Tarantula Education

[Rain_Flower]

Well I brought four of my T's to school yesterday, for an education class and it turned out way better than I thought it would.

I talked about the differences between NW and OW T's, how they are venomous not poisonous! I talked about basic behavior and care and the differences between males and females... I talked about alot of stuff really.

Some of the people that walked into the room were so terrified of my tarantulas, but they always ended up being the ones sitting right next to me asking me questions. It was really cool.

I got two people to hold them too.

Now I get to take them to the elementary schools

 

[tigger_my_T.]

thats really cool im doing kinda the same thing with a kindergarten class on fri day with my chaco golden stripe tigger. I like educating people about animals like tarantulas because a lot of people think they are horible monsters.

 

[thedude]

really cool what you did

i love taking iverts to schools and stuff to give the public some Education and often have the same experiences you noted lol ive got a 1st grade clas next monday and im taking the centipede along... it alwase flips the kids out

 

[Rochelle]

The most fun to be had with Tarantulas is in the classroom...with little kids!
My daughter and I used to take several to the autistic class at the elementary school here in town....I watched more than one teacher poke their heads in...and leave with wet faces. The subtle miracles worked by these amazing creatures cannot be contained with words...
EVERY child held a T......and not until EVERY child was quietly sitting with the rest of the class. Anyone who knows anything about autism knows this is nearly impossible for these kids....but apparantly not when there's a T. to be wondered over!
Bright Blessings to you, for your efforts to share your "kids" with the little ones...xxxxx
You may end up changing some young life in ways you can't even imagine......:clap:

 

[ahas]

That' s an awesome thing to do. :} I know I' ll do the same thing with my kids in the future.

 

[harveythefly]

great job

i wish we had some wild tarantulas where i live because i'd love to use them in my job...i work at a swamp tour as the resident naturalist and i do some educational presentations but we're only allowed to use native species...so i can't use T's but i had a huge female Nephila clavipes i was using up until she died a couple weeks ago ...i had a piece of her silk set up with a ring of keys hanging from it to show the people how strong the silk is and she was always a big hit...the people used to love seeing her and oooo'ing and ahhh'ing about her crawling up my arm

but she left me a big fat eggsac before she passed on so her children will carry on the family business of teaching people the wonders of the spider world

keep up the good work everyone...education and knowledge breeds tolerance and acceptance...and maybe one of the people we talk to might think twice the next time they're about to smash a spider

Harvey

 

[tigger_my_T.]

I ish my sibs would think twice about smashing spiders

 

[Rain_Flower]

Thanks everyone
It was really successful.
We have some big carnival event type thing coming up and one of the people managing it saw me at school with my T's and she asked me to do a presentation there. I get my own booth and everything, I'm so excited

 

[Stylopidae]

It's a bad idea to let people hold your tarantulas in public presentations for liability reasons.

They may seem docile, but the reality is that their behavior can be unpredictable due to the fact they're still wild animals. They need to be treated as such.

I've had my G. rosea erupt into a full blown threat display complete with dripping venom right on my palm with no obvious stimulus that may have triggered the action. This is the only time she's thrown me a threat display in the 2 (or so) years I've had her, to boot.

Handling them yourself at your presentation is surely OK (presentations are one of the rare occasions I handle tarantulas), but letting others hold them during the presentation is a bad idea for the safety of the people there and the saftey of your animals.

On the off chance someone gets bit, it could erase all the progress you've made with that particular crowd (in terms of allaying fears about tarantulas)...and that's just a best case scenario.

 

[Rain_Flower]

I deffinately know what you mean chesire, an I would not want anyone to get bit.
I wasn't even going to let anyone hold them, but my rosie was walking on my hands so I let one of the students put his hand in front of mine. She walked right over his hand and back onto mine no problem. My teacher did it too.
I was comfortable at the moment, and so were they, that's why I let it happen.
I've made a note of your reply and will remember it for future presentations.

 

[fishwithoutabik]

That is really awesome! I am planning to do a structured presentation at my kid's daycare soon. one of my sons is "the weird bug kid" already and he is only 4. so when we got the tarantulas i took them to the daycare and showed them to the class. it was great, they got to enjoy something that he is passionate about and it made him less weird and more cool cause he has his very own tarantulas.

I am lucky because the daycare owner is a wonderful lady so there are plenty of good PR opportunities for the Ts!

 

[SchecterManC1FR]

I remember taking my G. rosea (Lucille) to my highschool class as a presentation for my report. It all went well and I fed her in front of the class and they were all hypnotized.

This fellow from the class next door (Who considers himself a hardcore gangstuh fo' sho' Bloodz fo' lyfe LOLZERZ!!HIVBbQ!!1One") came in and squeaked like a small child. Eventually he thought that he couldn't be a "G" if he didn't hold a large "spider". So he put his hands out and I just let her walk onto his hands. I've never seen anyone so scared. He said I was "One crazy mutha f***a" Then proceeded to run away.

Anyways, I bet it was fun! I find it entertaining to teach people who don't know anything (besides what they hear on TV and from other people), the facts about T's (and arachnids in general).

"So what is something you heard about spiders?"

"I know that the daddy long leg is the most deadly spider in the world, but it's fangs aren't long and strong enough to bite you."

"...Are you serious? No, they aren't the most deadly spider. Read a book."

 

[-Sarah-]

Rain Flower,

That's totally awesome!! :clap: We need more people who are enthusiastic about teaching the public about tarantulas, because the public really needs to be educated. Spiders are so misunderstood as it is. In one way, it's like this: you hear someone say "Biker" and you picture a rough, mean-looking dude when in reality, not all bikers are scary people. Heck, I'm a biker but I sure don't look like one When someone hears "Tarantulas" they immediately assume that all tarantulas are mean, dangerous and will purposely go out of their way to bite you "because they're evil" Keep up the good work! :clap:

-Sarah


P.S. ~ Cheshire, what on earth did you do to that poor rosea?? (My rosie gave my grandmother a nice threat display for no reason once...)

 

[cacoseraph]

i am hopefully going to do my first school presentation shortly, as well


i would not let anyone but adults hold a tara... and i would still have to explain all that chesh said... PLUS they have urticating setae (at least they should... probably not a good idea to let a nontara person hold an OW hehehe). i am actually quite a bit more worried about urts than bites. urts are ranged weapons... can blind (presumably)... and are essentially invisible. [edit: also they can waft and are persistant... the gift that keeps on giving]


liability is a BITCH in the USA, for sure!

 

[ShawnH]

My fiance is a middle school teacher and sometimes on special days I bring in some animals. Tarantulas, roaches, a really mellow monitor, pythons, and sometimes sugar gliders. The kids all love it and usually ask her about everyday for the next month about when I'll be coming back.