Supernatural Park

Welcome to a new program at Supernatural Park! Today we welcome Matías Valero from the podcast Twin Portals, to tell us about the art of story telling and his experience as a game master for the Duluth-based DND podcast. We'll get to know Matías, swear him in as a Supernatural Park Ranger, and learn a little bit about D&D and storytelling. So sit back, relax, and DON'T feed the wildlife! Please excuse the in and out sound of our voices. I'm learning how to interview while having my face always positioned in the mic when I speak!

Welcome back to Supernatural Park! We're exploring the Northeast Greenland National Park today and we're doing it by dog sled! Traditionally, dogsledding has been the best way to get around this land of ice, especially since there are no roads for miles, and no big cities for that matter either!We're going whale watching today, or rather Akhlut watching. A shapeshifting wolf that turns into a whale, you'll want to watch out for pawprints that lead to or from the shore and then disappear. We'll also be exploring what it means to be a part of a community and how orca whales interact with theirs. Watch out for the Qiivitoq and remember; do NOT feed the wildlife! If you're interested in learning more about the southern resident killer whale and ways you can help protect this critically endangered species, please visit www.NOAAfisheries.gov and NWF.Org and search for the keyword orcas.  You can also visit Take Action | Wild Orca to see what actions you can take to save killer whales.Sources: “5 Interesting Facts about the Climate of Greenland.” Global.hurtigruten.com, global.hurtigruten.com/destinations/greenland/inspiration/greenland-climate-facts/.“A Brief History of Dog Sledding.” Outdoor Dog World, 13 Mar. 2019, outdoordogworld.com/dog-sledding-history/.“Everything You Need to Know about Dog Sledding.” Manawa, www.manawa.com/en/articles/dog-sledding-question-answer-session. Accessed 16 Mar. 2023.“History of Dog Sledding.” Hurtigruten.com, Hurtigruten, 2011, www.hurtigruten.com/destinations/norway/inspiration/attractions/history-of-dog-sledding/.Sage, Florian. “Akhlut, Hunter from the Depth.” Flo's History, www.floshistory.com/blog/2021/04/20-akhlut-h8hbe-gj55g-rtlet-ng4w9-kl4zt-5w6al-r8spg-7w2rg-j7tpc-y8mc7-2zzdz-y4bst-egrgt-wc78r-wpkfa-3gzsy-4lpg3-g5pbd-pzfsr-9fyar-6pfb4-89kxj-dyp2w-wp36r-gk44y-59ysj-a3gf7-zgfjy-csnks-7a4lg. Accessed 16 Mar. 2023.“The National Park.” Visit Greenland, visitgreenland.com/about-greenland/national-park-2/.“The Whale Museum.” The Whale Museum, 2019, whalemuseum.org/pages/issues-affecting-the-orcas.Twigg, Melissa. “Ittoqqortoormiit Guest House in Greenland Could Be the Most Remote Hotel on Earth.” CNN, 26 Apr. 2019, www.cnn.com/travel/article/ittoqqortoormiit-greenland-remote-hotel/index.html.

