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Blue Springs, MO —
Visitors venturing into the forest Oct. 6 at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center found some strange creatures indeed. A giant snake talked about its role eating rodents. A very big brown bat discussed how yummy mosquitos taste. A 'possum, a skunk and a large-but-friendly spider explained their roles in nature. Don’t be afraid of pollinators, the bee and the wasp implored.
All agreed by tour’s end that animals belong in the woods and not as pets, and that all perform valuable services in nature that also benefit people. The play “Charlotte’s Web of Life” was part of Burr Oak Woods 30th anniversary celebration. Performances were dedicated to the memory of volunteer naturalist Charlotte Cox. Children on the tour especially loved talking with the animals. But not all were fooled by larger-than-life costumes.
“How did you get up there,” a child asked the spider, who dropped from a treetop perch.
“Well I climbed up with my web,” said the spider, pointing to a web fortified with mountain climbing rope and harness.
The Missouri Department of Conservation opened Burr Oak Woods Nature Center for tours and classes in 1982. To celebrate three decades serving people and nature, the center hosted Lucas Miller, “the Singing Zoologist.” On, Oct. 6, a large crowd milled about the center’s new exhibits and nature play area as they waited for their turn on the “Charlotte’s Web of Life” trail tour. MDC staff and center volunteers staged the play along the luminaria-lit trail.
Visitors venturing into the forest Oct. 6 at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center found some strange creatures indeed. A giant snake talked about its role eating rodents. A very big brown bat discussed how yummy mosquitos taste. A 'possum, a skunk and a large-but-friendly spider explained their roles in nature. Don’t be afraid of pollinators, the bee and the wasp implored.
All agreed by tour’s end that animals belong in the woods and not as pets, and that all perform valuable services in nature that also benefit people. The play “Charlotte’s Web of Life” was part of Burr Oak Woods 30th anniversary celebration. Performances were dedicated to the memory of volunteer naturalist Charlotte Cox. Children on the tour especially loved talking with the animals. But not all were fooled by larger-than-life costumes.
“How did you get up there,” a child asked the spider, who dropped from a treetop perch.
“Well I climbed up with my web,” said the spider, pointing to a web fortified with mountain climbing rope and harness.
The Missouri Department of Conservation opened Burr Oak Woods Nature Center for tours and classes in 1982. To celebrate three decades serving people and nature, the center hosted Lucas Miller, “the Singing Zoologist.” On, Oct. 6, a large crowd milled about the center’s new exhibits and nature play area as they waited for their turn on the “Charlotte’s Web of Life” trail tour. MDC staff and center volunteers staged the play along the luminaria-lit trail.
