The Blackburn College Vivarium made a memorable trip to Beaver Dam State Park this month to meet with Carlinville Primary School’s second-grade classes. Around 100 excited students and their teachers gathered with Blackburn Vivarium student workers David Kane, Adalynn LaMarsh, and Andrea Sexton, as well as Professor Samantha Kahl, to learn about animal health, care, and behavior while introducing some of the Vivarium’s most popular residents.
Highlights of the visit included meeting Argentum, a female gray rat snake and the oldest snake in the Vivarium, along with Merengue, a ball python and one of the newest members of Blackburn’s animal family. Students had the chance to get up close with these creatures while learning about the important role reptiles play in ecosystems. Experiences like this not only give young learners a chance to discover the wonders of science firsthand but also provide Blackburn students with valuable opportunities to teach, connect, and share their passion for biology with the community.