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Top of the class

Elementary school goes wild for the day

Raccoons, a baby alligator and even a Florida panther make an appearance at Citrus Springs Elementary School for the annual Wetlands Festival.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published April 21, 2005

CITRUS SPRINGS - It is not unusual to see an alligator, a Florida panther or even a batfish on the Citrus Springs Elementary School campus this time of year. During the annual Wetlands Festival, anything wet and/or wild goes.

The school has been holding this event for 10 years. Presenters include teachers from within the school and community members.

Back this year were some favorites: Representatives from St. Martin's Aquatic Preserve, who brought a watery touch tank; Laurie Diestler, from the Historic Courthouse in downtown Inverness; and representatives from Animal Rescue Kingdom out of Ocala.

Animal Rescue is very popular with the children. They had a chance to touch a 2-year-old alligator and pet a friendly disabled raccoon, which can apparently very successfully use a toilet, including flushing.

The group also has rescued opossum fetuses from a road-killed adult and showed students one that was growing well but was still small enough to comfortably curl up in a hand.

The star of the Animal Rescue presentation was a male Florida panther.

This was the favorite exhibit for at least one student. "I like seeing the panther and the raccoons," said fourth-grader Torrie Haskins, " 'cause you get to hold the baby raccoon."

Rock Crusher Elementary School teacher Roy Haynes was at a different school for the day sharing his collection of skeletons and skulls. He had full owl, squirrel and mouse skeletons, along with a varied display of skulls, including a skunk.

Fourth-grader Neil Presswood, 10, has been coming to this event for years now and was remembering what he has enjoyed most over that time.

"My favorite thing is holding the snakes," he said. "Last year they brought in snakes, I think a corn snake, a centipede and a pancake turtle."

Classmate Cody Marlow, 10, has enjoyed Florida historian Rod Miner's cow camp over the years, with its hides, big cow skulls and animal traps. This year, for a little variety, Miner came as a swamp trader, still bringing items that reflected the old-time South.

"My favorite thing is the skin thing," Cody said, using his identification for the swamp trader, "because it turns into leather and there's deer and it makes me hungry." The fourth-grader was wearing a camouflage T-shirt that said, "I may be small. But I hunt big." Cody is fond of venison.

New activities and exhibits this year included an "Interesting, Don't Touch" display where children learned what poisonous plants and animals to avoid and what protected plants and animals to respect.

There was a bird mask activity, where children created sparkling masks complete with beaks with teacher Sarah Hebert.

In another classroom, teacher Marcia Brown taught children how to build wetlands, which they did in Mason jars with rocks, sand, soil and water. "We talk about runoff water, where it goes (and) how wetlands are like a filter," she said.

Principal Cicely Thomas, who will leave her school after this year for her transfer to Lecanto Primary School, was enjoying her final Wetlands Festival.

She acknowledges how the children enjoy it but admitted organizing it is a big job.

"It's really an amazing feat to put all this together," she said. "Nine hundred children and 39 presenters."

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:05:18]