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	Three memorable creature-encounters stand out during the fall internship:</p>
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	It was Sunday night, and I had just returned from my home in Allegan, Michigan. Walking up to Willow house, I found my fellow intern Kevin standing outside in what I could only assume was a proper welcome back to campus. I quickly discovered that wasn&#39;t the case. Asking him what he was doing, he replied, &ldquo;I hear a barred owl.&rdquo; Needless to say, I dropped my stuff off, and we immediately headed into the woods to find the owl. We listened to it call for about 45 minutes, often standing directly beneath it. Even though we never actually saw it, just listening to its beautiful call in the night was an unforgettable experience.</p>
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	Another encounter I was blessed with also happened late at night. On my way back from Earth Hall, I heard some scurrying happening on a tree nearby. Fortunately, despite the hour, I had a mind to stop and watch. At first I thought it sounded like a woodpecker, but that didn&rsquo;t make sense considering it was half past ten at night. What could this be? Then two big glowing eyes peered around the trunk to look at me. A flying squirrel. Overjoyed, I walked around the Birch tree to have a better look. Just then, the squirrel flew to a pine tree about 15 feet away. Amazing. Sometimes we are rewarded with little gems like these that stick with us for a lifetime. All we need to do is spend time in God&rsquo;s creation.</p>
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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}Chippy.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;" />One morning, on the way to my station for Michigan History, I noticed a chipmunk. Nothing uncommon, I see this little fellow almost every day scooping the birdseed the chickadees and nuthatches like to drop. My presence must have become familiar to him, because this morning he was particularly brave concerning his proximity to me. I stopped as he scuttled about cramming his bulging cheeks with seeds, not caring about my existence. A crazy thought ran through my head that I should pet this small wonder while he was feeling friendly. So I did. I reached down and petted him right down the back. At this point, he finally decided it was wise to put distance between us. Nonetheless for that brief moment, we were comfortable in one another&#39;s presence.</p>
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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}BCC.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;" /> I have found that when you immerse yourself in nature there is always something to discover, something new to amaze you. Au Sable&rsquo;s campus is engulfed in forest and thus home to far more wild animals than humans. When we encounter these beasts, great and small, we are reminded of the glory of this place. Even if it&rsquo;s the same chickadee I see every day tossing birdseed all over our porch at the Environmental Learning Center, I enjoy stopping and admiring. Living in the rural quiet for several weeks has given me the opportunity to witness some remarkable creatures.</p>
