By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) recently hosted Joys of Nature, an educational program designed to teach children about endangered species. Joy, the program's leader, brings engaging educational content and incredible animals for children and adults to interact with—creatures they might not encounter in everyday life.
The community room was filled with kids of all ages, eager to learn about endangered species and what they can do to help protect them. Joy began by explaining that endangered species are animals on the brink of extinction, which can disrupt ecosystems since every animal plays a crucial role in their environment.
As she discussed ways to help preserve endangered species in New England—such as planting native wildflowers, avoiding pesticide use, and leaving some fallen leaves in yards—Joy introduced various reptiles. She started with a blue-tongued skink, quickly winning over the audience.
Throughout her presentation, Joy emphasized that her animals are for educational purposes only and discouraged children from taking animals from the wild as pets. Trained and certified to use these animals as educational tools, Joy invited audience volunteers to hold and pet the reptiles, with children eagerly participating. She showcased different types of lizards, including a chameleon, and a few snakes.
Audience members of all ages were allowed to gently pet most of the reptiles, but Tiki the alligator was the undisputed star of the show. Tiki's appearance drew gasps from the crowd, who lined up to interact with the animal. Everyone who wanted to was given the chance to pet and take photos with Tiki. Joy's goal is to help people overcome their fear of certain animals and understand how to safely interact with them, while also stressing the importance of leaving wild animals undisturbed.
Joy travels throughout New England offering educational programs to all ages. She can be found in libraries, schools, and many other venues, sharing her passion for animals. Her presentations are a must-see for any animal lover or anyone looking to conquer their fear of snakes.
