The 2011 Hands-On Explorer Challenge Winners – National Geographic Kids Blogs

National Geographic Society

The winners of the 2011 Hands-On Explorer Challenge have been chosen! Visit kids.nationalgeographic.com to read excerpts from their essays and see their winning photos.

The expedition to the Cayman Islands starts on July 8. Visit the blog to learn more and get updates from the Cayman Islands expedition team!

Comments

luckstomper
April 4, 2011, 6:40 pm

Hello Everyone!

Luckstomper here. OH MY GOD! They posted the winners! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

~~~~JON~~~~
(luckstomper)
cowgirlexplorer
April 4, 2011, 9:26 pm

Mad i didnt win! uugghh! haha
naturephotographer
April 4, 2011, 9:44 pm

Hi everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe they already announced the winners!!!!!! Did any of the dedicated bloggers win????

Elizabeth
jindo2108
April 5, 2011, 11:20 am

I DIDN’T SEE THIS POST!!!! GONNA SEE IF YOU GUYS WON NOW!!!!(I didn’t enter)
jindo2108
April 5, 2011, 11:24 am

Did anybody win?
I didn’t see any names I recognized…:(. Someone who’s been on this blog has to have won, right????????
Hoping for ya guys,
Jindo
cowgirlexplorer
April 5, 2011, 6:48 pm

Sadly i dont think anyone from this blog won–at least i dont recognize anyone.

I am pretty upset that i didnt win, of course i wasnt expecting to, but i would have been cool. Congratulations to those who did win!

~Celeste~
luckstomper
April 5, 2011, 10:43 pm

Hi Everyone!

Luckstomper here. I think they chose one winner just to torment me. So instinctively I wanted to see if anyone was from Massachusetts (where I live). And when I saw there was I looked at the name and it said “Jonathan.” I started flipping out, because that’s my name. And then to make it more frustrating he based his essay on a trip to the Caribbean like I had. So go figure that someone would have the same name as me, come from the same state, and base their essay on the same topic as me. That’s just PURE TORTURE. Another thought that ran through my head was “did they contact the wrong Jonathan?!” Well, it’s all set and done with now. Maybe next year they’ll extend it to 15 again. Who knows, I hope they do. Well that’s all for now. Talk to everyone soon!

~~~~JON~~~~
(luckstomper)
P.S. First commenter again! Hahaha.
shastasteph
April 6, 2011, 12:33 am

I didn’t win, but congratulations to everyone who did! I actually don’t feel as sad as I thought. I’m still really sad, but I can live through it. Congratulations again! (p.s. I’m kind of glad all the winners are from the U.S., just like it was in the past.)
jindo2108
April 6, 2011, 11:28 am

You woulda thought someone who has been on this blog would of won…..:(. Well, I guess we can just hope for next time, I guess.(hope there’s a next time)
We haven’t heard from Skimp27, have we??? Hmm..
Yeah, like shastasteph said, congrats to the winners!!! Your essays and photos were awesome!!!!
-jindo
P.S.- Hmmmph, luckstomper. Guess you are first commenter.
jazzybirdexplorer
April 6, 2011, 8:28 pm

I’m 16 now, but I remember entering every NG Explorer contest except the first Galapagos trip. I was so excited for them to announce the winners and so sad when I learned I wasnt amoung them…but I just wanted to let you guys know everything happens for a reason!!! DONT STOP EXPLORING:)

I’m from NH and I’m really excited that someone from New Hampshire won!!!!!!

Don’t forget to explore and make every single day special!

~Jayme
islandgirlstar808
April 6, 2011, 11:10 pm

OK……… I didnot win !!!!!!! Kinda bumed!!! I am really surprised that none of us on the blog won!!! To bad for us !!! But have a great time winners!!!
Islandgirlstar808
(iyahna)

luckstoper,
I bet it was nerve racking too find out that it was a diffrent Jonathan!!!
And plus he wrote about the same subject as u!!!
Tuff luck!!!! I do hope they extend it to 15 becouse then I will be able to enter!!!
We are in the same boat!!!
cowgirlexplorer
April 7, 2011, 11:51 pm

Hello Everyone!
Luckstomper- I too think that they chose a Montana winner just to torture me as well. Of course my situation isnt as intense as yours. I always wanted to me the first winner from Montana.
I hope i am not offending anyone by saying this, but i just really wasnt impressed by the essays and photos as much this year as i was last year. Oh well, its all said and dome now…

