Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Big Paws – Small Paws Program has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

There is a world of nature all around us, and we don’t often see it. This is especially true for our urban areas. The truth is we do see it, we just don’t recognize it or have a chance for a hands-on experience in the classroom. This program is about getting students familiar and interacting with Wisconsin’s fur bearing mammals and the Indigenous perspectives that will help shape their understanding. We are a part of the world with our animal relatives, and sometimes we need to be their voice. First, we have to learn where we come from, our understanding before we can understand something or someone else and that take experience, lessons and work to interpret. European stories of animals are far different than the Indigenous understandings of our relatives. This program brings in the animals most students see only in books or on screens. If animals are around most move at night when students are asleep. I bring in examples of our big and small paw relatives so students can touch the fur, get a sense of their shape, size and characteristics. They get a chance to hear Indigenous stories about a few of the stars of the program. The main stars are usually the mouse, rabbit, bear and wolf. Students can ask questions, move around and fill in questionnaires about what they are seeing. Teachers can customize the program for their area and student interests.