Provided

Local conservationist Roark Ferguson speaks to Fort Dorchester Elementary students while Turbo, a giant Africa spur thigh tortoise, sits nearby.

Provided

Roark Ferguson, a local herpetologist and self-described “showman extraordinaire,” holds a tarantula overhead for hundreds of Fort Dorchester Elementary students to see.

The agenda for the assembly may have listed only one person, but on Roark Ferguson’s recent visit to Fort Dorchester Elementary School, he didn’t come alone.

Ferguson, a conservationist, herpetologist and wildlife adventurer, brought with him several snakes, a tortoise named Turbo and a tarantula that befriended a teacher.

For the third consecutive year, Fort Dorchester Elementary celebrated the international Steve Irwin Day, which honors the late Australian naturalist and conservationist, with a visit from Ferguson.

At one point, Ferguson, who held two performances in the school’s multi-purpose room, enlisted the help of third-grade teacher Kalee Glavach. Unsure exactly how she’d be assisting – and with Ferguson holding a tarantula in his hand at the time – the brave teacher cautiously approached the stage. It wasn’t long before the tarantula, named Rosie, sat perched atop the head of the stunned teacher.

Ferguson introduced Rosie to Glavach with hopes that it would, like the rest of his program, both entertain and educate the hundreds of students in the room.

“Conservation happens not just worldwide, but in your own backyard and the world is made up of millions of backyards,” Ferguson said. “I want to develop in the children a deeper understanding and appreciation of creatures often maligned and portrayed as evil when they’re not.”

Throughout Ferguson’s performance, a slow-moving African spur thigh tortoise named Turbo, roamed the stage. Turbo was among the many reptiles, which also included corn snakes, ball pythons and a Burmese python that delighted the students.

Cathy Buskirk, a parent of a Fort Dorchester Elementary student, spearheaded the school’s tribute to Irwin shortly after his death.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Steve Irwin and believe in his teaching philosophy, which is all about having fun and learning,” Buskirk said. “This has continued to pick up momentum every year and it’s great to see how much the kids enjoy it.”

In the previous two years, Ferguson visited select classrooms, but this was the first time he performed for all of the school’s more than 1,100 students. Many of the students paid tribute to Irwin both in the way they dressed – wearing khakis as Irwin often did – and in the way they spoke – saying “crikey” to their classmates.

Steve Irwin Day is only held once annually, but Ferguson taught the students they can carry on Irwin’s legacy of conservation and love for animals every day of the year.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

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