~Celeste~
DRW
April 8, 2011, 10:45 am

what are you tallking about whos wining
jindo2108
April 8, 2011, 8:01 pm

Hello peeps….(sorry to call you peeps, just in a mood right now)How’s life????
We’ve got really weird weather here. Half of the sky is blue and sunny, the other half is covered by a huge cloud. Plus, it started raining a bit( it’s not now though)

DRW- We’re talking about the Hands on Explorer contest….they just announced the winners that get to go to the Cayman Islands. I really just learned about it around December…

It didn’t torture me that 2 people from California won. Ha ha…..course it didn’t, cause I didn’t enter. But anyway, like Jazzybirdexplorer, I’m excited that some Californians won.
If you go to the post about how the contest is closed, then you’ll see a comment from a user called Hazel that actually was in the top 25! Awesome…..
I thought that this year’s essays and photos were cool. I thought that the poem was awesome too…..
But I didn’t read last year’s though.:).
So……..
naturephotographer
April 8, 2011, 8:26 pm

Hey ya’ll!!!! Sorry, I have been at my school’s Agriculture Awareness Day(Ag Day) and I have been surrounded by southern style, and it has worn off on me…. Ag day was pretty successful, at one point we had approximately 700 elementary school kids at Ag Day plus all of the other community members that came out and supported us. The down side to the day…. Someone stole my camera!!!! I put it down for 4 mins and someone took it. I am mad at myself for being over confident, and I am made at the stupid person that took it. Whoever did take it got a sweet deal, Nikon Coolpix L100, 2G memory card,and practically brand new rechargeable batteries. As for me, I have nothing now. My camera was my life. I only brought it to school because I am applying for the yearbook committee at school and you have to make a 2 page yearbook spread. Mine was going to be on Ag Day. I am not sure what I am going to do. I am torn between investing in the NikonD5000 or just buying a cheaper point and shoot and save the rest of my money to buy my own car…. What do you think I should do?

Elizabeth
shastasteph
April 9, 2011, 11:49 pm

cowgirlexplorer, I do agree with you that this year’s entries didn’t seem that grand, as least not the essay component. They’re decent, but they just didn’t seem like such a marvelous piece of writing as the essays of years past. In my personal opinion, many of them didn’t have that poetic touch of the previous winners. Nevertheless, they still one, so there must be something special about them…
Skimp27
April 11, 2011, 7:45 am

I guess I’m late but I didn’t win either. I’m kind of angry, but not that much. I got really surprised that I’m not tearing my hairout. I actually feel pretty good.
Luckstomper- don’t feel bad. I’m sure they’ll extend the ages again because to make it fair to everybody, the contest needs to be extened untill the last 9 year-old from 2010 has the makeup contest.
Cowgirlexplorer- that’s kind of upsetting. It would have been cool to be the first winner from your state, but second is just as good, so when they extend the age again next year, you can be no.2.
I can’t wait to enter next year, an I’m already thinking up an essay.
Later guys.
islandgirlstar808
April 11, 2011, 8:33 pm

Hey guys
Doing pretty good kinda bummed I can’t enter next year!! Becouse I am TURNING 15!!!
But maybe NG KIDS will make the ages 15 and under….. If that hapens then me and luckstomper can enter…… A BIG IF!!!!!

naturephotographer
I bet your bumming right now! I think u should get a new one!!! If it’s your life I mean that’s a super bummer!! Don’t be to hard on yourself evrone makes mastakes but who ever stoll it is a……. a……..stupid person!!!!!
Islandgirlstar808
(iyahna)
Anonymous
April 11, 2011, 10:38 pm

Hi Everyone!

Luckstomper here.
Cowgirlexplorer- I would have to agree with you. There wasn’t any ease or poetic sounding (as shastasteph put it) essays this year. But hey, it’s all said and done, so there’s nothing we can do about it now.
Shastasteph- I’m glad they were all from the US too. If NatGeo wants to have the contest in their country, make it a separate one.

