I was hoping for a few ideas from someone with a little more experience in taxidermy. Here's the situation: I've been working for over a year on our local elementary school's nature case. We plan on finally finishing it on April 22 (Earth day) Our school always has a big celebration on Earth day and this year it will be centered around the case. I've been asked to guide tours and answer questions from the kids (K-6) about the case since I've done a lot of the work on it. I thought it would be neat if I could make a little handout package for each of the kids, nothing real expensive, but something a kid might enjoy having. I have a few back hides of deer in the freezer so I thought I might tan them and cut them up so each package could have a piece of fur in it (the kids love petting the mounts we have in the case right now) and I've been searching the web for cheap but interesting feathers to add to it. So far, that's not much in the bag....anybody have any other ideas? There are about 300 kids, so it would have to be something fairly inexpensive for me to put together.
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With not a whole lot of reading, just quick and cool animal facts or the kids will probably toss them. Maybe drawn pics of different animal tracks and at the opposite side the animals that go with them but out of order so they need to draw a line and make the match. Just remember...not real wordy! Just right to the point facts, such as, a snowshoe hare is tan in the summer and white in the winter, fawns make a bleat sound like a lamb, (most kids think deer are silent)names of different animals gender names, such as a male elk is a bull, a female is a cow, and the baby is a calf. Things you think the kids would find interesting enough.
Along with your deerhide maybe a comparison piece of hide such as black bear. You are very generous to propose such a "gift" to these children and if I can help you with anything please email me! Although I too would warn you of the reaction of some of the parents to this gift bag...you may want to send a voucher to the parents before doing so. You know how people are these days, can't even PRAY in school anymore! Best of luck to you and your kids!
I give talks on animals and nature at local schools and I like to hand out small pieces of hide or feathers also. Contact the game commission for your state, they should have pamphlets with tracks, and small notes on each animal. For pieces of hide I get scraps from local taxidermists (what they trim off shoulder mounts) this is already tanned. Also check when your state's spring turkey season is, then contact any butchers or meat processors, turkey feathers are really beautiful in the sun light and one or two will give you a lot of feathers. Might be able to get these if you can find a few parents that hunt. Could even be a project for the kids. Let me know how you make out. KIDS ARE FUN! Joe
How about instead of putting pieces of hide/fur on a pamplet. You put them on a hinged piece of board and attach to a larger board making a display of differant types. with animal information under the hinged section. So they can feel the fur then guess what type of animal it belongs to then lift it up and see. Kids enjoy this and learn at the same time, and it keeps hands off the mounts. We used this at the RMEF headquarters when i worked there. kids and parents really loved the interaction of the piece.If you have any question email and i'll try to help. good luck
Taxidermy Today ran a regular feature called TTMJ, which was tips, projects, and fun stuff for kids.
Maybe contact them for permission to reprint and distribute a copy
to your group.
These articles contained easy projects that kids could do at home.
Dave
for the terrific ideas and the generous offers for help. Once again this site has reaffirmed my conviction that taxidermists are some of the nicest people around! Thanks again and I'll let you know how it turns out!
Wava