Summer Camp: The Snow Eater

Summary

Circle Round: “Summer Camp: The Snow Eater” (July 21, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Circle Round, host Rebecca Scheer presents "The Snow Eater," a sound-rich adaptation of a Blackfoot legend that explains why bears hibernate and celebrates the power of teamwork. Through vivid storytelling and engaging characters, the tale offers life lessons on patience, cooperation, and problem-solving, designed to resonate with listeners of all ages.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

Introduction & Cultural Context

• Rebecca Scheer introduces the theme: the coming of spring, animal behaviors, and the origins of bear hibernation.
• The story is rooted in Blackfoot folklore from present-day Alberta, Canada, and Montana, U.S.

The Setting and Main Character (00:50–03:46)

• Characters: Aponi, a kind and resourceful young woman, and her ailing Grandmother.
• Grandmother gifts Aponi a "medicine pipe" of mysterious power, urging her:

  "You shall see [what it can do] when the time is right." (Grandmother, 04:10)

• After her grandmother’s passing, Aponi feels the relentless winter and wonders about the Chinook—the “Snow Eater,” a warm wind that brings spring.

The Problem: The Missing Chinook (04:38–06:42)

• Aponi discovers the Snow Eater (Chinook) hasn’t arrived. She overhears animals—Magpie, Owl, Weasel, and Coyote—learning that Bear has stolen and hidden the Chinook to keep the warmth for himself.
• The animals lament:

  "Thanks to Bear’s greediness, we might never see spring again." (Owl, 06:42)

Uniting for a Solution: Teamwork (07:01–09:29)

• Aponi encourages the animals to combine their unique skills:
  • Magpie: Swooping/diving
  • Owl: Keen senses
  • Weasel: Speed & agility
  • Coyote: Strength
• She declares:

  “If we band together and use our strengths, I believe we can rescue the Snow Eater from Bear’s clutches. Are you with me?” (Aponi, 08:34)

• The animals agree, kicking off a collaborative rescue mission.

Finding Bear’s Den & The Rescue (10:36–14:04)

• Owl scouts and locates Bear’s den atop a snowy mountain.
• Weasel sneaks inside to confirm the Chinook is tied up in a bag, guarded by Bear.
• The rescue:
  • Coyote clears the entrance.
  • Magpie distracts Bear with acrobatic flying.
  • Aponi sneaks in and grabs the bag.

The Magic Pipe & Bear’s Transformation (14:22–16:03)

• Bear nearly catches Aponi, but she remembers the medicine pipe:

  “Grandmother said to use this pipe when the time was right. And this time seems as right as any.” (Aponi, 14:56)

• The smoke puts Bear to sleep; he grows drowsy, yawns, and falls into a deep nap.

Freeing the Chinook & Restoring Spring (16:22–17:22)

• The team struggles with Bear’s tight knots but succeeds:
  • Magpie’s beak, Owl’s talons, Weasel’s teeth, Coyote’s jaws.
• The freed Chinook sweeps down the mountain, instantly melting the snow.

  “We did it, friends. We freed the Chinook. We freed the Snow Eater!” (Aponi, 17:12)

The Origin of Bear Hibernation (17:38–18:08)

• Bear wakes, the Chinook is gone, but he discovers he enjoys sleeping through winter:

  “Unless I sleep through the winters. That nap did feel good.” (Bear, 17:54)

• Conclusion: Bear hibernates, and spring reliably returns each year with the Snow Eater’s arrival.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Grandmother’s Wisdom:
  “It’s also powerful. This pipe is a medicine pipe. It was given to our people many ages ago by the Thunderchief. And it has the power to do great things.” (Grandmother, 03:49)

• Aponi’s Rallying Speech:
  “With a little courage and a lot of teamwork, I promise spring will finally be sprung.” (Aponi, 09:07)

• Bear’s Realization:
  “Maybe if I just lay down and took a little nap.” (Bear, 15:49)
  “Every year when winter comes, I can just conk out.” (Bear, 18:08)

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Important Timestamps

• Introduction & Story Setup: 00:50–03:46
• The Chinook’s Absence Revealed: 04:38–06:14
• Animal Council & Team Assembly: 06:14–09:29
• Journey to Bear’s Den: 10:36–12:12
• Rescue Attempt & Distraction: 12:22–13:57
• Using the Medicine Pipe: 14:56–16:03
• Freeing the Chinook: 16:22–17:22
• Bear’s Hibernation Discovery: 17:38–18:08
• Teamwork-Themed Reflection Activity: 18:08–22:00