I was reading my essay over again, and again, and again, and again. And looking at my photo submission for awhile. I can honestly say that I was proud with what I had turned in. I felt as though it should have been a winner. Now the judges didn’t see that, nor did they see that quality in any of ours, seeing as though we’re still all sitting here anticipating next year’s contest. Praying that they extend the age limit again. I also want next year’s destination to be a little more exotic if you know what I mean. I’m not saying that the Cayman Islands won’t be an amazing trip. What I’m saying is that I would like it somewhere far away that is out of the ordinary like South America, Africa, Asia. Not somewhere that’s practically in our country’s backyard. That’s just my opinion.
Well, it’s 10:40pm here right now, and I’m tired, and I’m done rambling. So,…talk to everyone soon.

~~~~JON~~~~
(luckstomper)
shastasteph
April 12, 2011, 10:22 pm

naturephotographer, I’m really sorry to hear that someone stole your camera. Hopefully you can get a new one for your birthday or for some other special event. I’ll pray that it somehow magically shows up though!
luckstomper, I agree with you that it would be nice if the HOEC trip was somewhere farther away. It would just make winning the trip much more worthwhile.
I also would like next year’s contest to be extended to 15 because I also will be turning 15. Hopefully that will happen, so all of us turning 15 will be able to enter.
Skimp27
April 13, 2011, 2:10 pm

Looking at the winning essays, I agree with cowgirlexplorer, shastasteph, and luckstomper, the essays weren’t the best this year. Some of them didn’t even capture the thirst for exploration and the curiosity that I feel and most of you feel too. I did like Brody S.’s essay. It was very good for an 11 year old, and it encompasses the theme of water very well. The photos were, however, very good, not the best, but no entry is perfect.
Luckstomper and Shastasteph, I don’t think it would be bad at all if a kid from Canada won. Without them there is less competition, and there’s a special feeling about being the only country in the whole world that can participate, but if there’s someone from another country that can write and take pictures better than any of the winners, they deserve to win.
Naturephotographer, sorry about your camera. From what i know, the l100 is a good camera, better than any i’ve handled recently. I say go for what you want. a point-and-shoot is good enough for my needs (even though my sister just broke mine) , but a d5000 is one of the best cameras around. You can probably get both a car and a d5000 later in life, but whatever you feel you need nearer in the future is what I think you should get.
Islandgirlstar808, since you live in Hawaii, you should get great pictures for the HOEC. My thought is that they will extend the age, so you should work on getting the perfect shot and work with it.
Shastasteph, you wouldn’t happen to be one Shastagirl11 on my-shot? If you are, I like your photos and I think you should post more.
All for now (even though it’s quite a bit) so later.
Skimp27
April 13, 2011, 8:14 pm

I know I just commented, but something happened today that was wicked. I went out into the forest with my younger brother and two friends to practice building field shelters because we’re going to live off the land at my friends grandfather’s house this summer. While I was running down a deer trail, a big shadow jumped out in front of me, and it was a young turkey hen! Since she was young, she didn’t know to fear me, so she stopped about fifteen feet away from me. after watching her for a few minutes I ran back to one of my friends, got his phone, and ran back as fast as we could. We made a video, and took about 10 pictures, but his phone couldn’t zoom in for pictures very well, so they were distant. I told him not to run after the turkey, but to walk calmly so she didn’t read us as a threat, but he ran after her, and she got really scared. She ran and ran, and you couldn’t get within 30 yards before she took off, so eventually we gae up with about three passable pictures which I will upload on my-shot.
Once again, later.
islandgirlstar808
April 14, 2011, 5:51 pm

Skimp27,
thanks that’s a great idea becouse if I get a good picture I can base my essay on the photo! If they extend the ages!! Are u going to be 15 next year??? Yaa know what I think I will go take some pictures right now!!! Thanks skimp27!!!!

Hope evryone is having a awesome day!!!
O and did eny of u hear obout Japan?????! OMG pray for them!!!!

Islandgirlstar808
(iyahna)
cowgirlexplorer
April 15, 2011, 8:29 pm

HELLO!
