Wilderness Wildlife Week 2009 Programs presented by Kathy Sherrard, Anne Allison, and Lisa Stewart at Music Road Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Sunday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 13

“Learn About Bears Through Hands-on Activities” program for kids:

We offered this program to 20 pre-registered participants, of all ages (parents were invited to sit in and observe, if they wished).  Each of us took 10 children at a time, and did such hands-on activities as smelling, tasting, drawing a bear, handling objects (track casts, fur, scat, skull), playing “Bear Bingo,” rubbings, measuring, and playing two games related to bear foods.  Halfway through the hour, we traded groups, enabling all of the children to participate in every activity. 

Monday, January 12

“Bears 101 – their lives and interactions with humans” PowerPoint program for all ages:

We created this program to explore the origin of American black bears and of their influence on humans throughout history with emphasis on appropriate human behavior toward bears in today’s world.  We discussed their anatomy, natural history, diet, mating, and hibernation — in short, all aspects of bears’ lives.

“ABR – Giving Bears a Second Chance” – PowerPoint program for all ages.

Lisa Stewart, Curator of ABR, presented this program to inform the audience about the mission and accomplishments of Appalachian Bear Rescue, who we are, and what we do for injured and orphaned bear cubs.

In addition to presenting these programs, we staffed the ABR display table in the exhibit hall, and were able to answer many bear and ABR questions posed by visitors.   As volunteer coordinators, we enlisted the help of other volunteers who worked at the table during the week.  The photo shows a group of volunteers at the ABR display table.  Left to right, they are: Dick and Vickie Stradley, Dolores Jones, Joey Holt, Anne Allison, Kathy Sherrard

Wilderness Wildlife week was, as always, a huge success and a great venue for ABR’s exposure to the public.