Back to School

I’m heading back to school. Well, sort of. These next three weeks I’ll be reading  books to students in Omaha Public, Millard Public and Omaha Catholic Schools. March is a big book reading month here in the metro area. As a matter of fact, I read to third graders at Bancroft Elementary School in southeast Omaha already this week. I sure enjoyed that and more importantly, I think the kids did, too!

I will never tire of reading books to kids! I’ll tell you one thing hasn’t changed much with technology, kids still love a good old-fashioned book read to them. Of course, I’m not your normal, everyday book reader either though, HA! The other interesting thing about having me come to a school to read to students is that they are gonna get my nature talk. With that talk comes a strong message encouraging the kids to step outside, play in their yards and even bug their parents, grandparents or guardians to take them to explore nearby parks or natural areas! I always bring (and demonstrate) some of my animal calls, along with utilizing a host of other visual aids directly from Mother Nature herself that the kids can touch, feel, handle, smell, etc.

My goal is to plant seeds with these young folks to not necessarily remember the crazy nature guy that read and spoke to them, but to know how fun reading an actual book is and how cool it is to spend time outside! Many thanks to Robin Wilks of Omaha Public Schools for snapping the pics.