I am really happy that you guys felt the same way i did about the essays, i didn’t want to be only one who thought that and then sound mean.
I was thinking about writing my essay for the contest on the blog so everyone can read it, any thoughts?
Skimp27- that is cool that you got to see a turkey. Down here we have turkeys running all around all the time. You can get up really close to them too. They are always on the road and in people’s yard. haha
Luckstomper-how old are you? sorry, thats kind of random, but i was just wondering. And i completely agree that the trip should be a little more exotic next year.
I know that Nat Geo has already been there but i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to Australia. That is my favorite place in the world and i want to go there so bad!~

~Celeste~
jindo2108
April 21, 2011, 1:44 am

Wazzup?:)
I haven’t written in a while, since it’s been a little busier and I went camping last weekend(very interesting:).I’m on spring break this week though, so I’ll write sometime tomorrow(10:43 here, have to go to bed).
kitty02t
April 21, 2011, 9:46 pm

I’m new to NGK and I was wondering how do you post blogs, and I hope the bes to you all!
Hurdler23
April 22, 2011, 10:55 am

Hey everyone sorry I haven’t written in so long. I completely agree with all of you about the essays, maybe NG was looking at a different aspect in their writing?
I just found out that my dad got a job in SC. I’ll probably have to move down their next year, and since I’m from NY it’s going to be a big change that I’m not exactly looking forward too. How has everyone else been?
jindo2108
April 22, 2011, 1:10 pm

Ok…….back again.
Kitty02t- Hmmm……I don’t think you can actually make a blog and post things on it. You can post comments on NG Kids blog entries,though. But anyways, hi and welcome!
Naturephotographer- Man!!! But I agree with what islandgirlstar808 said……don’t take it too hard on yourself. Whoever took it is really dumb. I would just do whatever my gut was telling me to do right now…..(sorry, I’m not too much help right now:). Oh, and I was gonna comment on your pic of Willie on My Shot. He’s awesome!
Skimp27- Wow…..that’s awesome you saw a turkey! You should upload the pics to My Shot…….bet they’d be really cool. How long did it take you to run and get your friend’s phone?
Cowgirlexplorer- That’s an awesome idea, to put your essay up. It would be really cool to see what you wrote. Everyone should do it!(If you want to…..:) And I agree, Australia would be a cool place for the HOEC. What makes it your fav place?
Think that’s it………..
-jindo
islandgirlstar808
April 24, 2011, 7:04 pm

I’m good
going to the beach!!! Yahoo!!!
explrmaniac
April 26, 2011, 6:39 pm

Hey guy I am new to the blog but I thought that although some of you disagree all the essays were good and the pics were pretty awesome. I thought that the one with the crab and the one with the starfish were pretty cool. And the essays were good but none of us know what the judges were looking for. Maybe it was something that none of us were looking at. No matter what I am sure they will have a lot of fun and I wish the best to all of you in the future!
cowgirlexplorer
April 28, 2011, 10:38 pm

Hello Everyone!

So one of our heifers had her calf this weekend, but it was too big so it had to be pulled. Anyway, it was really hard on both the mom and the calf, but everyone is good now and he is just the most adorable thing in the world. All of our cows are black angus, but one the neighbors cows got into our pen and he was a Holstein bull (a white one) and so now all of our calf are coming out black and white spotted. It is so weird to see white all of the sudden when all we have ever had it black. I will have to put up some pics on Myshot.
Welcome to the blog explrmaniac!–thank you for your input on everything on the contest, usually new people come on and just say hi, but it was cool to hear what you thought about everything. Did you enter the contest?
Jindo2108- i think that my favorite thing about Australia is that it is one of the places that has the best of both worlds, or all worlds. You can have the mountains and the ocean. You can have a ranch life with cows and horses, but also have a beach life. Which are usually thought of as two conflicting lifestyles. I also really want to go to Australia after seeing the videos from the HOEC contest a couple years ago and seeing everything that they got to do.

~Celeste~
Skimp27
April 30, 2011, 3:54 pm

