Today I had the opportunity to go to Aztec with Leyton and Raven for an educational program. Raven, a black-phase timber wolf, is one of the best-known wolves in America, as he has been a miraculous outreach animal. Out of all of the events he does, his favorite definitely appears to be children's educational programs. Once in the classroom today, Raven immediately attempted to greet everyone in the room. Always saving this for last, Leyton asked him to wait, and Raven patiently laid on the ground as Leyton taught the children about wolves. When asked to, Raven would stand to display physical characteristics, and then, proceed to lay back down to rest. At the end of the presentation, the children all gathered in a circle, and Raven was at last able to greet each and everyone of them with sniffs, and kisses, and rubs, and even some gentle tug on clothing. The class also participated in a wolf howl, which Raven kindly joined in.
Raven is a truly amazing animal. His patience is remarkable only under his majestic appearance. This large animal, with an impressive appearance, is equally as miraculous in his disposition. With one look into his stunnning eyes, the spirit of the wolf is felt, and with one lick of his gentle tongue, the fear is dismissed. Out of the hundres of animals we have met, Raven is the only one who has been able to consistently do the things he does. In his publicity, he has touched the hearts--and perhaps more importantly--the minds of thousands if not millions of people. I've had the chance to work with Raven at several outreach events, but this was the first time I was able to attend one of his school presentations.
The impact of a wolf walking into a classroom is remarkable. At first, children seem to be semi-nervous, or as though Raven is just a big dog. When his interaction is seen, the fear subsides, and throughout the presentation, children learn how Raven is different from a dog. One of the hardest balances to meet with children, especially when they are younger, is that between educating them that wolves are not the big-bad creatures displayed in stories like Little Red Riding Hood, but at the same time, they are not meant to be pets... Raven, in all his wisdom, is a perfect spokesmen for these two things. His gentle nature is apparent to all of those who have the chance to interact with him. However, his interaction with Leyton can be prompted to show the wild instinct and nature of a wolf. Yet still, Raven can be misleading. One of the points that must be pummeled into people's heads is that Raven is not a normal wolf. Normal wolves are scared to death of people and not nearly as patient with our mistakes in body language.
Without Raven, our educational outreach program could never be what it is. Raven, for whatever reason, seems to have realized that this is his job in life. He acts as an ambassador for all of his kind, and with great pride, he teaches thousands of people all about his kin.
