<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) Visually-impaired student Brett Wheeler, 10, of Edmonds, reaches out to learn what a squirrel feels like, July 22, during a visit from PAWS to the Louis Braille School in Edmonds. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) PAWS humane education coordinator Tiffany Ong guides visually-impaired student Morgan Sanchez, 10, of Burlington, to feel the casting of a cougar skull. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) A stuffed bobcat overlooks visually-impaired students who, after learning what it felt like, learn what kind of foods animals eat. From left are student Christopher Dokken, 18, of West Seattle, PAWS humane education manager Sandy Warner, Louis Braille School volunteer Dorothy Moore, student Joel Christensen, 11, of Everett, PAWS humane education manager Tiffany Ong, and student Chloe Larimor, 8, of Kent.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Braille students get a feel for wildlife

By Katie Murdoch
Enterprise editor

EDMONDS — Learning about wildlife last week had nothing to do with describing the stripes on a raccoon's tail or determining the length of a horned owl's talons.

Instead, students petted velvety wings and felt the breeze tickle their face when someone fluttered wings next to their cheek.

The Louis Braille School wrapped up its 12th annual two-week summer program on July 23. The theme this year was “Animals, the Environment and You.” The camp was offered to current and new students in grades kindergarten through 12 who are blind or partially sighted. Ten students attended this year's camp.

PAWS staff tailored the sessions to include the students. The sessions showed students they can participate and actively help animals, said Carolyn Meyer, Louis Braille School director.

“These children love to help other people,” Meyer said.

Meyer said some children who are blind are averse to touching something new, particularly dogs. PAWS staff brought guide dogs in training during the camp to meet the students to help them overcome their fears.

“They're pretty brave kids, they're bold,” she said.

Students handled stuffed animals, wings and claws, rough pine cones and branches. They squeezed plush animals to hear the difference between a duck and a crow.

Morgan, 10, gently petted a white and brown owl's wings.

“This keeps birds warm (as) sometimes they get cold,” she explained.

Brett, 10, agreed he was having fun feeling a stuffed bird that fit in his hand and a scratchy bird's nest. But it was owl's feathers and rabbit's fur he kept going back to.

“They're soft,” he said.

Students' last names were not released, citing privacy concerns.

One activity required students to dip their hands in cool water to find smooth eggs and round apples for animals to eat. The shock of feeling slimy Play-Doh snails elicited a string of “Eww!” and one “Gross! Disgusting!” from the group. Some came across plastic containers and instantaneously knew those didn't belong.

The camp was the first time school staff and educators with PAWS partnered to teach students appreciation and understanding of domestic and wild animals and their environments through hands-on workshops.

Mary Leake Schilder, PAWS spokeswoman, said one of the interesting challenges of crafting the sessions was to not rely on sight.

“PAWS already offers a lot of hands-on activities, but our focus (this time) was on hearing, touch and smell,” she said.

Staff kept students engaged by offering a variety of textures and sounds to appeal to all of the students, then offering individual attention to point out details, said Sandy Warner, PAWS humane education manager.

Ideally students will develop an appreciation of animals and know how they can help, Warner said.

“Like all kids, the children have an inherent love of animals,” she said.