Hey everyone, I just got off of spring break this week, but I’ve been so loaded with work that I haven’t had time to post. For spring break, My family and I did everything we haven’t done so far in the Washington D.C area including Arlington National cemetery. Last Thursday we went to NYC. It was kind of overwhelming because I prefer less crowded areas, and even Washington D.C is much too crowded for my liking, but New York was at least seven times as packed. We did the normal tourist stuff, (Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc,.) so yeah that was my spring break.
Islandgirlstar808, I try not to tell anyone anything too personal about me, like my real name, age, the city I live in, all that stuff. Sorry.
Cowgirlexplorer, that’s cool. I think turkeys are some of the coolest birds that can be found in this area besides bald eagles. I’ve only seen a few while living here, and they were always off in the distance. I have always wanted to go to Australia too! My mom and I are always talking about it, and I was way excited when I first heard of the HOEC and they were going to Aus, but I wasn’t eligible to enter because I was living out of country.
Jindo2108, I’ll try to upload the pictures as soon as possible.
Hurdler23, from what I hear South Carolina isn’t bad, and they have alot of beaches. You’ll just have to adjust to the temperature.
Welcome to the blog kitty02t and explrmaniac.
explrmaniac, If you look at the essays from last year, my opinion is that they were alot better. I think that for most of them, their pictures won for them.
Later, and good luck next year.
explrmaniac
May 3, 2011, 10:24 pm

Hello. Thanks to everyone for giving me such a warm welcome to the blog. I really feel like part of the close knit Blogging family. I am really looking forward to posting many more comments. Yes cowgirlexplorer, I did enter the contest. I had a Track meet today and it was 42 degrees F and we had nonstop rain. It was not the best weather. Talk to all of you soon. Please
Hurdler23
May 4, 2011, 8:06 pm

Explrmaniac~
I was supposed to have a track meet yesterday but it was canceled on account of the weather; however, in my opinion the weather was fine(:
what events do you run. I’m a 400 intermediate hurdler!
explrmaniac
May 5, 2011, 10:27 pm

That is cool Hurdler23. I run the mile, the 400 and triple jump. I think it is awesome how Nice everyone is on the blog. Who does everyone think did the best job kn the essay and then who has the best photo? And where would u guys like to see HOEC destinations in the future??
stargirl45
May 6, 2011, 9:28 am

Hi Everyone! First of all, I’m new to the HOEC blog, and i’m totally hyped to join you guys!
I just love all NatGeo’s opportunities to show off.
I’m sure everyone did a fansastical job, whether or not anyone from this blog won.
I’m really excited to get a chance to actually enter a competition… it looks great!
And Luckstomper- I hope you get a chance to strut your stuff next year too! maybe there’s a way to make a suggestion to raise the age limit to 15…
But then, you know, by the time you’re 16, you’re probably going to be asking them the same thing.
Great job again, everyone! Can’t wait to get more involved!
-Stargirl
(Lydia)
cowgirlexplorer
May 8, 2011, 8:36 pm

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to the blog Stargirl45!
THe weather has been so bipolar lately! It was sunny and then it snows and then it rains and then the wind blows and then its like 65 degrees again.
explrmaniac- did u mean who did we think did the best essay and photo? If that was what you meant then i am not exactly sure. I will probably have to go look at them again and then i will answer.
~Celeste~
cowgirlexplorer
May 8, 2011, 8:49 pm

Explrmaniac-So i think that the best essay was Zane from New Hampshire, and the best photo was Michael from New York.
stargirl45
May 9, 2011, 11:49 am

Thanks cowgirl explorer! I can’t wait to check out all the photos/essays…
missy1412
May 15, 2011, 2:00 pm

Oh My Word!!!!!! I didnt win. Well maybe next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
islandgirlstar808
May 15, 2011, 2:56 pm

Wow
bad news and good news
the bad news is my camara broke. I am SO bummed!!!
And the good news is I moved to Oahu with my familey!!! Crazy change it’s awesome big city!!!
How’s evryone else?
explrmaniac
May 15, 2011, 4:52 pm

Yeah. Thanks Cowgirlexplorer. I like the picture of the crab also from Michael. And Zames
explrmaniac
May 15, 2011, 4:53 pm

Zanes essay and also Claras essay impressed me and I thought they were original. Well what is everyone up to? It is so rainy
jindo2108
May 20, 2011, 12:25 am

‘Lo everyone!
Been a lloooong time since I commented here!:)
Explrmaniac- Welcome to the blog! I thought the essays and pics from this year were cool to…I liked Deigo’s and Zane’s. And it’s awesome that you do track!:) And in 42 degree weather? I’m from California, and that seems impossible to me! Do you usaully do track meets no matter what weather?
