Sports blog: Warrior Nation
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By KARA O'CONNOR

Villager Staff Writer


WILTON -- A dozen curious kids gathered in the children's room at the Wilton Library to learn about the country's endangered species

"It's good to talk to kids about endangered animals," said Chris Clark, a Beardsly Zoo education instructor. "Usually we try to introduce animals to kids at first since they are so young, but it doesn't hurt to teach them a little something too."

Clark came to the library Wednesday afternoon with four different endangered species, a Black-footed Ferret, a Gopher Tortoise, a Chinchilla and an Iguana. Clark taught the kids what kinds of food each animal eats, where each animal lives and how to help save all different kinds of endangered species.

"There are a lot of endangered species out there," said Clark. "All you have to do to help them is recycle or turn a light off when you leave a room -- it's very easy."

Clark also let the kids have a hands-on experience with each individual animal. Clark said she gives hundreds of presentations a year to all different age groups, and she tries to bring animals that fit best with each different age group.

"With younger children, I try to pick age-appropriate animals to show the kids," said Clark. "which usually means a calm animal that the kids can touch, like the ones I brought to the library."

Three-year-old Fiona Conway said she thought the animals Clark picked were fun to look at and touch.

"The Chinchilla was my favorite animal," said Fiona. "It was nice and soft."

Andrea Faulkner, head of Children's Services at the library, said she decided to hold the endangered species program because it's fun for kids and also has an educational aspect. She said the program was a big hit and she intends to have more like it in the future.

"We always like to have animal programs at the library," said Faulkner. "It's always fun and this is a great program where the kids can learn something."

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