Sometimes You Need an Excuse...

...to celebrate!

We have so many holidays on our calendar. There is actually a World Camel Day! It happens on the longest day of the year: June 22 when the heat is in full swing. We just passed the Fourth of July. It celebrates our independence, and while much of that independence has eroded, it gives us a chance to at least think about it. The calendar is full of celebration days; Peace Day, Labor Day, Grandparents Day, Groundhog Day.

You get it. Lots of celebration days. We are lucky to have lots to celebrate: White Cloud, our white buffalo, recently turned one year old. Zoe, the zebra also had a birthday. Maggie, our beautiful dromedary camel, was sent out to breed and we hope that 13 months from now, we will have a baby. We are on baby watch with our guanaco and expect it to happen in the next month or so. Our lambs are growing up so fast and are a joy to watch.

Here at Windswept, we were feeling a little left out, so we came up with our own celebration day: Watermelon Day. It will take place on July 19 and you are all invited.

We are adding a very special little critter to the family. I refuse to tell you just what he is, but right now, he will fit in a watermelon!

That brings us back to Watermelon Day. I know it is hot, and you probably are full from the Fourth of July barbeques, but everyone has room for watermelon, and we will be serving it chilled. Come on out.

Bring your carving knife. We will have a watermelon carving contest. Let's see how creative you can be. It is a great excuse to play in your food! And if we can find watermelons with seeds (darn genetic manipulation) we will have a seed spitting competition. What a great excuse to be gross!

This is a big experiment. Let's find out which animals like watermelon, and – while we are at it – lets pick a name for our new little one.

While I am at it, I just want to thank The Animal Education Center and its volunteers for all they do to make these tours happen.

Their dedication to teaching our community about these amazing animals and the part they play on this planet cannot be understated.

Come on out for Watermelon Day, or just for a fun Saturday. Get to know the animals and, if you want, get involved. We can always use more volunteers who love teaching and sharing.