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A bit of an add-on to yesterday?s blog about the Wolf Howl.
We have been getting a lot of questions about the Howl. So please let me address them.
So what exactly happens at this howl?
The reading takes place at the campfire site or in the gift shop/classroom if the weather in inclement. It lasts about an hour. One of the sanctuary workers or docents, will take a few minutes to tell you about the sanctuary and give instructions on what happens next .Then we walk about ? mile to the far side of the creek from the wolves. Should it be dark, doubtful, the docents will have flashlights to guide everyone down.
The wolves are penned. We will not be able to see them from where we are. But you can hear them. There are also Wild African Dogs, so you may hear some barking too.
The howl portion usually lasts 15-20 minutes. Then we will all walk back to the gift shop/classroom for the Q&A and signing. There is a gift shop, it is open and will have items for sale. You can also take this opportunity to sign up for a membership to the sanctuary. I know that membership includes a discount to the gift shop and admission to member only events. The rest of what you get depends on the level of membership. Check out the sanctuaries website for more details. It is listed below.
There will also be cookies and something to drink if you choose. Non-alcholic of course.
I got tickets! I am coming, anything I need to know?
Bring a lawn chair. There are wooden benches, so you can bring a seat cushion if you like. Also, wear insect repellent. There are mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks to be wary of.
When you arrive at the sanctuary, you will have to give your name at the gate. You will then park and wait until everyone is taken down together to the fire pit. There is a bathroom at the front gate. Also the house at the gate has some nifty indoor displays to peruse.
There is usually a bathroom available at the classroom/gift shop area. But that building is locked, so one of the docents will have to walk folks over as a group to use it. You will not be allowed to wander around alone.
Why are you doing Howls?
To raise money and help save the wolves. The sanctuary must move this year. Currently they are on the Tyson Research Facility grounds owned by Washington University. They are very short of funds for this move. They do have land but it is not ready yet. Time is running short for this move. You can preview the new facilities by going to:
http://www.wildcanidcenter.org/Home/default.htm and clicking on the Capital Campaign link.
But I want to see the wolves!
Sorry, not at the howls. They do have tours and an annual open house which you can attend. At those you can see the wolves in their enclosures and even take pictures. Members get even more benefits: like discounts on regular howls, which include story telling and howling with the wolves.
Why do you only do weekday nights?
It is all the Sanctuary has available. Weekends they have pre-scheduled events. Almost all the money the sanctuary takes in is from their educational programs. They receive little government funding. So the educational programs, howls and gift shop are where they make money to support their programs.
I do not live in Missouri. I cannot afford to come. Wish I could.
Would you like a vicarious thrill? Best we can do. But we have a Howl recorded in 2005. First you will hear the Docent howl, and then the wolves answer.
https://www.laurellkhamilton.com/Podcasts/myjukebox.html
We will also be taping both the reading and the howl. Okay, I should say try to tape it. One of our favorite camera people will not be available that night, so Darla is going to and run the camera. I will probably not put up the reading, Q&A or howl for a bit. Sorry. It takes me a bit of time to get it ready. But hopefully I will get it up before the Swallowing Darkness comes out.
Hope that answers most of everyone?s questions! You can always email if I missed what you wanted to know.
Darla