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. : REPTILE AWARENESS DAY - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009 : .
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ENTRIES!
Congratulations to our 2009 Reptile Awareness Champion, Philadelphia School Teacher Chuck Lafferty!
Here are entries from our 10 finalists in no particular oder:
1. Kindergarten Teacher - "From October 21-October 30 the students of Longstreth Elementary will hold a Pennies for Pets drive to support the work of Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary. The three classes that collect the most will be given a classroom reptile responsibility/care presentation by Mr. Lafferty, a kindergarten teacher at Longstreth. He uses a number of reptiles and insects to teach his students about respect for all living things. On the 21st his class with get to see his classroom reptiles up close. His class is an informal rescue providing a home and care for reptiles that needed a new home. Each morning you can find many students stopping by for advice and to visit their scaley friends. In partnership with Ms. Gourlis's sixth graders they will research and develop a library of care sheets for reptiles as a service learning project. This project will provide students with a free source of information on the proper care of reptiles as pets. Also Reptile Awareness Day will be announced to the whole school on the morning announcements." - Charles Lafferty, Philadelphia, PA
2. Pre K Teacher - "This year in my Pre K class we will start out but having some of my own reptile friends visit the center. The reptiles will include a sulcata tortoise, black throat monitor, albino burmese python, etc. (all of which are rescues). Then we will talk about basic care or reptiles as pets then we will end the morning by making turtle hats and other reptile crafts." -Celina Leal, Pleasanton, CA
x 3. Home School Co-op Class - "I am a homeschool mom of two. We had our homeschool group on Wednesday, October 21st. When I learned that it was Reptile Awareness Day I thought that it would be fun to do a lesson on it. So I printed out alot of information about reptiles and made several books about reptiles available to the children, as well as some coloring sheets. My children have a leopard gecko and a turtle. They enjoyed sharing their pets with the other kids. It was really a wonderful experience for the children. We thought we knew alot about reptiles, but as we went through the material we found that we all learned more about the different reptiles. We had an enjoyable lesson as we participated in Reptile Awareness Day." -Jennifer Rhoads, Lebanon, PA
4. Habitat Conservation - "I have always loved reptiles and amphibians and have had turtles, snakes, frogs, and a gecko as pets throughout my life. The other year, my family and I discovered that we had bog turtles living in our back yard. We contacted wildlife authorities to confirm this was in fact an endangered species on our land so we could help protect them. Last summer, juvenile turtles were found on our land showing that they continue to thrive. Since our original find, we have purchased additional wetlands bordering our home to protect the turtles. Our most recent purchase was just last month when we added an additional acre and a half to their habitat. I hope to continue to add to that land as new plots become available for sale. I feel great to be doing a small part to protect and conserve an endangered species." - Susan (location not published)
5. Reptiles at a Retirement Home - "My RAD Event is taking my two leopard geckos and plated lizard to the retirement home that I work at. People forget that the elderly enjoy these type of days. All of my reptiles enjoy getting handled. Especially the 10-year-old leopard gecko...he's an old man, too :)
The residents are going to think it's wild to see a lizard on a leash which is what the plated guy wears.
Of course the boys will get some special treats. " - Jessica Stock, Harrisburg, PA
6. Police Chief Assembly - "I am the Chief of Police in a small Wisconsin town (Wild Rose). I am also a member of the Fox valley Herpetology Club along with one of my daughters. I arranged to bring my snakes on a field trip to the elementary school here in town and do a short presentation for the kids to promote RAD. We did the same thing last year for another daughter's school in the town that we live in, and it went fabulously!! " - Russ Saunders, Brandon, WI
7. Hands-On Science Class - "I co-teach a "Hands-On" science class at the Myerstown Enrichment Center. My son loves reptiles, so we wanted to share them with our class. We borrowed from friends a Ball Python, a Leopard Gecko and a Pacman frog. We took all the animals into our class. All the kids got to touch the snake and observe the others. I also let the pre-schoolers and kindergarten kids touch the snake. They were so excited!! We kept the animals in the lunch room on display for the entire day and there was not a moment in the entire day when they were not being "oohed and aahed over". I think it gave all the students and even some of the parents a new appreciation for reptiles. Our co-op has well over 100 students and I think almost all of them took a look at the animals and learned something new about reptiles." -Sharon Ganz, Lebanon, PA