Welcome back to Supernatural Park! It's a new season at The Park and with it comes new creatures and new stories.  Today we're sticking close to the shores of Lake Superior to talk about the Mishipeshu, a creature from Anishinaabe culture.  Did you know before Pressie, there was the Mishipeshu? The underwater panther guards the Lake to stop humans from taking too many natural resources. Be advised to not get greedy or you'll make it angry. And remember-do not feed the wildlife!  Today's Lunch Break is brought to you by Karen Pierce Gonzalez and Tinamarie Cox. You can follow their work on Instagram at @KarenPierceGonzalez and @tinamariethinkstoomuch respectively. If you want to learn more about the Great Lakes Compact, the challenges of defending the Great Lakes, and ways you can help advocate, please visit greatlakes.org and cleanwater.org/greatlakescompact. Sources:“Anishinaabe Timeline | American Indian Resource Center | Bemidji State University.” Www.bemidjistate.edu, www.bemidjistate.edu/airc/community-resources/anishinaabe-timeline/.“Cree History.” Cree Nations Heritage Centre, www.creenationsheritagecentre.ca/cree-history.html.“Cryptid Profile: A Lake Superior Cave Monster.” THE PINE BARRENS INSTITUTE, pinebarrensinstitute.com/cryptids/2019/11/11/cryptid-profile-lake-superiors-tentacled-monster.“The Cree Indians - Their Native History and Culture.” Www.native-Net.org, www.google.com/url?q=www.native-net.org/tribes/cree-indians.html&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1677636972395574&usg=AOvVaw2vF34S4zx02Psa2oWNV0vc. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.“Great Lakes Region Tribes.” Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, www.nafws.org/about/member-tribes/great-lakes-region-tribes/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.Hardin, Garrett. “Tragedy of the Commons - Econlib.” Econlib, 2018, www.econlib.org/library/Enc/TragedyoftheCommons.html.“The Great Lakes Compact and the Dangers of Water Diversions from the Lakes.” Clean Water Action, cleanwater.org/great-lakes-compact-and-dangers-water-diversions-lakes-0.“Ojibwe Oral Tradition | Milwaukee Public Museum.” Www.mpm.edu, www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-141.Osborne, Lindi. “Meet Mishipeshu, the Underwater Panther in Lake Superior.” Great Lakes Guide, greatlakes.guide/ideas/meet-mishipeshu-the-underwater-panther-in-lake-superior.Spiliakos, Alexandra. “Tragedy of the Commons' Impact on Sustainability Issues.” Harvard Business School Online, 6 Feb. 2019, online.hbs.edu/blog/post/tragedy-of-the-commons-impact-on-sustainability-issues.“The Underwater Panther (Great Water Lynx, Night Panther, Mishibizhiw).” Native-Languages.org, 2015, www.native-languages.org/water-panther.htm.

Happy Holidays! In this program I, Park Ranger Amy, will read tales and poetry of horror, terror, and creepiness. Grab your favorite drink, sit next to the fire, and don't feed the wildlife!The theme for Supernatural Park is titled "The Magic Forest" by Kevin Macleod at www.incomptech.comSpecial thanks to Belinda Brady, Olive Hyu, and Luke Hannon for their submissions to the Campfire Stories bonus episode. You can follow Belinda and Luke on twitter at @Bindyboo and @lukehannonpoet and Olive Hyu on OliveHyu.com

It's the end of November and with it comes the second bonus episode of Campfire Stories. In this program I, Park Ranger Amy, will read tales and poetry of horror, terror, and creepiness. Grab your favorite drink, sit next to the fire, and don't feed the wildlife!The theme for Supernatural Park is titled "The Magic Forest" by Kevin Macleod at www.incomptech.comSpecial thanks to Luke Hannon for his submission. You can follow on twitter and Instagram with the handle LukeHannonPoet .If you'd like to submit your own short stories, poetry, or flash fiction please email them to thesupernaturalpark@gmail.com. Themes about horror, the supernatural, magic, nature, and conservation are encouraged. 

Happy Halloween! Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Park's new monthly program, Campfire Stories. In this program I, Park Ranger Amy, will read tales and poetry of horror, terror, and creepiness. Grab your favorite drink, sit next to the fire, and don't feed the wildlife!The theme for Supernatural Park is titled "The Magic Forest" by Kevin Macleod at www.incomptech.comSpecial thanks to Clem Flowers and Luke Hannon for their submissions to the first Campfire Stories bonus episode! You can follow them both on twitter with the handles @Clem_Flowers and @LukeHannonPoet  

