One fine Saturday in June, outreach coordinator Raina, fellow outreach volunteer Shelly, and I set out to attend the Grace Farm Tour in Keswick, Virginia, with three of our education ambassadors.
As we wrap up 2017, one thing I realized is that no matter how much or how little someone knows about wildlife, the awe, wonder, and amazement of seeing wild animals up close is always the same.
For me, 2017 didn’t really start with a bang … more with a “thud”.
I am continuously humbled by the many things people do for the staff at the Wildlife Center. We have supporters surprise us with lunch, make sure we all get an eagle calendar, and drop off treats every week.
This year, two things stand out for me as being special or memorable in 2017, and both relate to our education snakes in our Outreach Room.
The Bear Who Broke the Internet.
Even though I only started working here in October, I have had so many wonderful memories at WCV. It is hard to pick just one memory that sticks out. Looking back on my first week here I was beyond excited but also very nervous. My nerves quickly disappeared that first week when I was shot by a water gun by no one other than Dr. Ernesto -- my boss!
Yet, out of all of the animals I knew I would love, one caught me by surprise: the Virginia Opossum.
Since being back I’ve learned a lot about myself -- things I’m good at and things I need to improve on. One thing I learned I enjoy doing is teaching the students that come through our doors.
One of the most memorable experiences of the past year was helping the Wildlife Center host the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association annual symposium in March 2017.
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