Wildlife Camp

This past week Danielle attended camp at a local Wildlife Center. Among other things, this center rehabs and houses native animals that are wounded or unable to survive if left on their own. She had a great time!

Her favorite part of each day was when she got to take an active role in caring for the animals. One day she helped exercise a woodchuck. One day she mixed up food and fed baby birds. One day she cleaned flying squirrel cages while the squirrels rolled around her feet in hamster balls. She did lots of other things with the animals, but I'm still finding out about everything in bits and pieces. The days were long, it was very very hot everyday, and she was tired by the time I picked her up each afternoon. I know they also had special animal visitors every day. They got to see the animals and learn a little more about them. She liked the tiny saw whet owl with the big attitude. They got to net tadpoles and frogs and fish out of the study pond. And they played games and sang silly songs like every kid should experience at summer camp. She loved the leaders and made a friend she's hoping to be penpals with. She had a really good week and is pretty sure she'd like to go back next year.

On the next to last day the kids put on skits for the parents and then showed us around the facilities afterward. The skits were supposed to be animal related and show us what to do in various animal encounters. Danielle came up with the skit for her group. She was a mommy deer who hid her baby under a bush while she went off on vacation (hunting?). Someone found the deer and wanted to know what to do. They called the Wildlife Center and were told to leave the baby alone because the mother would return for it. Afterward, Danielle returned for her baby and moved her to a new hiding spot. It was cute. Danielle was mad, though, because the "bossy" girl in their group insisted that Danielle wear antlers, and "EVERYONE knows mommy deers don't have antlers!!" Duh.

Camp was over at noon on the last day, so the two of us went out to lunch together. We had a very nice date - it was a great end to a great week!