To kiss a quail and hug a fox

The Whee has been visiting the Wichita Wildlife Refuge since she was nine months old. (She'll tell you she remembers that first trip, but don't believe everything an eleven-year old tells you).

She been so much she's named all the sculptures in the Visitor's Center. She has not grown tired of trips there; indeed she has grown into a sort of ownership of the place.  She knows in which patch of trees she will see deer, and which section of the preserve the longhorns are in, and she can give you a guided tour of the visitor's center.

She likes the night sounds room, and the bones room, and pushing all the buttons to make the stuffed animals hoot, huff, howl, or gobble.

I like it that the place is kid-friendly and hands on. Even if it brings out some weirdness... Remember the poor little dog in the Grinch?

I like that she feels a kinship with this place. I believe we need to offer our children this type of connection to place and to the outdoors.  Feeling ownership will do far more in making them aware and responsible for the environment than any lecturing we do.

And I like that her enthusiasm and joy is contagious, and that the wildlife personnel are kid- friendly just like the exhibits.

I look forward to her taking her kids there someday.  Then I'll get to do all the weird stuff. Mabe I won't wait till then.