Wake up visitor! It's morning and we're hitting the trail to look for the bunyip again. This creature is known to be nocturnal so who knows if we will find it? Grab your umbrella in case of danger, stick to the trail, and don't feed the wildlife! A HUGE thank you to everyone who listened, downloaded, and rated the podcast and followed me on social media. This concludes season 1 of Supernatural Park. Season 2 will return this winter with new stories and new programs.Thank you especially to Karen Pierce Gonzalez, who became the first patreon of the Park. Her flash fiction "Amiga Park" was featured on episode 6's Lunchbreak. To see more of her work, please visit folkheartpress.blogspot.comTo learn more about Oodgeroo Noonuccal, her poems, and her work as a political activist, please visit mypoeticside.com/poets/oodgeroononnuccal.If you'd like to learn more about First Nations Communities and how you can take action to enable Australia's First Nations Peoples provide advice to Australian Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives, visit FromTheHeart.Com.AuSources:Brown, Susan. “Beware the Bunyip.” World Book, 18 Dec. 2020, Abookofcreatures. “Yara-Ma-YHA-Who.” A Book of Creatures, 28 June 2015, https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/06/17/yara-ma-yha-who/.Collections , Special. “The Haunted Swamp: The Mystery of the Hexham Bunyip.” Hunter Living Histories, 18 June 2020, https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2020/06/16/hexham-bunyip/.Naish, Darren. “Tales from the Cryptozoologicon: Bunyip.” Scientific American Blog Network, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2013, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/tales-from-the-cryptozoologicon-bunyip/.“Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poems .” Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poems > My Poetic Side, https://mypoeticside.com/poets/oodgeroo-noonuccal-poems.“Yara-Ma-YHA-Who.” Yara-Ma-Yha-Who | Facts, Information, and Mythology, 13 Oct. 2004, https://pantheon.org/articles/y/yara-ma-yha-who.html. 

Welcome back Visitor! Take in that amazing fall view of the Northshore and set your sights for spring. We're hiking to south east Australia to learn about Tiddalik the Frog and the Bunyip that comes from Australia's First Nations Peoples. Hopefully you don't have anywhere to be but if you do, you won't be gone long. What may seem like an overnight camping trip will only take an hour in the real world so you'll be back in time before you know it!Stick to the trail and don't feed the wildlife (no matter how cute they look!) Today's Lunchbreak is a flash fiction piece called "Amiga Park's Marvel" by Karen Pierce Gonzalez. Find her on twitter @folkheartpress. To learn more about the impact of climate change and how it affects bushfires in Australia and to help in the recovery effort, please visit the official website of Australia's World Wildlife Fund at wwf.or.au. You can also find a list of other recovery projects at globalgiving.org/austrailian-wildfires-releifSources cited:“Bringing Indigenous Fire Back to Northern Australia.” The Nature Conservancy, 5 Nov. 2021,https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/asia-pacific/australia/stories-in-australia/bringing-indigenous-fire-back-to-northern-australia/#:~:text=Aboriginal%20people%20arrived%20in%20Australia,the%20land%2C%20and%20regenerate%20vegetation.Brown, Susan. “Beware the Bunyip.” World Book, 18 Dec. 2020, https://www.worldbook.com.au/bunyip/.“Children's Week.” Museums Victoria, https://museumsvictoria.com.au/childrens-week/.“Dreamtime Stories.” Www.kullillaart.com.au, https://www.kullillaart.com.au/dreamtime-stories/.Dungey, Grace. “As Australia Faces New Fire Reality, Forest Restoration Tactics Reevaluated.” Mongabay Environmental News, 15 Mar. 2022, https://news.mongabay.com/2022/02/as-australia-faces-new-fire-reality-forest-restoration-tactics-reevaluated/.Gabbert, Author Bill. “The Story of Australia's Million-Hectare Fire.” Wildfire Today, 27 July 2020, https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/07/27/the-story-of-australias-million-hectare-fire/.“Mutating Myths: AMNH.” American Museum of Natural History, https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/water/mutating-myths.“Terminology Guide.” Narragunnawali, https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/about/terminology-guide. 

