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If you sign your kid up for a Meet-the-Animal class with Becky Newman, naturalist and Museum Program Manager at Earthplace Nature Discovery Center in Westport, expect some dirty laundry at the end of the day. Our turtle, like lots of animals, goes to the bathroom when he gets scared, Becky says. This poor girl last week, who happened to be holding him, got a little messy. She dealt with it pretty well, though. As an environmental educator whos worked at several Natures Classrooms and the New Canaan Nature Center, Becky is used to getting her hands dirty and thinks that kids these days need to do more of the same. I suspect that the no-nonsense Wisconsin native could persuade even the most video game-addicted child to follow her down the nature trail, learning how to spot deer tracks and identify frogs in the pond. During our summer camp, I basically just run around outside with the kids all day, she says. But shes sensitive enough to understand that some suburban kids can find the whole wildlife thing a bit startling. Its okay honey, hes dead, he cant get you, she says, interrupting our conversation to reassure a little boy who jumps at the sight of a taxidermied skunk. (Well, if surprised, I'd jump too.) Registration for summer camp and preschool is going on now. For more info call 203-227-7253 or visit www.earthplace.org.
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