I suppose that it had to happen that one day we would go to some volunteer position which did not work out, but we had never believed that. As I mentioned in my journal previously, things have not gone well, but we always try and make things work and believed that we would manage to do so. We arrived there to find that the volunteer coordinator had mislead us about what we were to be doing. While she did state that there would be "light cleaning," she kept talking of mostly we would be doing interpretation with some work in the visitor center. Once we arrived we quickly found that this was anything but the truth.

The first disappointment was that in the calendar for the three months that we were to be there, we saw only four occasions where we would work outside of the visitor center. We were assured that if we wished they would let us spend some time working in the hatchery and since we were only scheduled for two days a week, I thought that could work.

Our first day of training began by spending time with two lady volunteers who mostly talked about the cleaning we were to do and the chemicals that we were required to use. After lunch we met with the volunteer coordinator and we showed her that it states prominently in our resume that we do not clean public toilets. She gave us a great deal of platitudes and stated that they would modify the schedule to accommodate us. Unfortunately, she seems to have then told the ladies who were showing us around that they would be required to do the cleaning that we would not be doing, which of course upset them and made them angry with us.

To make a long and difficult story short, yesterday morning we were informed that since we would not unbend and use chemicals which cause Pam asthmatic attacks, we would not be needed at the hatchery. There was a great deal more that took place with all sorts of accusations by the volunteer coordinator and by the hatchery manager. Much of what was stated was clearly untrue, and while I hesitate to use the word “lies,” I really do not know what else to call it. We were more hurt than angry. This is not a typical USFWS position. They continue to insist that cleaning is not your primary job, but the fact is that only volunteers do janitorial work in the visitor center, public restrooms, or the office areas. It is also a fact that if there are no visitors, cleaning is most of what volunteers are expected to do.

This is not the place for long attacks or fights and so I will say no more other than to say that we left under very unpleasant circumstances and we highly suggest that anyone considering going there This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information about what happened and why, before you go because this is not a place where things are as they appear.

Given a few days to think things over and organize our thoughts, we will be placing a summary to the experience on the Wolf Creek page of the website, but for now we just need time to relax and move on. We will be going up to spend some time with our great friends at Lee Bottom Flying Field and to help them with the coming fly-in and to return to a location where people are honest and value the work of their volunteers.

The mainstay of all fish hatcheries is egges. Some hatcheries have their own brood fish, but most actually receive their eggs from another hatchery since large fish produce far more eggs that one hatchery can use. The fertailzed eggs are kept at the hatchery of origin until the eyes begin to form and then are shipped to the hatcheries that are in need of them. Say thank you to Federal Express, overnight shipping.

Once the eggs arrive they are disinfecetd and checked, then portioned out into special jars for incubation. Each of the jars have fresh stream water continously flowing through them to keep the eggs at a steady temperature and the water keeps the eggs stirred up and moving about. In a couple of weeks we will have new babies on in the raceway!

It has been a long time since I last posted to the journal and there have been several reasons. For some time now I have not been quite sure exactly what to post. We ran into some serious problems here and in the first week there were times when it was doubtful if we would stay for our planned time. There are several reasons for this but this is not the place to tell all of the gory details, so a very short version is all that I plan to say.

The first problem came when in our first part of training for the visitor center, we discovered that cleaning the facility and restrooms was a significant part of the duties expected. In addition, one of the chemicals that the ladies training us insisted we must use is one that causes Pam serious breathing difficulties. By noon we were so very down that we were wondering if we would even stay the week. After lunch we talked with the volunteer coordinator about the problem, pointing out that our resume, which she had in her possession, does state that we do not clean public restrooms. By the end of the day we believed that issue to have been resolved, but discovered later that this was not to be. There were major problems with some of the other volunteers over the idea that we might do less cleaning they they or that any accommodation to us would be made. This was mostly from one couple and they leave next week, so we do now believe that the problem has been put to rest.

Well, one more month has faded into history on the Great Adventure. Once more it brings with it the start of a new experience for us and we look forward to this with anticipation and excitement. This is our first time at a fish hatchery and so much of what we will be doing is new to us. We seem to flourish best with new things to learn and do. Our trip here was pretty uneventful and staff here always give new arrivals two days in which to get settled and look around. Tomorrow we begin to learn our new positions.

 When we got up this morning I put Muffie out as is the practice. Shortly after she was out, even before the coffee had completed brewing, I heard her whining and even woofing just a little so went to investigate. We had been told that deer are quite common in the RV park so it was not too great a surprise to look out and see two of them, just at the edge of our lawn, investigation to see who the new arrivals are. Muffi didn't mind so much, but they wouldn't even come on over to greet her up close! When I stepped outside I only warranted a quick glance from the two deer as they were much more interested in the new animal arrival than just more people.