Saturday, September 06, 2008

Girls, girls, girls...

Last night's program went swimmingly, and the Powerpoint slideshow was stellar!
Thanks to all of you who sent in photos...they were a hit!

I talked for 2 hours about owls...what they look like, what they eat, where they live, how they see and hear. Man, I would love to be an owl for just 5 minutes.

This was an informal setting, so instead of a captive audience, people came and went. But some folks seemed to be there the entire 2 hours!

The highlight of my evening...well, two:
Cute Little Girl #1: (about 8 years old) Asked me about a hundred questions (good questions, too). Later, after I told her grandmother that we had a budding naturalist on our hands, Cute Little Girl said to me, "When I grow up, I want to do what you do."
*insert Susan's eyes tearing up*
I told her that when she is old enough, we will be waiting for her and we will put her to work.

Cute Little Girls #2 and 3: (about 12 years old) Thanked me for "such an interesting educational program" (That's what they said!) And then asked if they could HUG me.
*insert Susan's eyes tearing up a little more*

Know what the boys in the front row were doing? Laughing loudly and making fart noises.
I've had girls come up to me after programs wanting more information, and I can clearly see the passion and desire for knowledge in their sweet glowing faces. And it just slays me every time.
Here's the post when a young lady made my day with her thoughts on the war between the sexes.
Now, don't get me wrong...men have their place. But history has put men (and boys) in all places at the exclusion of girls and women. That is changing, thank goodness, but for some reason there are still stereotypes. It thrills me to no end to speak to a crowd and see girls making connections, asking questions, getting really into the program.

I think this post was in part inspired by me seeing Mamma Mia today. (Our 8th wedding anniversary is on Sept. 9 and this was the only day we could go out and be alone.) If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and go. A great flick to see with your best girl friends (or a showtune loving husband).
There's a scene with the song "Dancing Queen" and all the women on the island joining in. Made me really really look forward to Cape May next month and West Virginia in April.
So, girls....shall we sing "Waterloo" on the porch?

12 comments:

NatureWoman said...

I'll be right there beside you in spirit singing "Waterloo" - girls rock!!

Amila Salgado said...

Glad to hear that the presentation was a roaring success, Susan.

The Apprentice, Season 3 (that I got for myself last week to watch all over again):
First three to get eliminated: male.
The two finalists: female
The Apprentice: female.

Girls kicked some butt!

NCmountainwoman said...

You should feel extremely proud! Inspiring young girls is wonderful. I'm so glad they have role models like you.

Keep up the great work!

Kathi said...

Love seeing girls get excited about science and nature.

I'm all for "Girl-Power," but you really don't want to hear me sing. I'll be in the background, tapping my foot and waving my hands in the air!

~Kathi

*Hey - go out and flip a rock. Just be sure you have a stick available to turn over the rolly-pollies!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I'LL SING!! I'LL SING!!

We're trying to get a work group together to see Mama Mia. There's a theater here in town that plays the movie with lyric subtitles!

I'm proud of you and the work you do with your programs Susan. It must be both thrilling and humbling to see that fresh spark in their eyes.

RuthieJ said...

Sounds like I'd better start brushing up on my ABBA lyrics!

I'm glad your program went well Susan and that you're inspiring young female "naturalists to be." GIRL POWER ROCKS!

On an unrelated note, I was woken up by a GHO on my roof at 3:25 this AM--not hooting but that other odd sounding kind of hoarse chirp. When I heard it "chirping" from across the street I grabbed my binocs and headed out to the yard in my jammies. It saw me first, but I got a pretty good look at it flying away from my neighbor's roof....definitely worth being woke up in the middle of the night for!

Mary said...

Those little girls would make me melt, too. And the boys - HA! So typical and they never outgrow those silly games :o)

Your doing a great job inspiring little people and us, too!

Mary said...

Those little girls would make me melt, too. And the boys - HA! So typical and they never outgrow those silly games :o)

Your doing a great job inspiring little people and us, too!

Kathie Brown said...

Susan, how wonderful to have such a rewarding experience. I hope all their dreams come true. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a naturalist until I was grown, married and had 4 kids. I was a volunteer naturalist for a while and I loved it. Now I write about nature and I love that too. Good for you! Have fun with the girls at the birding festivals. (Can someone get this singalong on video for the rest of us to see? It would make an excellent blogpost, don't you think?)

Anonymous said...

What a remarkable experience, Susan. I don't know how it works in the wide world but based on bloggers, it appears that a lot of women are drawn to raptor and avian rehab. Teenage boys are apparently always drawn to bathroom humor.

Anonymous said...

I took my daughter to see Mamma Mia, and I loved the Dancing Queen scene *insert Heather's eyes tearing up*. Something about seeing all those women so joyously singing and dancing. Meryl Streep and friends were great (although we winced a bit when Pierce Brosnan sang -- but good for him for trying). I want to get a bunch of friends to go some night -- the sing a long with lyrics sounds like a blast.

Heather
Wayne, PA

Anonymous said...

I love teaching kid. It seems girls become smarter these days. I like watching my little girl enjoying their playing, singing and dancing around. It makes me feel happy.