The WildeBeat

Thu, Oct 25, 2007

Creatures of the Night, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part one of a Halloween look at how to appreciate those mysterious flying, furry mammals that dominate the night sky. What do we really know about them, and how can we learn more about them?

Steve talks with Curt Black from Seattle, an expert on certain mammals of the order Chiroptera, who tells us why they're fascinating. Curt dispels some common myths that often cause people to fear them.

We also hear briefly from Dave Smith, an expert on safety around animals such as bears and cougars, who we interviewed in our show number 80, Fighting Animal Terror. Dave has his own reaction to these nocturnal creatures.

How can you go bat-watching? What's the best way to watch bats in your own favorite wilderness? Find out next week, in part two.

• Show number 109 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,390,801 bytes]
• Show number 109 script

Thu, Oct 18, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a campout with the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings (ICO) section. This is part two of a follow up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users. (Part one is here.)

Steve visits a campout led by the ICO at the Arroyo Seco Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. We hear from:

• Gabriella, a campout participant and four-year veteran of ICO outings
• Debra Asher, the national administrator of the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings
• Larry Volpe, a fifth-grade teacher and ICO leader
• Graciella, a campout participant
• Francesca, Graciella's mother

The Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings program continues to expand, entirely due to the energy of it's volunteers. But there are always more schools and youth organizations that would like to add outdoor outings to their programs. To find out more about volunteering as a leader, see their Get Involved page. To find existing groups that might be able to organize outings for your school or youth group, see their Local Contacts page.

• Show number 108 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,392,995 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 107 & 108, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 18:14; 17,518,413 bytes]
• Show number 108 script
• Show numbers 107 & 108 combined script
• Photo album

Thu, Oct 11, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a campout with the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings (ICO) section. This part one of two is a follow up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve visits a campout led by the ICO at the Arroyo Seco Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. We hear from:

• Gabriella, a campout participant and four-year veteran of ICO outings
• Larry Volpe, a fifth-grade teacher and ICO leader
• Sergio, a campout participant
• Graciella, a campout participant
• Debra Asher, the national administrator of the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings

So what do the kids think of the Inner-City Outings program? How does it affect them and their parents? What's it like to be an ICO outing leader, and how can you become one? Find out next week, in part two.

• Show number 107 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,390,801 bytes]
• Show number 107 script

Thu, Oct 04, 2007

Bags for the Cold

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of winter sleeping bags. Winter camping is cool. But it isn't cold if you have a warm sleeping bag to crawl into.

Michael Wheiler reviews the Sierra Designs Cirque. Jennifer Koles reviews the Sierra Designs Electra. Andy Henrichs reviews the Sierra Designs Echo.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

• Show number 106 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,395,285 bytes]
• Show number 106 script

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