The winter weather patterns in Kansas are so varied that it difficult to get acclimated to the weather. One day it is 70 degrees F and the next day it 15 degrees F. And the wind blows strong with each weather front that comes through.
Being a long time resident I have witnessed one morning 80 degrees with severe thunderstorms,rain, hail, then in midddle of the day a cold front coming in, rain changing to sleet, then a thunderstorm with snow falling (thundersnow) by 5:00 pm and then very heavy snow all night with 24 inches on the ground by noon the next day. When the weather temperature remains constant it gives the body and mind time to adjust. However, I am also aware that other parts of the US and Canada probably get more dramatic changes

NSF $2,500.000.00 to develop a film about dinasaurs to inspire middle schoolers 2021
Check out Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) "Festivus Report"

I didn't say anything about a government grant. I was not being sarcastic.
Sarcasm definition: A taunting, sneering, cutting or caustic remark, gibe or jeer.
You are way "off base" on your comments.

ECOLOGY definition: A branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.
The BISTI/De-Na-Zin Wilderness supports a small number of nesting golden eagles, ferruginous hawks and prairie falcons. All of these species are extremely susceptible to human disturbance during the nesting season from February 1 to July 1. If the adult birds are approached too closely, even for a short time, they will likely abandon the nest, leaving their eggs or young to die of exposure. Travelers or photographers should be aware that disturbing nesting eagles is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Act and could result in civil and criminal penalities.
If a person could put together a good photo slide show for educational purposes to help educate underprivileged school children who may never get to visit these areas in person they might contact NSF for sponsorship. The NSF has done some good work like this in the past.
Suggestion: go online to get info about BISTI Badlands and surrounding areas. It is quite interesting for some people.

Contact the Federal government NSF and tell them you are going to take pictures of the BISTI Badlands and nature related places in N.M. to enspire underprivileged school children and make arrangements with a school system to show your pictures to these children. The government might supply you with a car and driver extra camera equipment, pay airfare, hotel reservations, meals etc.

Canon EF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 IS USM using manual mode, Hummingbird picture 400 mm, f 9, 1/3200, ISO 640
Tern flying over lake: 400 mm, f 11, 1/800, ISO 640. I used f 11 on second picture because bird was cruising by very fast and I wanted more depth of field. Both pictures cropped.

My wife and I visited the North Rim on May 15th 2006 (opening day for the summer season). We were only there from 10:00am until about 3:00pm. I took a few pictures from the top level with my Canon G-2 three megapixel camera. I hope you get good clear weather for your photo shoot.

Iris are beautiful. I need to get the light blue Iris

Two Frosty and Frozen pictures. Snow falling two years ago December 2019 and a Tern eating a small fish on frozen lake ice January 2020. Present temperature is +12 F

Neat pictures Photogirl ! I really like #2, #5 and #6.

I was using my Canon 70D camera with a Canon Lens EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM. Exposure at 400mm, f 6.4,
1/2500, iso 640. Distance about 40 feet, Camera hand held and picture is cropped.

I managed to get several good Hummingbird pictures this year but I liked this one with Honeybees.

The young eagles have black feathers and black beaks/bills as they mature their feathers trend toward brown and their beaks stay dark colored and then, as everyone knows, they get white feathers on head and neck area and their beaks turn to a yellow color. You are probably correct on the 3 year timing.