Stargirl45- Welcome too!
Islandgirlstar808- Bummer bout your camera! Hope you get a new one soon…you take awesome pics:). Where is Oahu? On Kaui? Oh, and this is response to your comment you posted a long time ago, but I did hear about Japan. Prayin’ for them..as well as the midwest with the twisters, and the flooding….
Cowgirlexplorer- The weather does sound biopolar.. here we have had really really hot days, but this week has been really cold (well, about 60 degrees, we think that’s cold:). I agree, I think Australia would be an awesome place for the next HOEC.
Hurdler23- Woah. 400 intermediate hurdler? Woah.
Think that’s it for now…might put a few new pics up on My Shot soon (no guarantees, I’m always lazy:)
-jindo
Hurdler23
May 20, 2011, 11:58 pm

Long time no blogging everyone(:
I have my last track meet of the season tomorrow and I am hopping on beating my best time in the hurdles! What has everyone been up to now that the weather is warming up?
islandgirlstar808
May 23, 2011, 5:15 pm

Jindo2108,
u take good pictures too. Thanks.
Oahu is the island with the most people on it. It has a million people. It’s not on Kauai!!! It’s soooooo much bigger!!! U haven’t herd of it? Honolulu?
I did get a new camara thou!!! Not as good as my other one but ok!!! My freind found it at his job so it’s not new. I’ll get a better one.

Yesterday I went to the zoo With my family and got some AWESOME pictures. I got one of this tiger It just walked up to the glass and lied down. I got a great pic of a giraffe too!!!! It was really fun.

Hurdler23,
I hope u beat your best time in the hurdlers!!!

What hapened to luckstomper?? Hmmm??

Hope evryone is having an awesome time!!!

Islandgirlstar808
~iyahna~
jindo2108
May 28, 2011, 4:29 pm

Islandgirlstar808-
Oh yeah! Sorry, sorry, I have heard of Oahu. Must have been sleepy when I wrote that last post…:). Congrats on findin’ a replacement camera! Those sound like cool pics you got! Is it warm on Oahu? It’s gettin a little hot here…
Hurdler23- How was your track meet? Did you get your best time? Hope you did:).
My soccer season ended last week….bah, other team won. It was close though…:).
Oh, and Islandgirlstar808- I dunno what happened to luckstomper. Hmmm…..
Anyway, think I’m done….
-jindo
Hurdler23
June 1, 2011, 4:14 pm

Hola (:
Sadly I didn’t get my best time, because I got injured. I have shin splints which is when the muscles in the front of the shin almost rip (it’s very painful to run with). Track is over, but I still go and run hurdles, since I’m better now. Sorry I sort of have an obsession with hurdles(:
School is done in 12 days and I can’t wait other than the finals I have to take! Weather is finally warming up to the 80′s and now I’m sunburned. Summer needs to come faster! How is everyone doing?
islandgirlstar808
June 1, 2011, 11:16 pm

Jindo2108,
Haha yaa. Oahu is warm. It’s really nice. do u live somwhere cold? If it is smwhere cold I’m glad it’s warming up for u!!! Enyway yaa there good pictures. I’ll put them up on my shot soon. Whenever that is. I dont have computer just a I-pod touch so can’t upload pics. O and sorry about your soccer game. I love soccer. What team are u on?

(Islandgirlstar808)
~Iyahna~
cowgirlexplorer
June 3, 2011, 9:33 pm

Hello Hello!

We just had a 30lb. calf when they are usually 80lbs. He is so cute and tiny! In fact he is so tiny, that he has to be fed with a lamb bottle instead of a calf bottle! I love him!

So whats new with everyone else?

~Celeste~
cowgirlexplorer
June 6, 2011, 3:35 pm

Mt horse lucy just had her baby two days ago… ( i was gonna post right after it happened but i forgot). We went to town, and when we came home, she was standing over her little baby, like “look what i got!” it was so cute. It is a little baby girl, and she is kinda honey colored. She is so precious, and tiny. I named her Winnie. I will post some pics on myshot. (well at least ill try to remember to)

How is everyone else’s summer so far?

~Celeste~
love horses forever
June 7, 2011, 4:14 pm

i llove turtles
love horses forever
June 8, 2011, 4:33 pm

i love horses
Redday66
June 10, 2011, 12:11 am

Hey everybody! I just wanted to say congrats to the winners, and I’m sorry that some of you guys didnt get it this time I was on the Peru trip so I hope that the Cayman Islands are as much fun! All of the pictures and essays are awesome and you all are really creative!
love horses forever
June 12, 2011, 2:28 pm

I heard that there was lots of turtles died in the oil spill.
love horses forever
June 12, 2011, 2:34 pm