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Reflections & Activity (18:08–22:00)

• Rebecca asks listeners to recall a time they were part of a team and encourages drawing and sharing teamwork memories, tying the episode’s moral to real-life experience.
• She highlights the value of patience, respect, cooperation, and self-confidence that comes from teamwork:

  “No matter our age, learning to be part of a team can help us practice patience, respect and cooperation. It can also help us develop trust in other people and confidence in ourselves.” (Rebecca Scheer, 18:08–18:50)

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Episode Accents

• Cultural Touch: The story is based on Blackfoot traditions.
• Musical Highlight: Features the Native American Drone flute, connecting the soundscape to the culture of the story.
• Community Voices: Children from around the world share their favorite Circle Round episodes at the end (22:06–24:00), reinforcing the show’s inclusive spirit.

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Conclusion

“The Snow Eater” delivers a whimsical yet meaningful tale brimming with adventure, suspense, and teamwork. Through Aponi’s leadership and her animal friends’ cooperation, listeners learn valuable lessons about unity and the origins of natural cycles. The episode encourages intergenerational conversation and creative expression, making it a delightful and engaging listen for families.

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Further Exploration & Resources

• Art Activity & Coloring Pages: Listeners can download themed coloring pages at WBUR.org/CircleRound.
• Circle Round Club: Offers ad-free episodes, perks, and more—details at the website.

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For anyone who missed the episode: This summary captures the magical journey of Aponi and her friends as they restore spring and set the origin of bear hibernation, highlighting the importance of teamwork and the power of selfless collaboration.

Transcript

[Ben Brock Johnson]

Hey parents, it's Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR podcasts team. Circle Round is supported by Doordash. Doordash is for those parent moments when the plan falls apart. And as a parent of twins, I can relate. I have a lot on my plate. You know what I often don't have on my plate? Dinner. Or the groceries with which to make said dinner. Sometimes a swimsuit will go missing. Even though I thought we had like four of those groceries. Retail dinner supplies. Doordash can help with all of these things. When Doordash brings the goods right to our door, dad gets a little more time for himself and a little more time for a good bedtime story. When life gets crazy, doordash brings some order to it. Order now.

[Erica Henningson]

Hey campers, Erica Henningson here, camp counselor for Circle Round Summer camp. Summertime is usually hot, and when you're hot, you probably don't think a lot about snow. Unless maybe you could take a big old bite out of some snow to cool off. Well, here goes Circle Rounds episode the Snow Eater.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

WBUR Podcasts Boston.

[Rebecca Scheer]

In your part of the world, what is spring like? Do the flowers and trees burst into bloom? Can you hear the twittering of birds and the buzzing of bees? In some places? Springtime is when certain animals emerge from the long winter's nap known as hibernation, including most bears. In today's story, we'll learn how the bears wintertime snooze came to be. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time today. Our story is called the Snow Eater. It's based on tales from the Blackfoot indigenous peoples who traditionally lived in present day Alberta, Canada, and the US State of Montana. Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this legend, including Cree Summer, who's lent her voice to such animated movies and TV shows as the Patrick Star show, the Loud House, Rugrats, Muppet Babies, DC Superhero Girls, Atlantis, the Lost Empire, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Good Times, which she also voice directed. You grown ups can check out Cree this season on the ABC comedy Abbott elementary. So circle around everyone for the Snow Eater. Long ago, a young woman named Apani lived with her grandmother. One year, in the middle of a cold, bleak winter, Grandmother fell ill. And as the old woman lay in bed, her body growing weaker and her breath growing fainter, she called her granddaughter to her side.

[Grandmother]

As you know, dear granddaughter, my days on this earth are drawing short. Soon I will enter the spirit world of our ancestors. But before I go, I Wish to give you something.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The old woman unfurled her fingers and handed upon a pipe. Its long, thin stem adorned with paint, beads, feathers and fur.

[Aponi]

It's beautiful.

[Grandmother]

It's also powerful. This pipe is a medicine pipe. It was given to our people many ages ago by the Thunderchief. And it has the power to do great things.

[Aponi]

What kinds of things, Grandmother?

