Nick Vandenberg gave a fine introduction to Leah Stallings, the Executive Director of AARK Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center who expressed her surprise and gratitude at being selected to receive the proceeds of the Simple Supper. AARK’s mission is to rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured native wildlife, and promote harmony between humans and their wild neighbors through quality environmental education. They usually see about 6000 animals a year except in 2020, she said they treated over 7500 animals because people were home, taking walks in the woods and observing nature in an unhurried way and encountering wild animals in need of care.
Leah was a captivating speaker and great educator. She brought a little guest with her, Henry, the screech owl, an AARK ambassador. You could have heard a pin drop when she took him out of his little crate. The kids knew she brought an animal but did not know what kind! Leah also met with the children before for a private question answer session about wildlife rescue before they started serving. For more information about AARK and how you can help check out their website - Aark.org
|