A frog post brought to you by Avalon Theisen, Founder of Conserve It Forward, Inc.
In early 2010, at age 9, I wrote a speech about Save the Frogs Day and shared it with my herpetology class. The SAVE THE FROGS! organization has influenced me so much, and been part of my amphibian conservation efforts, ever since. I have gone on to start my own non-profit organization, Conserve It Forward, Inc. Recently, I was asked if I would like to write for the Save the Frogs! Frog Blog, to regularly update everyone about what I am doing for frogs and amphibian conservation.
The beginning of 2013 has been busy and fun! To start with, I wrote for FrogLog, the quarterly publication for the herpetological community by the Amphibian Specialist Group. You can check out my story on pages 40-41 by clicking here! I was very honored and excited to be part of an issue that highlighted how people around the world are being creative with helping amphibians!
I also wrote a newsletter story for a local nature preserve here in Florida, called Brooker Creek Preserve. This story led up to a frog presentation I gave there in February as part of the Family Herpetology Series. I offer a few types of presentations. At Brooker Creek, I did my full version in which I talk about the history of frogs, their challenges, simple ways we can all help, and a review of the 31 frogs of Florida, including their calls. We ended with a Human Frog Chorus, and a sample frog listening hike. Of course, I prefer to do frog listening hikes at dusk, but since it was the middle of the day, I brought out the fake frogs. Well, actually, they are laminated photos of real frogs. This version of a frog listening hike is one I started, where I use a hand held recorder with frog calls, and with planted laminated frogs, we can have a hike almost anywhere at any time of the day.
A lot of what I do is through frog booths, presentations and events, but some people just can’t get to those things. For a long time, I have wanted to find a way to bring frogs, conservation and nature to people who are unable to get outdoors due to long term illness, injury or other reasons. In February, I added a new project called Conserve It Forward Care Cans. Care Cans bring 100 daily doses of the outdoors, in the form of cards, to their recipients! With signatures, artwork and photos from people around the world, we can spread the news about frogs and nature, to even more people, and help them feel better at the same time!
I have so much more to share, and will blog again soon! My next post will be about how I am helping Florida get a State Amphibian, and also how we are preparing for the 2013 Tampa area Save the Frogs Day event (for the third year in a row)! I invite you to visit me online at www.ConserveItForward.org, and “like” us on Facebook at www.FB.com/ConserveItForwardWithAvalon. Peace & love to you all!
