Students get up close with animals

DOWNEY - Approximately 300 elementary school students saw live animals from the Brazilian rain forest at an assembly coordinated by Downey Federal Credit Union.The Wildlife Learning Center, based in Sylmar, visited Ward Elementary School last month at the request of credit union representative Kari Johnson. Students viewed several animals from Central and South America, including a red-footed tortoise, macaw, squirrel monkey, kinkajou (honey bear), white-nosed coatimundi, Burmese python and a rainbow boa constrictor. Biologists explained how the animals eat and live during the interactive assembly, and students were allowed to ask questions. The biologists emphasized the need for conservation awareness and the maintenance of our environment. "Educational opportunities are available to students both in and out of the classroom. By bringing this assembly to the school, [the credit union] had the opportunity to strengthen a student's appreciation of the natural world in which we live and bring awareness of our environment," said Barbara Lamberth, president and CEO of Downey Federal Credit Union. "The students had a new adventure in learning, while enjoying animals from other parts of the world."

********** Published: March 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 48