Hello visitor! It's Park Ranger Amy here wishing you a happy International Podcast Day and to give an exciting announcement! The Park would like to formally invite you to a new program! On the last day of every month, Supernatural Park will host a new bonus episode called Campfire Stories. Bring your favorite beverage and snack and gather around the cozy campfire with me as I read you spooky ghost stories sent in from all over the world! Do you have a  flash fiction, short story, or poem filled with untold horrors or frightening prose that you know will send shivers down our spine? Send them to thesupernaturalpark@gmail.com to be read out loud. The first bonus episode will air this Halloween, October 31.Join Supernatural Park for this thrilling good time! The trail of crushed sea glass will arrive at your door to whisk you away for a night of campfire stories. The park loves a good story and I know you do too so don't miss it! 

Laissez les bon temps rouler! We're travelling through the bayous of Louisiana in search of the Honey Island Swamp Monster and the Rougarou; Louisiana's very own werewolf. While we ponder our place in the world, we'll learn the challenges the Mississippi River Delta faces and how wolves have been perceived throughout history.  Stick to the trail (or stay on the boat rather) and don't feed the wildlife!If you'd like to learn more about the Mississippi River Delta and ways you can help visit https://mississippiriverdelta.org/If you want to learn more about wolves, their role in the environment, or just want to see cute wolf photos, visit the International Wolf Center's website at https://wolf.org/Today's Lunch Break is a poem titled "Fire Circle" by park visitor Janee.Sources:“America Needs the Delta.” Restore the Mississippi River Delta, 22 Sept. 2021, https://mississippiriverdelta.org/.Evans, Michael. “Facts about Louisiana Bayous.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 28 Apr. 2022, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/louisiana-bayous-59733.html.Heimlich, Evan. “Acadian-Cajun History and Culture.” Acadian Genealogy - Historical Acadian-Cajun Resources, 1 Dec. 2018, https://www.acadian.org/history/acadian-history/overview/.Honey Island Swamp Tours . “Honey Island Swamp Legends: Pearl River Swamp Tours, LA.” Pearl River Swamp Tours, New Orleans, 7 Sept. 2022, https://www.pearlriverswamptours.com/legends/.Kerner, Frank Kerner. “History of the Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf.” Pelican State of Mind, 18 Oct. 2021, https://pelicanstateofmind.com/louisiana-love/history-rougarou-louisiana-werewolf/.Kinchen, Cole. “The Legend of the Honey Island Swamp Monster.” Pelican State of Mind, 3 May 2021, https://pelicanstateofmind.com/louisiana-love/legend-honey-island-swamp-monster/.Kinchen, Cole. “The Mystery of the Louisiana Feu Follet.” Pelican State of Mind, 4 May 2021, https://pelicanstateofmind.com/louisiana-love/mystery-louisiana-feu-follet/.Renfro , Alisha. “Save the Swamp: But, Beware the ‘Rougarou' • The National Wildlife Federation Blog.” The National Wildlife Federation Blog, 29 Oct. 2019, https://blog.nwf.org/2019/10/save-the-swamp-but-beware-the-rougarou/. 

Welcome back visitor! Today will be easy as it requires no hiking. Just enjoying a nice, relaxing ride on a dragon turtle, who has kindly offered to take us to the South China Sea. We'll be looking for the jiaoren, the Chinese mermaids who cry pearls instead of tears. And we may just run in to an unexpected surprise on the way! Sources Cited: Alan Rankin Last Modified Date: August 26 & Alan Rankin Date: August 26, 2022. What is a dragon turtle? All Things Nature. Available at: https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-a-dragon-turtle.htm [Accessed September 6, 2022]. Creative, J.L., Jiaoren. Westport Winery Garden Resort - Jiaoren. Available at: https://www.westportwinery.com/oceans-daughter-distillery/spirit-list/duckleberry-grunt.html [Accessed September 6, 2022]Hansen, C., 2014. Zhuangzi. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/zhuangzi/ [Accessed September 6, 2022]. jamespederson5, 2021. Mythic creature of the day: Jiaoren. Mythology Worlds. Available at: https://www.mythologyworlds.com/post/mythic-creature-of-the-day-jiaoren [Accessed September 6, 2022].  Peng symbolizes great aspiration, indomitable will-SSCP. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2022, from http://www.csstoday.com/Item/5510.aspx