[Grandmother]

You shall see when the time is right. When the time is right.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Soon after that, Grandmother breathed her last breath and was gone. Now that Aponi was on her own, the bleak, bitter winter seemed to drag on and on. But then, as she was trudging through the snow and wind one bitingly brisk day, she suddenly realized why.

[Aponi]

The Chinook. It hasn't come. The Snow Eater hasn't come.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The Chinook, or Snow Eater, is a warm, dry wind you'll find in the Rocky Mountain region of North America. It's called the Snow Eater because when it sweeps down a snowy mountainside, it. It makes the air so warm and dry that the snow can instantly evaporate. It can disappear into thin air before it even has a chance to melt.

[Aponi]

The Chinook should have blown in by now, eaten up the snow and brought the spring. If it doesn't come blowing in soon, I'm gonna freeze. Unless I starve first.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Aponi was right. Food and firewood were getting harder and harder to come by. But one morning, as she was hopelessly scouring the forest for both, she suddenly heard.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

Listen up, folks.

[Aponi]

A voice.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

I've got news to share. Big news.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Intrigued, Aponi followed the voice to the edge of a snowy clearing. She hid behind a frozen tree as the chatty black and white bird known as Magpie addressed a group of animals. And there was Fluffy. Wide Eyed Owl.

[Owl]

What's the news, Magpie?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Skinny little weasel.

[Weasel]

Don't leave us hanging.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And Shaggy Coyote.

[Coyote]

Spill the beans already, won't you?

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

All right, friends, brace yourselves. I know what happened to the Chinook.

[Grandmother]

You do?

[Owl]

Hoo.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

I do. It was stolen by Bear.

[Weasel]

Bear stole the Chinook.

[Coyote]

Where did that burly bully take it?

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

Word has it he brought the Chinook to a secret den somewhere so he could hoard the warmth for himself. After all, he's sick and tired of shivering all winter long. Just like we are.

[Owl]

True. Who? But thanks to Bear's greediness, we might never see spring again.

[Weasel]

Yeah, we'll all grow colder and hungrier.

[Coyote]

Then the Chinook will stay with Bear forever.

[Aponi]

I wouldn't be sure about that.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The animals jumped and whipped their heads around as a Pawnee stepped into view.

[Aponi]

I'm sorry to startle you, but I come as a friend.

[Owl]

A friend?

[Aponi]

Friend who's every bit as cold and hungry as you are and every bit as eager to welcome the spring. My name is Aponi, and I don't believe the Chinook has to stay with Bear forever.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The animals exchanged a skeptical look.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

But Bear is bigger than all of us.

[Owl]

Not to mention Burlier and Bossier.

[Coyote]

We could never get that boy to set the Snow Eater free.

[Aponi]

You know what?

[Rebecca Scheer]

You're probably right upon smiled.

[Aponi]

That's why we're gonna take it. Take it? Absolutely. By working together. Magpie, thanks to your long tail and rounded wings, you're a whiz at swooping and diving. Right?

[Weasel]

Right.

[Aponi]

And Owl, you have incredible hearing and eyesight. You can hear and see stuff from miles away. True. Tru and Weasel, not only are you lightning fast, but you can flatten your body and slither through the tiniest of cracks.

[Weasel]

Yes, yes.

[Aponi]

And Coyote, you've got strong, muscular legs that can push and kick, correct?

[Coyote]

That is correct. But what does any of this have to do with taking the Chinook?

[Aponi]

It has everything to do with taking the Chinook. If we band together and use our special strengths, I believe we can track down the Snow Eater and rescue it from Bear's clutches. Are you with me?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Magpie, Owl, Weasel and Coyote were quiet for a moment. Then, one by one, they nodded their feathery and furry heads.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

We're with you, Aponi.

[Owl]

We'll work together.

[Weasel]

We will rescue the Chinook.

[Coyote]

We will set the Snow Eater free.

[Aponi]

That's the spirit. I just have to make one quick stop at home, then we can get started. And listen, friends, with a little courage and a lot of teamwork, I promise spring will finally be sprung.

[Rebecca Scheer]

How will Apani and her new friends work as a team to rescue the Snow Eater? We'll find out what happens after a quick break.

