HOME - Education & Outreach - Expansion - Expansion in 2007
Before winter set in, the Scouts of Nevada Area Council, Humboldt District, Pack 223 took part in a project day organized by Catreena McCarthy, Safe Haven's wildlife care intern. A group of four adults and eight Scouts came to our sanctuary in November and planted twenty trees and shrubs outside the perimeter safety fence of the new tiger enclosure. Rick Hull, our volunteer landscaper/gardener, helped organize the plantings and worked with the group. Catreena also demonstrated a home composting system. She constructed a "worm box" and showed the Scouts how to utilize it as a starter for the compost system. She also presented handouts on vermicomposting, worm facts, and the beneficial environmental effects of worms.
FURNISHINGS FOR TIGGER THE TIGER
The tiger's furnishings were the most extensive of several Scout projects at Safe Haven in 2007. The Cub Scouts came to our sanctuary on May 20, when they worked on landscaping and firebreaks to earn their Conservation Badges. On June 30 they were again on hand to assist with Jackson's project, and afterwards they stayed to run cut pipe and refill buckets of concrete for the volunteer group working on the perimeter fence expansion. Jackson, who researched tiger behavior and habitat, took on the construction of a tiger den, pool, and jungle gym, as his Eagle Scout project. Besides working on the design and construction, Jackson raised $930 for materials. The tiger's den (under construction and completed, below) is 6 x 10 ft., with an insulated baffle and a 3-ft. entrance surrounded with stone. The completed den is covered with dirt in order to look as natural as possible, and the entrance area is landscaped with logs and a stone walkway.
A rounded basin dug was dug for the tiger's pool, with plumbing installed underneath. The Scouts lined the basin with 6-gauge wire, providing a framework for the cement.
Safe Haven thanks the donors who helped fund Jackson's Eagle Scout project: Anna L. Lyon, Maxine O'Connell, Daniel L. Hale, Martin Price, Denny Paquette, Brent Ford, and James Seward. All are from Florida Canyon Mining Company. | ||
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In the fall of 2007, 
Jackson's plan also included a platform 
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Conservation Day—May 20, 2007 The Cub Scouts came to our sanctuary on May 20 for a day of learning, fun, and hard work to earn their Conservation Badges. The group also included parents and Eagle Scout candidate Jackson Gratwohl. The scouts worked outside the perimeter fence with several adults, planting bulbs and morning glory vines that will climb on the fence. Other scouts and parents cleared sagebrush to provide fire breaks in preparation for the fire season. In accordance with Safe Haven's safety policies, only adults were permitted to work within the perimeter safety fenced area outside of the animal enclosures. They planted large trees, as well as vines that will climb up the sides of the animal enclosures to provide shade, privacy, and a more naturalistic setting. The Scouts and adults were undaunted by wind and threatening weather. Cougar Savannah kept everyone company, lounging in her enclosure and keeping a watchful eye on the activities. At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed watching enrichment activities for the foxes, who had a treat of eggs in brown paper bags. | ||
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The boys at left are hard at work outside the perimeter fence, helping their parents with planting along the outside of the fence. | ||||||||||||
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The parents and children at right are planting vines that will twine up the outside of the perimeter fence, giving the animals privacy and softening the look of the landscape. | |||||||||||||||
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Clearing sagebrush...The group at the far right is taking a well-deserved break in front of a sagebrush pile. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The wind and sky were ominous by the end of the day (left), but the threatening weather didn't dampen the spirits of these young scouts and their parents. | ||||||||
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