nascent cricket catcher

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Nature programs have a way of surprising you with unexpected moments, like the pleasure of watching an 8-year-old boy attempt to catch a field cricket for the very first time.

"No. They do not bite. But they can jump a long way and are really hard to catch." 

Nature never disappoints. And if you can get a young child hooked on the joy of being in nature, they will become naturalists for life.

Thank you to all who came to my Summertime Singing Insects program last night in the Sugarlands Visitor Center classroom. We learned a bit about cicadas, crickets, tree crickets, katydids and grasshoppers and then walked out into the twilight with our ears open. 

On our walk back, we found lots of small field crickets.

Our hats off to Lang Elliot and Will Hershberger for writing the remarkably wonderful book, The Songs of Insects. 

Thank you to the Great Smoky Mountains Association and member event specialist Dana for inviting us!

And thank you retired third grade teacher Cindy for lending a hand. 

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