I recommend the turtle rescue hospital in Marathon Key, 6FL. They rescue, heal, and release wild sea turtles harharmed. Check out their wesite and webcam. If you are in the area, visit them!
naturephotographer
June 13, 2011, 6:48 pm

Omg!!! It has been FOREVER since the last time i blogged….. Wow there is a lot to catch up on…. First off I am now officially a Junior!!!!! My last day of school was 6-7-2011. I turn 16 this month!!!! I am sooooo excited!!!! It is soooooo hot down here!!! It has been in the high 90′s for the last like 2 weeks. I don’t really have any exciting plans for this summer…. We are going up to Boston over the 4th of July weekend because my brother and uncle are going to a Red Soxs’ game. And I also have Maroon 5 and Train tickets for the beginning of August. But other than that I am just doing an internship at a local daycare and trying to find a job… Fun Fun Fun!!!!

Anyway…. The last post love horses forever talked about the Turtle Rescue Hospital in Marathon…. OMG that place is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! What they do for the turtles is UNREAL!!! I went down to the keys in late January, and my mom and I took a tour of the hospital. What is really neat is that they try and rescue and then release as many has they can. I am friends with them on Facebook, and it seems like every 2 weeks they are posting the release of another turtle they rehabilitated. The hospital building itself used to be a motel that they transformed into a hospital. The swimming pool is now hooked up to the ocean so it moves with the tides, smaller fish can swim in and out, keeping it as close as possible to the turtles’ natural habitat. I could go on ALL DAY talking about the hospital… If we lived closer I would love to be able to volunteer there. It really is an amazing place.

Well I think that is all…..
I might think of something later…
But until then…
I hope all your dreams come true!!!!

Elizabeth
islandgirlstar808
June 13, 2011, 7:22 pm

Hey evryone
I put some new photos up on my my shot. It’s (islandgirlstar) take a look and rate it plz.

(Islandgirlstar808)
~Iyahna~
Skimp27
June 15, 2011, 9:21 pm

Hey guys! It’s been like two months since I last posted. I can’t believe the expedition team is going to the Cayman Islands in just a few weeks. Quite a bit has happened to me. I haven’t posted for so long because my teachers were throwing out assignments an projects almost as fast as I could complete them. now I’m in the calm after the storm, but the school year doesn’t end till next week.
welcome to the blog Love Horses Forever. I like sea turtles too.
Redday66, thanks for the support.
Cowgirlexplorer, I’m jealous. I wish I lived on a farm. you talk a lot about the baby animals and livestock contests and it seems very important to you. I hope the underweight claf does okay.
Theres too many other posts to comment on all of them, but good luck on the move and getting a new camera islandgirlstar808, hurdler23, hope you get better and do better next year, jindo2108, I’ll check out your photographs.
Great news everybody, I’m getting a blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do. I’m kind of a martial arts nut, been doing karate and the sort since i was 6. I already have a blackbelt in a different style of tkd, but two and a half years of hard work got me another one. There’s also been a huge heat wave here. Temperatures upwards of 102 degrees. Everyone has been making a big deal out of it, but it’s not that bad. I just go to the pool when I get home from school, and I’m good. I can’t wait for the next contest to come around, because I will do a lot better. I think I know the kind of writing the judges like now. I will be waiting for further blog posts from the expedition team next month.
Later.
Hurdler23
June 18, 2011, 7:35 pm

Summer is finally here! Thursday and Friday I had my last two regents in Algebra. And Earth Science…and now I’m finally done. End of school party’s all week, and then my brothers high school graduation Sunday! What is everyone doing this summer; I’m doing a bunch of summer work, and hanging out with friends. Hope everyone has a great summer
ZebraUnion
June 22, 2011, 1:13 pm

hey i’m actually one of the winners of this trip.. it’s pretty awesome.. to all of you who entered but didn’t win.. try again next year!
explrmaniac
June 24, 2011, 4:34 pm

Hey ZebraUnion! That is so awesome that you won! I hope you have a lot of fun!!!!!! I wonder which picture is yours? Well have a lot of fun on the trip!!
Uberman5
June 30, 2011, 5:30 pm

Im one of the lucky 15 that won!!! The trip is in 8 days! I’m really excited.

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