Bruton Memorial Library is hoping to teach children to respect and not fear the reptiles that live among us in an educational Reptile Discovery Program on April 17.
Bruce Shwedick is bringing some of his cold-blooded friends to his hometown library to teach about conservation, share details on the unique reptiles and discuss the circle of life. One of his beloved animals, an albino reticulated python, along with a juvenile alligator and a snapping turtle will join him for the adventure.
“Students should know how reptiles impact the community positively and get hands on experience with the animals,” Amanda Preece, youth services associate, said. “This unique experience introduces them to different types of reptiles and hopefully sparks a curiosity in them that will make them want to do more research about the environment.”
The event will be held in the library’s meeting room, which can hold up to 60 people per Fire Marshal code. The children will have a meet-and-greet with the creatures under the watchful eye of Shwedick and parents will be able to take photos of the experience.
Preece said she’d been looking for another unique program to offer to local youth when she stumbled upon Shwedick, a Bruton patron who has raised his family right here in Plant City. While former library staff have had a minor fear of snakes, Preece has no such hesitations and invited him to present his living show and tell to Plant City’s children.
“What I think is most noteworthy is that I have been a part of the Bruton Memorial Library ‘family’ for many years now and have presented my Reptile Discovery program there a number of times,” Shwedick said in an email.
Coincidently the event on April 17 is held on Shwedick’s 60th birthday.
All the attendees will join Preece in celebrating with Shwedick on his big day and there will be light refreshments available in honor of the festive event.
Shwedick created Reptile Discovery to help introduce people to the reptiles, many of which call Florida home, in a safe, gentle manner. The programs hopefully “promote understanding of these often misunderstood creatures for the purposes of both conservation and public safety.”
Schools, birthday celebrations, libraries, theme parks, zoological parks, aquariums and other recreational organizations have all had the pleasure of witnessing Shwedick’s program since its creation in 1994. He’s visited more than 1,000 schools across 45 states featuring animals from around the globe.
His passion for reptiles began as a child when he and his older brother Michael first raised the creatures. His brother is also a reptile specialist and the founder of Reptile World, Inc. in Maryland. In 1974, Shwedick began helping with Reptile World’s summer program and one year later he struck out on his own.
He’s traveled the world learning more about the creatures that captured his heart and uses his wide berth of knowledge to inspire the generations following in his footsteps.
The unique experience will last around one hour and there will be reptile books available for check out if any children walk away with an urge to learn more. Preece is hoping the room will be filled with Plant City youth wanting to take part in the free event.