Marcel--

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Posted by gene on July 24, 2002 at 00:20:51:

I saw your post about doing programming. i just wanted to let you know that i also work for an agency -- the missouri department of natural resources as a naturalist. i have done several snake programs and thought i might offer some tips-(just thought i might help)- i usually do programs for 60-100 kids, and occasionally families.

- i like to demonstrate how a snake is important by what it eats and what eats it. i do this by making laminated sheets that have pictures of things like a rat, hawk, toad (hognose), bird, skunk, etc. the kids are then asked to say "food" if a snake eats it, or "danger" if it eats the snake. im my experience this is very effective at getting kids interested in what you are saying. (i then have them come up and tape the picture under food or danger.)

- i also usually talk about the myths such as: hoop snakes, copperhead/black rat snake hybrids, anacondas eating people etc. (this is often humorous) and why WE are scared of them. (kids usually have crazy stories to tell and myths you have never heard of...)

- i then talk about how to identify a venomous species (osage copperhead and timber rattle snake is ours) dont use agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster or any other scientific names, kids and adults lose interest....
- then i let anyone come up while i hold a king or rat snake and i let them touch it with ONLY 2 fingers ( this keeps the snake from being pulled and tugged on which WILL happen otherwise.
hope this may give you some ideas, and if you get any throw them back at me
Gene Benbow
Springfield MO

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Actually Marcel 07/24/02 (0)

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: I saw your post about doing programming. i just wanted to let you know that i also work for an agency -- the missouri department of natural resources as a naturalist. i have done several snake programs and thought i might offer some tips-(just thought i might help)- i usually do programs for 60-100 kids, and occasionally families. : - i like to demonstrate how a snake is important by what it eats and what eats it. i do this by making laminated sheets that have pictures of things like a rat, hawk, toad (hognose), bird, skunk, etc. the kids are then asked to say "food" if a snake eats it, or "danger" if it eats the snake. im my experience this is very effective at getting kids interested in what you are saying. (i then have them come up and tape the picture under food or danger.) : - i also usually talk about the myths such as: hoop snakes, copperhead/black rat snake hybrids, anacondas eating people etc. (this is often humorous) and why WE are scared of them. (kids usually have crazy stories to tell and myths you have never heard of...) : - i then talk about how to identify a venomous species (osage copperhead and timber rattle snake is ours) dont use agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster or any other scientific names, kids and adults lose interest.... : - then i let anyone come up while i hold a king or rat snake and i let them touch it with ONLY 2 fingers ( this keeps the snake from being pulled and tugged on which WILL happen otherwise. : hope this may give you some ideas, and if you get any throw them back at me : Gene Benbow : Springfield MO : -

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