Michelle Bergh

Polar Bears International Leadership Meeting - 2011, and Children's Talent Show/Fundraiser, 2012

My interest in helping the Polar Bears with their survival has continued. In May of 2011, the leadership from Polar Bears International came to Minnesota for the grand opening of the new Polar Bear Exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo.

In most zoos, there is not enough space for the majestic bears, and they develop 'patterning', which means they walk back and forth, back and forth, aimlessly, all day long. But with the encouragement and assistance from groups such as Polar Bears International, zoos are now trying to create much larger environments that also have many fun things for the bears to explore. For example, polar bears LOVE to smell things, so the Como Zoo exhibit is filled with various smelly herbs, flowers and other scented things designed to stimulate the bears.

Because of my long-term devotion to helping the polar bears, the Polar Bears International leadership invited me to meet with them at Como Zoo and have a behind the scenes tour. They invited me to attend their leadership camp in Canada when I'm 15, so I can actually see the bears in their natural habitat. I can't wait!

The Como Zoo behind the scenes tour was fascinating. I found out that the staff trains the bears, as well as the other animals, daily. Each day, they go through a pretend typical veterinarian visit so that when the veterinarian really does have to visit, the animals are used to it and don't have to be put under during the exams. They have the bears jump up and down to make sure their joints are all working. They have the animals open their mouths wide so the staff can look inside. They have the bears put up their paws and hold still so the staff can file down their long claws. And they have the bears turn their heads from side to side so the staff can check their ears. It's all for a cost, of course! The bears get paid with big juicy chunks of lard!

Below: With the Polar Bear International leadership and head scientist!

In 2012, I organized and put on another Children's Talent Show/Fundraiser. Once again, it was primarily to benefit a non-profit organization called Polar Bears International, who helps the bears through scientific research, tracking and extensive public education. But it also benefited Feline Rescue, a no-kill cat shelter, as well as the food shelf at the St. Paul Neighborhood House at the Paul Wellstone Center in St. Paul. In fact, the Paul Wellstone Center was the venue for the event.

We ended up selling over 200 tickets, and with the silent auction items, and combined with the prior lemonade stands and fundraisers, I've raised over $9,000.00 since 2009. We also collected an over-flowing barrel of food and several more grocery bags filled with food! It came to 172 pounds of food and $260 directly to the food shelf!

I was so fortunate to be able to attract so very many talented kids to perform at the show. And I've learned through pageantry that sister queens, regardless of which system they may represent, are always there to help out however they can!

We ended up with around 30 performers, and I gave speeches about how we can all help by going green.