Audrey, and Joy pepper Dr. Samuel Singer with many questions about our amazing universe.

Episode 3: How Are Bugs, Skunks, and Sagebrush All Connected in Wyoming?

On this episode of Kids Ask Why, we learn about biodiversity and how things like bugs, skunks and sagebrush are all interconnected. Cedar and Leena speak with former Curator of the Draper Natural History Museum, Nathan Doerr, about wildlife food chains in Wyoming. Rory and Addie interview plant ecologist, Trevor Bloom, about the importance of plants like sagebrush to the ecosystem.

Episode 2: How Can Humans Help Wildlife Stay Safe?

Everyone (even kids!) can do all kinds of things to help keep animals safe. On this episode, we learn from two experts about how humans are impacting animals. Scarlett Fessler and Easton Burcham talk to Arthur Middleton, a professor of wildlife management, about migration–and about how people can help or hurt the chances of different migrating animals. Then, Peter Mayer and Ella Eggers talk to Melissa Hill, the director of the Raptor Program at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, about raptors, common bird injuries, and what people can do to help raptors stay safe.

Episode 1: What Lessons Can We Learn About Human Rights in Wyoming?

In this episode Lucio and Kai speak with Jenn Runs Close To Lodge a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe living on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. They learn about the challenges of being Native American, gain understanding of another culture, and learn ways they can fight against racism. Vassilissa and Caleb speak with Sam Mihara who was interned at the Heart Mountain Camp during World War II. Sam tells them about his life in the camp including school, food, and what they did for fun despite the prison living conditions. He emphasizes how important freedom and rights are for all people in the United States.