[Ben Brock Johnson]

Hey, parents, it's Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR Podcasts team. Circle Round is supported by Doordash. Doordash is for those parent moments when the plan falls apart. And as a parent of twins, I can relate. I have a lot on my plate. You know what I often don't have on my plate? Dinner. Or the groceries with which to make said dinner. Sometimes a swimsuit will go missing. Even though I thought we had like four of those groceries. Retail dinner supplies. Doordash can help with all of these things. When DoorDash brings the goods right to our door, dad gets a little more time for himself and a little more time for a good bedtime. Story when life gets crazy, Doordash brings some order to it. Order Now,

[Rebecca Scheer]

I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called the Snow Eater. Before the break, Aponi and her new friends Magpie, Owl, Weasel and Coyote were determined to free the warm Chinook, Wind or Snow Eater from Bear's secret den. Apani stopped home to fetch the medicine pipe her dearly departed grandmother had given her. Then she and the animals ventured into the winter wilderness. Owl acted as scout, flying ahead and surveying the landscape below. As the group passed through an ice sculpted valley beneath a towering mountain, Owl let out a hoot.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

Hoo hoo.

[Owl]

I hear bears grumbles and growls coming from the top of that mountain. And I see a big pile of rocks. It looks like the entrance to a secret den.

[Aponi]

Well done, Owl. Bear must be up there. Which means the Chinook must be up there too. Come on everybody, we're going up.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Slowly but surely, Aponi and the animals made their way up the snow covered slope. When they reached the pile of rocks, Aponi turned to Weasel.

[Aponi]

Weasel, I want you to slide beneath these rocks and scurry inside. Take a look around the den, then come back out and tell us what you saw.

[Weasel]

You've got it.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Quick as a wink, Weasel flattened his slender body and slithered under the rocks. When he wriggled out a moment later, his dark eyes were shining.

[Weasel]

I saw the Chinook. It's in the very back of the den and it's tied up inside a great big bag. Bear is standing over it and watching it like a hawk.

[Aponi]

Nice job, Weasel. And thanks for the heads up.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Upon a turned to Coyote and Magpie.

[Aponi]

Coyote, Magpie, you're next. Coyote, I want you to use those strong legs of yours to move some of these rocks so that Magpie and I can enter the den. And once we're in, Magpie, I want you to swoop and dive like your life depends on it.

[Narrator/Animals (Magpie)]

Got it? Got it.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote took a breath, then shoved the rocks aside with a kick. But just as Aponi and Magpie were squeezing through the opening, they heard a deep growl and saw the big hulking form of Bear skulking their way.

[Bear]

I thought I heard intruders trying to enter my secret den. How dare you barge your way in here and.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But before Bear could utter another word, Magpie was flapping her rounded wings, flicking her long tail and swooping all over him. Bear squirmed, wriggled and writhed as he tried fighting off the dive bombing bird. Now that Bear was sufficiently distracted, Akani skirted Past him, seized the bag with the Chinook inside and hoisted it over her shoulder.

[Aponi]

I've got it, Magpie. I've got the Chinook. Go out and join the others. I'll take it from here.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Magpie did as she was told. But the moment she winged her way out of the den, Bear made an unexpectedly quick recovery. He let out a roar, then scrambled to his feet and came lumbering toward Aponi.

[Bear]

You are trying to steal my shin. Or are you?

[Aponi]

Your Chinook. The last time I checked, the Snow Eater belongs to everyone.

[Bear]

Not anymore. It's mine now. And guess what? So are you.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Aponi didn't have a second to lose as Bear lunged at her with another roar, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the medicine pipe.

[Aponi]

Grandmother said to use this pipe when the time was right. And this time seems as right as any.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Quick as a wink, she put the pipe to her lips, puffed out her cheeks and blew. A cloud of smoke came bursting out, enveloping Bear in a gauzy haze. At first, he froze, standing still, still as a stone. Then, slowly, his head lolled backward. His jaws opened wide, and he let out a yawn so powerful Apani could feel his hot breath on her face.

[Bear]

Gosh, is it bedtime already? I'm so drowsy all of a sudden.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Bear staggered backwards, swaying and tottering.

[Bear]

I don't know why, but I can hardly keep my eyes open. Maybe if I just lay down and took a little nap.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And with that, he crumpled to the ground, curled into a big, burly ball and dropped off to sleep. As Bear snored away, Aponi hurried out of the den and back to her friends.

[Aponi]

Okay, everybody, I have the Chinook. But I need your help getting this bag open. Bear's knots are super tight.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The animal set to work undoing the knots. Magpie used her long, black beak. Owl used her thick, sharp talons. Weasel used his pointy little teeth. Coyote used his powerful jaws. And then, at long last, the bag burst open. And out flew the Chinook. After sweeping across the mountaintop, the warm, dry Snow Eater rushed down to the world below. In an instant, the blanket of snow vanished.

