A HUGE THANK-YOU

KIDS

Thank God for kids, who help FWMA in so many ways. They enable projects to be completed while learning new skills and acquiring an appreciation for the animals and their rehabilitation.

One example of the assistance provided by kids is the project led by Mike Mason of the Second Chance program at the Sopchoppy Educational Center. The "hands on" building projects provide students with the opportunity to learn by doing, important to the instructional process. This group of kids had a project of building an injured hawk recovery cage for the Florida Wild Mammal Association, designed to give injured hawks and other birds a place to rehabilitate. This was an excellent way to teach many of the academic and life skills that they need to be successful. Students experience challenges that inevitably arise in the course of the project that require teamwork and decision-making skills.

Other groups of kids have also assisted FWMA. These include the T.O.P.S. program and Mrs. Chansey’s group, Juvenile Justice and Tallahassee Community College.

We invite other kids in ROTC, 4H, church groups, and other organizations to participate in future FWMA projects.

The major contribution that kids have made to FWMA recently is via the Student Work Program. These students are working toward a goal of working with animals as a career. One of the current participants who does an excellent job is Lesley Baker. When asked to describe her FWMA work, she wrote the following:

"My name is Lesley Baker and I'm an employee at Florida Wild Mammal Association. I first fell in love with this place when I was in 7th grade and my sister and I used to volunteer at FWMA. We cleaned cages, unfolded newspapers, and a wide array of other interesting things. So for the past 6-7 years I've volunteered off and on. In 2007 I was given a job at this awesome facility. This was a great opportunity for me. I love being around animals (I have a Zoo at my house) and to help rehabilitate them and release them into the wild was exciting. I plan on majoring in Biology Paraprofessional and after that applying to Veterinary school. FWMA has given me so much experience and with that opened many opportunities for other jobs in the future. Working here will also help me gain my Wildlife Rehabilitation License. Hopefully one day I can open my own center (maybe). At FWMA you see and work with animals that many people have never seen. You see the animal's personalities and when the animals actually accept you in their space. I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing if I did not have this job. No job has ever brought me more joy. To have the ability to help an animal get better and then watch as they go back to their environment is a feeling you can't easily describe, for you have made a difference in that animal's life. To me that moment alone is worth all the work, tears, bites, scratches, and time I put into that animal."

As you can tell, this is a perfect win-win arrangement. Unfortunately, Lesley and the other students have to move on to the next step in their education eventually; their dedication and contributions to wildlife rehabilitation will long be remembered, especially by those animals lucky enough to have felt the healing hands of Lesley and the others.