Sunday 7 November 2010

Time to say goodbye

It is with sadness that I report I have decided to end my volunteering at the Nature Centre. After six months I felt I have experienced a good range of tasks, and had reached a point where I was ready to move on to other things.
I really enjoyed my experience there, particularly knowing that the people I worked with were of like minds. It makes such a difference to be able to share your views and passions with people and not feel like you have to explain yourself. In the last couple of weeks, I met Sian, who is doing the Animalcare course, and who was completely on the same wavelength. She was vegetarian and against all animal cruelty, and I hope that she enjoys her experience at the Centre and gets lots out of it.
There are many volunteers now on a Sunday! I will miss the staff, as they are a great team and work very hard to look after the animals. I saw that there were lots of events on over half term, such as meet the reptiles, and design some toys for the animal enclosures. If you can get along to the Centre over winter, it is open at weekends from 10-3, and you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Just search for Birmingham Nature Centre. The staff are always working to enrich the animals' lives, and to make it an interesting and informative day out for the public.
Volunteering has taught me many things, including how to think logically and work methodically, and to show common sense when you are working with (the public and) animals. Luckily I never managed to lose a rodent or let the ocelot escape.
I have been privileged to work there and experience close up encounters with the lemurs, squirrels and coatis - all favourites. Not to mention my little mara, and the fast-growing rheas! I am sure I will go along in future and see how they all are.
So ... if you fancy it, why not think about becoming a volunteer in my place! Not because the government want you to, but because you want to. I recommend it.