Wildlife Rescue Series!

In 2001, I became a volunteer with the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. That’s where I met Jackie Ward, team leader extraordinaire. Through Jackie, I met her friend and my fellow volunteer, Christa Duttchen. A few weeks ago, I received an out-of-the-blue email from Christa asking if I’d be interested in presenting about Jane Ray’s Wildlife Rescue Series at her school.

Would I?!!

So Ms. Duttchen put me in touch with teacher-librarian Lina D’Onofrio, and today, I visited Champlain Heights. Small world.
Three classes of grade 6 and 7 students gathered in a downstairs media room. Many of the students were dressed in something pink, to show their Zero Tolerance for bullying. I was impressed by all the students willing to make a public statement about their stance. I’d also heard in advance that many of the students were studying ecosystems and the environment, so I knew they’d have some great questions about the oil spill I experienced, and the environment-related plots of Flight or Fight and Crow Medicine.

The presentation went really well — the initial technology glitches got sorted out (THANKS Rick!) and as I’d suspected, students had some amazingly thoughtful questions.

One thing I realized afterward that I forgot to mention was just how prominently guys figure in Jane Ray’s Wildlife Rescue Series. Sure, the protagonist is female, but there are lots of guys in the books — many of whom carry through from one book to the next — and guys are also heavily involved in the intrigue and the animal rescue adventures.

I was presenting at a Victoria school once, and asked the guys in the class whether having a female protagonist in a book would make them lose interest in that book. I’d heard that line of thinking from more than one marketing “expert.” The answer was, “That’s a bunch of crap! Of course we’d still read it!” I took heart from that, because the environment is definitely a gender-neutral issue, and involves us all, and I think we all have lots to learn from one another.

As one of the teachers said today at the end of the presentation, there are lots of ways to make a difference. Sure, you can rescue animals or work in the environment yourself. But you can also write books; keep a blog; start a school project; raise money for the SPCA or the wildlife rescue centre; plant a garden that attracts wildlife; donate old blankets and towels and equipment to an animal shelter; ride your bike to soccer practice. The list goes on.

I had a great time at Champlain Heights, and want to say a big thank you to all the students and staff who made my visit so special! (Extra thanks to Jade and Kendra for helping me pack up all my gear!)
Enjoy the books, and watch for Gaia Wild this fall!