8. Reptiles to Preschool - "I took 1 of my 50lb sulcatas, both of my redfoots, and 1 of my russian torts to my son's preschool. These were taken in for animal week, and we were the only family to bring in reptiles. All of the children were fascinated with the torts. Especially the teachers, and they did not realize how much personality that the torts have. It was very educational for everyone. I constantly spread the word on reptiles as I have over 23 turtles and tortoises. They have always been a large part of my life. One day I hope to start my own tortoise and turtle rescue. My own torts received special treats and got extra petting." - Sara McKiness, St. Charles, IL
9. Doubled Rescue Donations - "The company I work for allows us to donate to a charitable organization right from our paychecks. They will also match whatever I donate. So for 2010 I am donating to Forgotten Friend. My company will match it so the group will get double the donation. I want others to check out the charity-matching programs where they work, because their companies might have a similar program. It is a great way to help. Every time I get paid and see the deduction taken out, I know that I am playing a part in helping a homeless reptile. Last week I went one step further. I was able to adopt the speckled boa from Forgotten Friend. He is an amazing snake and I am so happy to have him here. I have also made arrangements with my son's teacher to bring some reptiles into her class and show the kids. They are 5 and 6 years old and that is the perfect age to show them that ALL creatures deserve our respect." - Lisa Fontana, Bethel, PA
10. Family Rescue and Teaching - "I am a 3rd grade teacher in Sarasota, FL. My 9-year-old son and my husband have a small reptile rescue which includes 3 bearded dragons, 2 leopard geckos, a blue tongue skink, green iguana, mexican spiny-tailed iguana and an argentine black and white tegu. This has been a great learning experience for my son, and my 5-year-old daughter now is involved, too. She likes feeding everyone. On the 21st I will be teaching my class about reptiles, their habitats, and the do's and don'ts of owning one." - Stacy Storck, Sarasota, FL
PRIZES LIST:
Family-of-four After-Hours Tour at Zoo America in Hershey, PA. This is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Zoo and also gives guests the opportunity to touch reptiles, as well as see them while touring the Zoo after-hours. 
Winner, Chuck Lafferty, Philadelphia, PA
$50 Gift Card from That Fish Place, the largest pet store in the world!
Winner, Susan, PA
Gift Pack from BigGreenRabbit.com, including a DVD featuring the Green Anaconda Song and Iguana Song.
Winner, Alexis, PA
1-Year Subscription to Reptiles Magazine, donated by Reptiles Magazine.
Winner, Jennifer Rhoads, Lebanon, PA
Baby Bearded Dragon hatched by Kordek's Kritters.
Winner, Longstreth Elementary, Philadelphia, PA
"Save Your Reptiles" shirts and stickers and other prizes from ZooMed.
Sorry, ZooMed hasn't sent the prizes they offered us for the contest yet.
Three $10 Gift Cards from PJ's Pet Shop in Manheim, PA. (717)664-3446. PJ's is owned and operated by two sisters, Niki and Merianne, and is a great little pet shop!
Winners, 1. Steph Barnhart, Manheim, PA.
2. Weston, Manheim, PA
3. Sierra, Manheim, PA
Reptile Stuffies from Forgotten Friend, including a dinosaur, turtle, snakes, frogs and alligator.!
Winners, 1. Damian, Gurnee, IL.
2. Jackie Mendola, Windsor, CT
3. Karen Hall,
Mundelein, IL
4. Sara McKiness, St. Charles, IL
5. Georgie Neufer, Dauphin, PA
6. Max, Landisburg, PA
7. Skylar, Lathrop, CA
"Give Reptiles a chance" shirt from Forgotten Friend.
Winner, Emilie Rhoads, Lebanon, PA
If you would like to add to the 2010 prize stash by donating animal prizes or gift certificates, please email us!
CALLING ALL TEACHERS!!!
We have added 20 special prizes for teachers who incorporate any kind of reptile enrichment lesson into the classroom on Reptile Awareness Day! The first 20 teachers to enter the contest and tell us how you incorporated reptiles for R.A.D. will receive a 6-ft rattlesnake pillow for your classroom! This is a great educational toy, modeled after the western diamandback (crotalus atrox). It has big belly scales like all snakes, a diamond-shaped head like all pit vipers, and a real rattle in the tail!
The 20 snake pillows are a special prize addition just for teachers. We'll ask $5 to ship the rattlesnake pillows anywhere in the US, or they can be picked up in Manheim, PA for free.
Thanks everyone for giving reptiles a chance on Reptile Awareness Day!
-The ForgottenFriend.org Team
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