When she chaperoned students visiting the University of Alaska Museum of the North recently, Willow tagged along, too.
For 15 months, the 17-month-old golden-colored canine Willow has been a familiar sight at Anderson and Cantwell schools and anywhere else Trumbower traveled.
Willow is now back in Santa Rosa, Calif., undergoing the final phase of intensive training to become either a hearing assistance dog, a physical assistance dog or an agency dog who works in a nursing home or similar setting.
She is officially Willow IV of Canine Companions for Independence.
“We have all been fortunate to be able to have her in the school on a nearly daily basis,” Trumbower stated in an e-mail. “Willow has made close friends with many of our students. She loves to be read to, is always happy to provide playtime as a reward and has been a comfort to some of our students during stressful times — like getting a flu shot!”
Trumbower said that about 30 percent of dogs who enter this training become service dogs.
“It takes a very special animal to provide the level of service and devotion required to become a certified service dog,” she told me.
If Willow does not make the grade, Trumbower has a chance to get her back.
Meanwhile, she has begun training another service puppy.
Meet Tatina. She will be Trumbower’s new daily companion.
To see a photo of Trumbower and Willow, visit my Denali Life Blog at www.newsminer.com.
Family Ski Day
The temperature is above zero, and there’s still a little bit of snow. It’s time for Family Ski Day.
An introduction to cross-country skiing will be held at McKinley Village Community Center, just off 230 Mile Parks Highway at 2 p.m. Saturday.
This is for skiers of all ages.
“The focus will be on young kids learning and developing their comfort on skis, but anyone with a kid’s enthusiasm is welcome to attend,” said David Tomeo, who is spearheading the event.
Bring cross-country ski gear, extra layers and a snack and thermos filled with warm drinks.
You can RSVP Tomeo at tomeoadvenure@gmail.com or 683-2788. He would love to know each child’s name, age and ski experience.
The second Family Ski Day will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 during the Denali Winterfest Celebration. Location will be announced soon.
These ski days, sponsored by Kids In Motion, are free for everyone.
Math Counts
Here’s the problem: “There are 10 marbles in a bag. Three are red. Five are yellow. Two are blue. What are the odds that you will pull three marbles of the same color?”
“It’s way harder than it looks,” said Krys Byfuglien, a member of the Tri-Valley Mathlete Warriors, our local Math Counts team.
He and teammates Abel Keith, Liam Juhl and Grace Lake battled math teams in Fairbanks last weekend. Although our district is considered remote, coach/teacher Brian Thomas said the Fairbanks competition is good to see how we stack up against bigger teams.
“Not only did our kids beat five Fairbanks teams, Krys scored in the top half of all competitors and Liam and Abel were in the top 10 overall out of the 70-plus competitors,” he said. “Abel won third overall in total points, the highest-placed Warrior ever.”
Liam came in second overall in a “just-for-fun” head-to-head competition.
Fairbanks judges said this Tri-Valley team was the strongest remote team since 2004 — the last time Tri-Valley students competed in Math Counts.
As for the solution to that problem? Out Math Counts team didn’t know. Neither did any of the other teams. I’m still trying to find the answer.
National Geographic
Watch National Geographic channel this month for the “Surviving Ancient Alaska” episode, featuring Denali National Park and Preserve and recent Cantwell School graduate Bruce J. Gore, who created a moose hide boat under the watchful eye of an elder during his senior year in high school. This skill had not been utilized in about 50 years.
Denali Life Blog
Check out my blog this week to find out about:
• Tri-Valley and Anderson teams winning Battle of the Books, while Lone Wolf from Cantwell, a one-man team, wins the hearts of the audience;
• Gearing up for Winterfest Feb. 26, 27, 28;
• Cantwell Spelling Bee winners heading to the Interior Bee in Fairbanks; and
• The Chugiak High School Swing Choir heading to Healy for an early afternoon performance on Thursday.
Kris Capps is a freelance writer. Her column reporting Denali happenings appears weekly in the News-Miner. She can be reached at kcapps@mtaonline.net.
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