[Aponi]

We did it, friends. We freed the Chinook. We freed the Snow Eater. But we'd better get out of here. Bear could wake up any minute.

[Rebecca Scheer]

A Pawnee Magpie, Owl, Weasel and Coyote scurried down the slope. And just in time, too. Because who should come roaring out of his den but a very angry bear?

[Bear]

They're gone. Those Steves are gone. And so is my Chinook. Now I'LL have to endure the icy cold winters again.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Unless a gleam came into his eye.

[Bear]

Unless I sleep through the winters. That nap did feel good. Every year when winter comes, I can just conk out.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what he's done. Ever since. Bear spends all winter hibernating, snoozing and dreaming in his den. And then when the chinook comes blowing in and its warm, dry breeze eats up the snow, the world springs back to life. And Bear does too. Now it's your turn. Think about a time you were part of a team. Perhaps you and your family baked a cake together, or you built a fort with friends. Maybe your class put on a play, or you played on a sports team with your fellow athletes. Find some paper and something to draw with and make a picture of you and your team working together. Share your picture with a grown up in your life. Then ask them to tell you about a time they used teamwork to achieve a goal. No matter our age, learning to be part of a team can help us practice patience, respect and cooperation. It can also help us develop trust in other people and confidence in ourselves. This week's episode, the Snow Eater was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer. It was edited by Sophie Codner. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shyamalonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Want to color while you listen? Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories and you can print them out and color them in Grown Ups. Visit our website WBUR.org circle circle around and click on coloring pages. Special thanks to this week's actors Amy Brentano, Kevin Corbett, Ryan Dallasong, Sean Richards, Todd Schofield, Dawn Ursula and Cree Summer who first stole my heart as Penny on the animated series Inspector Gadget and Winifred Freddie Brooks on the NBC sitcom A Different World. Since then she has starred in a ton of animated movies and TV shows including including Good Times on Netflix. Grown Ups Watch for Cree this season on the ABC comedy Abbott elementary. Our featured instrument this week was the Native American Drone flute. You can learn more about this double tubed wind instrument and see a photo of Eric Shyamalones playing it on our website Once more. That's WBUR.org CircleRound and while you're at WBUR.org CircleRound you can check out our upcoming live events. Get your hands on our Circle Round picture books and you can become the newest member of the Circle Round Club. When you join the Circle Round Club, not only will you support the public radio podcast you love? But you'll get all sorts of special perks including ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, brand new Circle Round swag, and first dibs on tickets to Circle Round events. Not only that, but you'll get exclusive access to the Circle Round Club store where you can nab all sorts of extra goodies including our snuggly plush lion and a personalized birthday message from me. Rebecca Shear Become a member of the Circle Round Club [e-mail] CircleRound Grown Ups. If you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show and talk about us on social media. Our handle on Instagram and Facebook is CircleRound Podcast. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. I'm rebecca shear. Thanks for circling round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Children sharing favorite stories]

My name's Amalia, I fought Melbourne, Australia. My favourite circle on story is the Serpent's Day and my favorite part is when the serpent goes cup did. My name is Weston and I live in Oak Creek, Colorado. And my favorite story is Rhyming Rhino and I like to talk when he bonks his head on the head. My name is Miles and I live in New Orleans. And my favorite episode is the best and my favorite part is when she points the shield at the basse and she saw her brother and then more people came and she was like what? My name is Zoe, I live in Pittsburgh and my favorite circumstory is the Blizzard Wizard. I like the part when the girl rides the deer. My name is Charlotte, I live in Dallas, Texas. My favorite Circle Round story is Buried Treasure. My favorite part is when their aunt says that she found a treasure map. My name is Sam, I live in Rochester, New York. My favorite Circle round is Strong Mind and Kind Heart. And my favorite part is the end when Strong mind wakes up in the house that they used to live in. My name is Bec. I live in Wellington, New Zealand. My favorite Circle Round story is the Fisherman's Leftovers and my favorite part is when he goes on to the beach of Gold. My name is Cole and I live in Portland, Maine. And my favorite Circle round is Grime and Punishment. My favorite part is when the Farmer gets dirt.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry, grown ups. You can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh, so much more on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound.