Busch Wildlife Area - Nature Walk

Today we visited the Busch Wildlife Conservation Area in New Melle, MO, with the Parents As Teachers program. It was really cool! We started off my investigating some 'feely' boxes - Maria really liked this! She stuck her little hands right in there and grabbed for pine cones, snake skins, and feathers. Then we saw a short animal presentation - they showed us a turtle, millipede, praying mantis, and a milk snake. Maria thought the snake was really neat! She made the squiggling motion we make when we read her the animal book, so she actually made the connection from her book! (Teacher-Mommy is so proud!) And when the conservationist came by with the snake to pet, she stuck out her finger and touched it! Wow... better than mommy!

The most interesting animal to me was a turtle that had been found stuck in a plastic soda ring (the kind that used to hold a 6-pack together). The turtle continued to grow, put the ring constricted it's shell, and it's now in the shape of a peanut, or a number '8' depending on your perspective. I had seen this picture on posters before, but I didn't know the real turtle was still alive. It is now 23 years old!

Then we went on a stroller-friendly nature hike. We saw a huge spider web, frog pond, made bird noises to attract birds (ha ha), and learned what poison ivy looks like! Thank goodness Maria was strapped in the stroller! At the end, our guide pointed out persimmons that had fallen on the ground and suggested we try a bite. Mommy was a little wary, but Maria wasn't! I peeled one and she took a HUGE bite, and gave the sign for 'more'! It was hilarious... she's such a trip these days!