2011 Year in Review: Amanda Nicholson

Amanda Nicholson, Director of Outreach: Overall, 2011 has been a memorable year for me – so many things have changed at the Wildlife Center.  While I think we’ve always done great work here and I’ve been proud to be a part of it, we’ve been taken to new heights this year with the arrival of our webcam, moderated discussion, and new means of communicating with the world. When I spent those first few long days on the moderated discussion back in April 2011, I knew that we were doing something “big” – but I don’t think I fully grasped the realization of how many new opportunities this was going to give us.  We have “met” so many new friends through our new virtual experience – and some of the memories that I now hold most dear center around a fifth-grade class in Bullhead City, Arizona. When Mrs. Matheson’s class sent us cards for the Norfolk Botanical Gardens eaglets in May, I was in the midst of posting numerous cards from a variety of classrooms and schools to our website.  When I was able, I’d quickly send off an email to the teacher to establish contact so that I could come back later and find out more about how teachers were using the webcam in their classrooms.  I think Mrs. Matheson’s original email back to me said something to the extent of “I’m happy to share information, but I don’t think I really do all that much!”  She certainly went on to prove herself wrong! With school back in session in August 2011, Mrs. Matheson decided to “adopt” a Wildlife Center education animal through the Center’s Caring for Critters program.  Her class decided on one of the Center’s education Barred Owls … and our relationship with her classroom really began.   I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the creative ways Mrs. Matheson has worked the information into her lesson plans – from owl poetry to math lessons to narrative writing assignments and more – the creativity coming out of that group of fifth-graders has been impressive.  It’s really all the “little moments” that I remember and hold on to though – the birthday card that Mrs. Matheson’s class sent me [including an actually little “warm fuzzy” from one of the students], the hand-made holiday cards that arrived for the WCV staff – with each staff member getting their very own card from one of the students, hearing that one of the students asked Mrs. Matheson "Are we going to do more math with Misty and Gus [the owls]?  That was fun!"  One of the other best things from Mrs. M that has come through my inbox was a story about what a positive impact this is having on parent-child relationships as well.  One of the translators at Mrs. Matheson’s school relayed a story about one student and his dad – and just how incredibly proud that father was of his son.  Many of the students go home at the end of the day and tell their parents all about the things they’ve been doing and seeing with the Center’s critter cam.  Telling and showing the parents all the things their children are doing with Gus (and all the other critters) is getting them more involved with their child. Many people who have followed the Wildlife Center’s “cam in the classroom” sessions on the moderated discussions comment on how the Wildlife Center is impacting the lives of those students.  While that may be true, I hope everyone also realizes what an incredible impact the students (and their amazing teacher) are making OUR lives here at the Center – these are the stories that I will certainly never forget! Read about more “memorable moments” from our staff, volunteers, and students — 2011 Year in Review.