A generous grant from the Kirven-Morse Family Fund, advised by Friends Frances and John Morse, recently funded the initial items for a new Bill and Jean Lane Education Center (Ed Center) Host Toolbox. The new Toolbox provides physical objects to actively engage Ed Center visitors. Touchable, flexible, replicas of local animal scat and tracks will assist hosts to better illustrate animal behavior and tracking skills. Realistic animal skulls will help demonstrate anatomy and adaptations of herbivores versus carnivores. Other items include laminated maps, models of butterfly lifecycles, and related books.
Beyond providing these hands-on tools, the Kirven- Morse grant also spurred additional ideas and donations from other sources. Docent and host Leah Moffat spotted an unused cart from her home, creating an excellent, functional display for our tools. When advised that Friends of Edgewood was finally in a position to begin stocking a Host Toolbox, Jennifer Rigby of Acorn Naturalists, the design consultant who advised FoE during the planning and development of the Ed Center, recommended additional models and puppets. Acorn Naturalists, suppliers of environmental education materials, donated a replica of a coyote skull. Folkmanis – the most award-winning specialty puppet company in the world – donated hand puppets of a myriad of animals found in the Preserve to aid hosts in sharing stories about local ecology. Friends of Edgewood appreciates this generous and thoughtful funding, spearheaded by the Kirven-Morse Family Fund, that enhances the volunteer hosts’ ability to interact with and educate Edgewood’s visitors.
LLA
