The Locust Valley High School Animal and Environmental Awareness Club welcomed wildlife expert Ranger Eric Powers and several animals from the Center for Environmental Education and Development on Jan. 18.
To encourage students to conquer any fears about certain animals and possibly work with them someday, Powers brought a corn snake, chinchilla, dove and a black and white tegu lizard. Students got to pet or hold onto the animals and some where even lucky enough to have the dove land on their heads.
“When I bring out something like a tarantula, I get about half the class that runs away and half the class that runs towards me,” Powers said. “So, the reactions are all over the place, but in general people love animals.”
Club advisers Veronica Ciampi and Donna Fredericks have taken several wildlife courses at Molloy University over the years to learn about more ways they can enrich the club in Locust Valley. It was there that Ciampi and Fredericks met Powers, who was their professor and brought the class to several locations on Long Island to learn more about the various ecosystems and animals.
The club teaches students about the beautiful environment and animals of Long Island and supports conservation organizations with fundraisers and volunteer work. The club donated $450 to the Center for Environmental Education and Discovery this year.