Kids Ask Why?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kids Ask Why is back! This season the podcast is following a 4th and 5th grade class from the Kelly School in Teton County, Wyoming.

Cinch and Chauncey Dalton have been ranchers their whole lives, and they explained all about branding cattle in Wyoming. Cali Jo Johnson comes from a family of rodeo riders. She helps listeners understand about youth rodeo and her family’s strong connection to their horses.

In this episode, we invited kids who were visiting the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to ask questions about the American West of two of the museum’s experts – Nathan Doerr and Hunter Old Elk. With excellent questions about Yellowstone like “Why do hot springs have different colors?” and “What would a day in… Read More »Episode 6: Stump The Curator

Every community in Wyoming seems to have a summer event (or more) that will attract visitors and locals and help to celebrate the resources in the area.

Wyoming is the home to spectacular natural events both historic and current. This episode explores the Yellowstone supervolcano and tornados in Wyoming.