Critter Night and Parade, Mission Garden, August 8th

Please note that there are 2 posts in this blog.

Critter Night Parade post by Chris Robie, Cohort 6

I write this blog post in honor of this nameless little wild Sonoran creature who joined the 1st Annual (Native Wild) Critter Night Parade at Mission Garden on Friday, August 18th. As a member of the Youth Education Committee at Mission Garden, I had suggested this idea to Kendall Kroesen, the Outreach Coordinator at Mission Garden. Everyone, especially kids and their adults love a parade! So, I was hoping.

Friday, 6:00 was starting time and as the time approached I, dressed as a moth, was not seeing many children coming to the meeting place by the acequia. And not many kids in costume. So I invited passerby children to my nearby table to color butterfly and moth paper masks I had brought from Xerces, which is an Associate member with PCMN. Then Emily Rockey, the Garden Supervisor, brought some mask items from her trove of goodies in the Educational Building. I shared some costume butterfly wings etc. that I had brought from home. Garden gourds that rattled were passed out. Elena Martin, a volunteer with the Youth Education arrived with her flute. Jodi del Ponte, another Educational volunteer and a children’s book author flew in with the most beautiful butterfly wings. As she danced in joy, she led the parade around part of the garden. It was evident that the grownups who joined were having as much fun as their critter children! All during the parade storm clouds continued to gather. Not long after the parade ended, lightning and rain abruptly ended Critter Night. The human critters scurried for cover while the real wild creatures and plants rejoiced in Mother Nature’s gift of rain.

Chris Robie and Jodi del Ponte

Volunteering as a PCMN and an Ambassador with Xerces (www.xerces.org) at Mission Garden opens up opportunities to not only share my interests about pollinators but I also continue to learn from an amazing community of educators. Right now Xerces is interviewing for new Ambassadors. If you enjoy the world of insects and like sharing that passion with the public, check out information on their website. You are also welcome to contact me at christinerobie8@gmail.com.

Critter Night Event Recap by Peggy Ollerhead, Cohort 3

The recent “Critter Night” on August 18th at Mission Garden was a perfect example of Pima County Master Naturalists supporting their associates and partners. Mission Garden is a living agricultural museum located at the base of Sentinel Peak, highlighting the history of cultivated crops in this area. Some Master Naturalists who are regular volunteers at Mission Garden helped with planning, logistics, and greeting guests. Other Master Naturalists tabled for nature and cultural organizations including the Sonoran Desert Museum, Xerces Society, Bat Conservation International, and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation. At least 10 Master Naturalists representing most of the Cohorts participated.

The ”Critter Night” attracted over 480 guests and was highlighted by a children’s parade. Dressed as their favorite desert “critters”, children traversed the garden with wings, antenna, and tails. The garden itself was resplendent with summer crops and echoed with the laughter and contagious excitement of the families as children explored the exhibits, many of which contained live animals and/or “hands-on” activities. The weather was not as cooperative, and while we all love water in the desert, thunderstorms are not a good mix, and festivities were cut short.

Top left photo: Dan Collins and Sharon Overstreet, C2
Top right photo: Melissa Mundt, C4 and Dena Cowan
Bottom left photo: Tootsie, Peggy Ollerhead’s, C3, adopted tortoise
Bottom right photo: Chris Robie, C6