A budding conservationist
Zoe Saranchuk (Photo courtesy of Zoe Saranchuk)
My name is Zoe Saranchuk, and I love going to Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) events. I love being out in nature and seeing its wonders. I go with my Oma [grandmother], who is also interested. I have always loved animals and learning about them. I always learn something when I go out to volunteer.
The dead owl we came upon (Photo courtesy of Zoe Saranchuk)
For example, on our last NCC volunteer adventure, an event called Cleaning Bee at Gambling Lake, we were cleaning out bee and bird nest boxes when we came upon a dead owl. And one of the volunteers found out that when you look inside an owl’s ear, you can see the back of the owl’s eye. She showed us how to blow into the owl’s ear to separate the feathers and then she looked into its ear and said she could see its eye. I wanted to see too so I asked if I could look and when I did, it looked weird but cool.
Butterfly experts at the event placed a butterfly in my hands. (Photo courtesy of Zoe Saranchuk)
I had so much fun when I first volunteered and I got to go out to NCC’s Ghost Horse Hills property. We were catching butterflies and checking what species they were. I caught 17 butterflies! But it didn’t matter who caught the most — I was just happy that I got to go out and experience it.
There were butterfly experts at the event who placed some of the butterflies on my hands, my arms and my hat. Once we caught a butterfly, we would bring it to a table in a butterfly house and put them inside it. Once we had caught enough, I and another girl got to open the house up. That’s when I got the butterflies all over me!
No matter the weather, I love being out in nature. I enjoy going to the Sherwood Park Natural Area for walks. I like walking there because the land is protected, and you can see animals and nature up close. When I am older, I would love to work as a nature conservationist, as nature has always inspired me.
About the Author
Zoe Saranchuk is eight years old and in Grade 3 in Sherwood Park, Alberta. She loves to be in nature and loves all animals.
