Jessie Farrington became the new Education Coordinator
at the Maine Wildlife Park after receiving her Bachelor
of Science in Biology from the University of Southern
Maine this past May. Ms. Farrington has lived at the
park since 2001 with her husband Adam, who is the
birds, reptiles, and fish expert. She became a licensed
wildlife rehabber in 1999.
Her focus will be on expanding and improving the education
programs there. Ms Farrington stated that her goal
for the education department at the park is to have
it become a primary wildlife educational resource
in Maine. The Park offers tours and programs for school
aged children, wildlife talks and night hikes for
all ages, scout days for Brownie and Junior scouts,
and a preschool story hour, which is a new program
this year.
Ms. Farrington said, "Living at the park is a
great experience. In just four years we already have
such a strong sense of pride and connection to the
park, its animals, volunteers, and our co-workers.
Adam's fellow gamekeepers and the park volunteers
were of great support to me in the year that he was
activated to Iraq, it's like having your family grow
exponentially!"
Asked about future educational programming, Ms. Farrington
said, "As far as how much we can do to spread
knowledge and encourage wildlife conservation here
at the park, the sky is the limit in my book. With
the ground on new, state of the art exhibits already
broken this summer and even more to come, opportunities
to educate the public, schools groups, day cares,
and kids of all ages will only grow and become even
more unique."
She said that there are plans in the works to start
a test run of out-reach programs this winter that
involve live educational raptors such as baby eagles,
red tailed hawk, and other species. Ms. Farrington's
desire is to "reach even more young minds and
spur a passion for wildlife and science in one of
them." Left, Adam Farrington works with two
eagles at the recent Hidden Turtle Pow Wow held at
the Park. The Monument: Prata photo