Welcome back visitor! Today we head into Sherwood forest where we visit one of the oldest oak trees in England, Major Oak. Then we'll head into the Harenna Forest in Ethiopia and the Dehing Patkai Rainforest of India. Hopefully we won't run into any bugbears on the way!Today's lunchbreak is a short story titled "The Gnarly Oak" written by Thomas Strewler.-Sources Cited-Buchan, Ella. “The Last Beekeepers of Ethiopia's Harenna Forest.” BBC Travel, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180123-the-last-beekeepers-of-ethiopias-harenna-forest.Greenberg, Mike. “What Was the Crocotta?” MythologySource, 28 June 2021, https://mythologysource.com/what-was-the-crocotta/.Nayak , Niranjan. “Dehing Patkai - the Rainforest of Assam in Peril - Econe.” ECONE, https://www.econe.in/post/dehing-patkai-the-rainforest-of-assam-in-peril.Nottinghamshire County Council. “History of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood and Major Oak.” Nottinghamshire County Council, https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leisure/country-parks/history-of-sherwood-forest-robin-hood-and-major-oak.Richard. “What Is the Crocotta .” Mythology Planet, 24 June 2021, https://mythologyplanet.com/what-is-the-crocotta-indian-mythology-beast/.“Sherwood Forest-Where Legends Grow .” Sherwood Forest, https://www.visitsherwood.co.uk/. 

Put on your hiking boots and long sleeved shirt and pants; we're heading into the wetlands of Loveland, Ohio. Today we're on the search for the Loveland Frogman and we'll discuss the anatomical similarities it shares with regular frogs. How far do you think this cryptid can jump? Welcome to Supernatural Park! Sources:Dalea, Natalie. “The Strange Case of the Loveland Frog, Ohio's Amphibian Cryptid.” Theportalist.com, 29 July 2020, https://theportalist.com/the-loveland-frog. Posted by blogger in Charleston Terrors, and Tim Bertelink. “The Loveland Frogman – Ohio's Most Famous Cryptid.” The Loveland Frogman – Ohio's Most Famous Cryptid - Charleston Terrors, 19 Apr. 2021, https://charlestonterrors.com/the-loveland-frogman-ohios-most-famous-cryptid/. “The Loveland Frogman.” Sinisterhood , created by Christie Wallace , and Heather McKinney, episode 133, https://www.sinisterhood.com/shownotes/episode-133-the-loveland-frogman. The Loveland Frog.” Skeptoid, https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4473. Staff, WLWT Digital. “The Legend of the Loveland Frogman.” WLWT, WLWT, 5 Oct. 2021, https://www.wlwt.com/article/the-loveland-frogman/37871711#.

Welcome to Supernatural Park! Here you'll find all sorts of creatures that can be read about in myth, legend, and folklore. If it's the popular Bigfoot you're interested in or the adorable, lesser known carbuncle you're anxious to see you're sure to find them here. Please follow just a few rules we have as we guide you along:1. Stick to the trail2. Do not approach the wildlife, unless instructed to do so3. Do not feed the wildlife This week we'll be looking for Pressie, the Park's mascot and Lake Monster that calls Lake Superior her home. We hope you enjoy your visit! Sources cited for this episode: 1.The Pine Barrens Institute. An online, cryptozoological, Midwest folklore and historic newspaper reference site based out of Janesville, WI01, D., & Benedict, /  A. (n.d.). Pressie - cryptid/folklore profiles. THE PINE BARRENS INSTITUTE. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://pinebarrensinstitute.com/cryptids/tag/pressie 2.  The University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies The Ojibwe People's Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/ 3.  The Duluth News TribuneThomas , R. (2017, December 9). You cannot handle Pressie. Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/you-cannot-handle-pressie 4.  Seamonster.org-You can find a video of Randy talking about his experience hereSeamonster.org Lake and sea monsters sightings,videos and news. SeaMonster.org Lake and Sea Monsters Sightings,videos and news. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://seamonster.org/