Photos: From learning the trails (left) to discovering moths (right), Haley has found adventure and learning opportunities at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. Courtesy of Pamela Bowden.
BY PAMELA BOWDEN
I have always loved animals, but in a mostly hands-off kind of way. My daughter, Haley, on the other hand, was created to care for animals. At two years old, she knew that she wanted to take care of all creatures, big and small. She devoured anything that would teach her more about animals. Wild Kratts, the Irwins, Ranger Rick magazines, and even field and zoo guides are among her favorite resources. As a mother, especially a homeschooling mother, I feel it is my responsibility to provide opportunities to foster my children’s passions. That is exactly what I have tried to do.
In the spring of 2022, I came across a fundraiser for the Australia Zoo. Young children were encouraged to raise money as well as volunteer within their communities. Haley was determined! She baked and decorated crocodile cookies, grew and planted trees, made bird nest cupcakes, dropped off food at the animal shelter, and cleared trails at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary (MGBS). She raised over $1,000 for the Australia Zoo and decided that she absolutely loved MGBS.
Not only has she spent time there as a volunteer, MGBS also hosts Outdoor Education Camp each summer, as well as numerous events and programs. She has learned the trails, plants, and animals.
There are two events that stand out as her absolute favorites to attend and volunteer for: the Hummingbird Migration Celebration and Project Owlnet.
When we volunteer for the Hummingbird Migration Celebration, she loves to help set up and tear down. This arrangement allows her to enjoy all the activities. She could spend hours fishing with Mr. Clint or enjoying the live birds of prey programs, not to mention watching the actual hummingbird banding.
Project Owlnet falls right around her birthday, so every year she gets to stay up late and go up close and personal with Northern Saw-whet Owls. In her mind, that is the best gift she could ever get. Haley knows how to set up and take down the nets, performs hourly net checks, and releases the occasional owl.
MGBS staff and volunteers are always encouraging her and fueling her passion for animals. Never once have they allowed her age to prevent her from helping out. Haley has always been treated as a valuable member of the MGBS team. Everyone is willing to teach her new skills or animal facts. The sanctuary has become like a second home. It truly is her happy place. She has even talked about how she would love to work there when she is older.
These are opportunities that, no matter how hard I try, I could never give to my daughter on my own. I could buy every animal study, every nature guide, and walk every trail in the state of Indiana, and it would still pale in comparison to the experience of volunteering and being a part of this amazing group. It takes a community, one that not only cares about the animals and their habitats, but also about preparing the future generations to also care for them. We feel extremely blessed to have found exactly that at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary.
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