October 21, 2024
A Tribute to the Nature Hut Animals of Summer 2024
Written by: Hannah Heide, Camp Aranzazu Program Supervisor
As we celebrated a successful summer 2024 camping season, I was saddened to wave goodbye to our animal friends in the Nature Hut as they returned to their homes after a very busy and fun vacation. I’m deeply grateful to the camp friends who entrusted us with their companions; they taught me and our campers valuable lessons on environmental responsibility, treating others, and living life fully! Keep reading for a tribute to our animals, what they’ve taught us, and where they came from.
Walnut, a sulcata tortoise and a friend to all! Not only is Walnut an iconic celebrity at Camp Aranzazu, he also reminds us to stay curious about the world around us. He never misses an opportunity to check out a pair of colorful shoes, especially those that are fruit colored, and he always visits those who pass through the Nature Hut. Walnut does not let barriers and hardships get in the way of his adventurous side. When he has a goal in mind, nothing can stop him- not even a wall or locked door! He keeps us on our toes and smiles on our faces. Thank you to Hailey at the Rockport Humane Society for trusting us with our favorite shell-ebrity again this summer!
Tortilla, a bearded dragon and a ferocious guardian of the Nature Nut. Unfortunately, he can’t breathe fire. However, he can scare off his enemies by standing tall, showing off his beard, and changing into an intimidating darker color. You don’t want to get on his bad side. Aside from being a defender of those he loves, Tortilla always reminds us to take some time to slow down and bask in the sun as he is frequently seen taking in vitamin D on his perch with his eyes closed. Thank you to our summer activity leader, Kathryn, for bringing him with you this summer and letting our campers (and team) love on him!
Nacho, our hairless guinea pig who looks a little silly but is a certified lover girl! As soon as she hears the Nature Hut lock being opened, she welcomes you with her loud chirps. Talk about existing loudly. Because she is a hairless mammal, we keep her out of direct sunlight to avoid sunburn but provide bedding so she can cozy up if she gets chilly. A reminder that being inclusive and welcoming doesn’t always take much! Thank you to Autumn from the Rockport Humane Society for providing us with our not-so-furry friend for the summer!
Panini, our beautiful and kind ball python. She reminds us that stereotypes are meant to be broken. Snakes get a bad rep from cinema as scary and vicious creatures, but they are an important and wonderful part of our ecosystem (and one of my personal favorite animals). Not every snake is always in attack mode, in fact, Panini is more of a “hug mode” type of gal who is always down to give ya a small squeeze. She taught so many campers and staff that sometimes fears can be overcome with one small act of bravery by embracing something new! Thank you to Pierce from the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center for our lovely Panini this summer!
And finally our three elderly rats: Garbanzo, Charro, & Java. They remind us that age is just a number. Despite being 2 ½ years old, they still embraced camp culture and got so close to so many people. When they weren’t trying to climb into your pocket, they reminded us the importance of hygiene by grooming themselves almost immediately after going back into their enclosure. And dang is that a cute sight to witness. Rats also get a bad rep from cinema as “dirty”, but these grandmas stay on top of their hand washing. A big thank you to a former activity leader and our long-time camp friend, Misty, who allows us the pleasure of having her rats every summer.
Animals teach us so much when we pay attention. Our Nature Hut in the summer is a small way to connect our campers and ourselves to the ecosystem. They teach us about how although we are all unique and have our differences, we coexist through those differences. These connections and sweet moments could not happen without the people who allow us to foster their animals in the summer, and for that, we are shouting our gratitude from the rooftops! We are already missing our Nature Hut friends and can’t wait to continue building relationships with familiar animals and maybe creating some new relationships next summer!
